Cancer Care Centre Update
Our Cancer Care Centre will positively impact the lives of those living with cancer as the only centre on the Mornington Peninsula to provide radiation oncology, spaces for education and public events, a wellness centre, garden and a mobile wig library, all in the one centre.
With community help we raised more than $103,000 towards our new Cancer Care Centre through our tax appeal in June 2024. Thank you so much to everyone who supported us. Your contribution is a foundation for the future and helps ensure that our community will have exceptional cancer care services close to home.
Construction of Stage One of our new Cancer Care Centre was completed in September 2024, at which time our tenant, Icon, began fitting out the Radiation Therapy Unit on the ground floor. They expect to treat the first radiotherapy patient in late 2024.
Meanwhile, our Day Infusion Unit continues to provide exceptional care to cancer patients, as demand for oncology services on the Mornington Peninsula grows. By 2032 it is anticipated that there will be almost 30,000 patient admissions on the Mornington Peninsula for cancer or haematological diagnosis, with 15,000 of these admitted to a private hospital.
Stage Two of the Cancer Care Centre will see our Day Infusion Unit move across to Level One, and Levels One and Two fitted out as consulting suites and procedure units
Supporting prostate cancer patients
Our Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses continue to provide reliable and consistent support for men with prostate cancer who live in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area. Meredith and Ying help coordinate patient care and provide an ongoing point of contact and support, as well as advice on treatment and managing its side effects.
The service at The Bays Hospital is offered to both public and private patients, and continues to be provided full-time by two part time Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses. This has benefited the men as an established Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse has been able to cover extended leave of either of the nurses.
In the 2023-24 financial year, Meredith and Ying took on 222 new patients, 72 per cent of whom were referred at diagnosis, which is very pleasing. We have recently renewed our contract with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which means Meredith and Ying will continue to support local men with prostate cancer for the next 3 years. cancer who live in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area. Meredith and Ying help coordinate patient care and provide an ongoing point of contact and support, as well as advice on treatment and managing its side effects.
Supporting breast cancer patients
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia for women. Treatments have advanced, and psychosocial and supportive care plays a big role in caring for people with breast cancer.
Three McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses work at our hospital, and care for both public and private breast cancer patients from diagnosis to treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up, and transition to wellness or palliative care.
In this financial year we farewelled McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Jo Lovelock after more than 25 years in a variety of roles at The Bays, and welcomed Megan Keenaghan to join our two existing nurses, Rachel and Giselle.
Our breast care nurses regularly hold workshops for patients and The Bays staff, as well as undertake professional development training to enhance their own skills. This year, the trio supported 227 new families (40 per cent higher than last year), made 1506 phone calls and had 326 face-to-face appointments.
New SOZO machine to prevent cancer-related lymphoedema
Thanks to more than 10 years of collective fundraising efforts by individual breast cancer patients, the Breast Intentions Cancer Support Group and the Somerville Junior Football Club – raising a huge $20,000 – The Bays is now the only private hospital on the Mornington Peninsula to have a SOZO machine.
The SOZO machine is designed for the early monitoring and detection of cancer-related lymphedema. It offers patients a non-invasive 30 second test that can detect fluid changes as small as 2.4 tablespoons.
Recent research shows that early detection combined with standard compression therapy can reduce the progression of lymphoedema by 95 per cent.
“This machine is so important for anyone before surgery to get a baseline reading for post-surgery lymphoedema risk. In a time when you have so many appointments, doctors and stress, having this reading will make life easier down the track,” said Julie Bennett, one of the wonderful fundraisers.
