Cancer Council WA is urging the WA community to support its Christmas Appeal as the number of regional cancer patients and carers needing accommodation in Perth over Christmas has almost tripled in 18 years.
Cancer Council WA Accommodation Services Manager, Ron ten Hoor, said the growing demand highlighted the importance of community support in ensuring regional cancer patients had somewhere safe and welcoming to stay while accessing vital treatment.
"In 2008, we had close to 40 guests during the Christmas period, and in 2018 that number had almost doubled to 75. This year we expect to have approximately 115 patients and carers," Mr ten Hoor said.
For many regional West Australians, a cancer diagnosis means leaving their homes, families and communities to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to Perth for treatment.
"Being away from home at Christmas can be particularly difficult, when family, connection and the comfort of familiar surroundings mean so much.
"Our Crawford and Milroy Lodges provide more than just a bed. They offer a safe, comfortable home away from home, where patients and their carers can access practical support and connect with others who understand what they're going through.
"This Christmas, we're asking West Australians to give what they can to help provide a welcoming place to stay, practical support and a community that cares."
Every year, around 5,000 regional cancer patients and their carers stay at the Lodges while travelling to Perth for treatment.
No one should have to worry about where they'll sleep while facing cancer treatment.
One person who understands the importance of that support is 67-year-old Rob Hunt, whose plans for a long-awaited road trip around Australia were abruptly halted by a cancer diagnosis.
After spending years caring for his ageing parents, Rob had sold the family home, moved to the Wheatbelt and was preparing to travel around Australia to visit his sons when a routine blood test led to an urgent call from his GP.
Rob was diagnosed with rare Stage 3B ampullary adenocarcinoma, a gastrointestinal cancer that had spread to four nearby lymph nodes. His travel plans were replaced by major surgery and six months of chemotherapy in Perth.
Having already sold the family home, Rob faced another frightening uncertainty as he had nowhere to live while undergoing treatment. Milroy Lodge provided him a safe, comfortable and affordable place to stay close to treatment, along with the compassion and understanding of staff, volunteers and fellow patients.
If Milroy Lodge hadn't come up, I would've been living out of my LandCruiser while having chemotherapy," Mr Hunt said.
"It would've been monstrously hard emotionally, financially, and logistically. The treatment would've been interrupted, absolutely, and that could've affected my positive state of mind.
"I remember the kindness shown at Christmas. One of the staff members went out and bought food so we could all have a Christmas lunch together. It was a simple but thoughtful gesture that made Christmas Day at Milroy Lodge a memorable one.
"This festive season, I encourage the WA community to support Cancer Council WA's Christmas Appeal and help ensure regional cancer patients like me have a welcoming home away from home when they need it most."
To support the Christmas Appeal, visit Cancer Council WA : General Donation or call 13 11 20.
