Access to treatment

Residents across Rockingham, Kwinana and Mandurah will soon have better access to cancer treatment services, after Icon Group announced plans to build a cancer treatment facility in the heart of Rockingham.

The Icon Cancer Centre Rockingham will be built on the corner of Central Promenade and Civic Boulevard and will combine a 15-chair day hospital and two radiation therapy machines.

Over the course of a year, the centre will be able to deliver 18,000 radiation therapy treatments and 12,000 private chemotherapy/haematology treatments.

The centre will also have a pharmacy.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the facility would provide welcome relief for families having to travel long distances for cancer treatment.

“I think we all know somebody that has been affected with cancer,” he said.

“There’s nothing worse than having to travel long distances when dealing with illness.

“Research shows that the further a patient lives away from a major city, the more likely they are to pass away in the five years following a diagnosis.” Icon Group founding chairman Stuart Giles said the facility would also be a huge benefit to people in neighbouring areas such as Kwinana and Mandurah.

“Rockingham’s ageing and quickly growing population is expected to see cancer incidences increase from 1500 in 2015 to 2600 by 2030,” he said.

“Our centre aims to alleviate this burden so locals can receive all their cancer treatment close to home and have the support they need through every step of their treatment.”

Pending council approvals, construction of the facility will start in mid-2017.

During the announcement ceremony, Icon Group also announced plans for a similar facility in Mackay, Queensland via video link.