A PARLIAMENTARY petition to make cancer treatment services more accessible in the eastern suburbs will be open to signatures until December 8.

Currently, patients from Midland, Kalamunda, Wooroloo, York and surrounds must travel to Rockingham and Mandurah to access state funded cancer treatment with no out-of-pocket costs.

The petition asks for the legislative council to call on state government to correct the lack of access, establish public access to existing Midland facilities through funding, partnerships or other means, and provide a clear timeline to implement these changes.

As of December 3, the petition garnered 2390 signatures.

It forms part of a larger push that has been ongoing for more than a year to improve access to affordable cancer treatments for eastern suburb residents.

Last year, Call to action for Midland cancer treatment (Echo News, August 23) reported that Midland and Swan Hills have been identified and highlighted as an area of need and focus for radiation oncology services according to Icon Cancer Centre Midland’s chief executive officer Colin La Galia.

In March of this year, the Australian Medical Association of WA also called on both federal and state governments to help boost access as Midland cancer patients relied on Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Nedlands for fully public radiation therapy without out-of-pocket costs as reported in AMA calls for Midland radiation (Echo News, March 14).

Guildford resident and retired long-time physician Bob Langlands said he was fortunate to be able to afford private care when he was diagnosed with lung cancer but worries about the patients who can’t.

“It would be a real issue for many people facing a challenging threat of having developed cancer and this being the preferred treatment modality,” he said.

“For me, four sessions over 10 days or so was not a big deal.

“I could have gone to Sir Charles Gairdner, but for some of my former patients, they’re having daily treatments for weeks or even months.

“And that can be really tough in terms of tracking in from as far as Northam and beyond.

“Depending on the therapy regime, you’re very much out of pocket, you know, several thousand dollars out of pocket.

“Medicare supported the bulk of the cost for my therapy, but I was still around about $4000 out of pocket.

“That wasn’t an issue for me, but for many people that would be prohibitive.

“I would hope that if the state government can stump up the additional support funding, then individuals are not having to track all the way into Charlie’s, Mandurah or Rockingham to get their therapy.

“I mean, why shouldn’t we, in the eastern suburbs, be getting the same deal as they’re getting down there?”

Kalamunda MLA Adam Hort, who is the principal petitioner, said a modern radiation oncology centre already existed in Midland but just needed state support to make treatment free and accessible.

“That’s why this petition matters,” he said.

“No one fighting for their life should have to battle a punishing commute because the government won’t fund services in the eastern suburbs.”