Quick, calm, supportive cancer treatment aids recovery for James

32-year-old James of Safety Bay describes the close-to-home treatment he received for metastatic testicular cancer at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) last year as quick, calm, and supportive.

After initially ignoring and then months later noticing a growing lump, James attended his local RGH Emergency Department where he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.

“It was a scary moment, but the RGH ED team were really supportive, and I was offered counselling that day,” James said.

“The ED team referred me to the urology service to remove the lump soon after, and, as the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, this was followed by 4 months of chemotherapy.”

The Perth tradesman was supported by his workplace to continue working in an office-based position while continuing treatment. Additionally, James family and partner rallied around him during his cancer journey, raising over $7,000 for charity Movember with a fun run and sales of a drink named after James at his brother’s Sydney brewery.

James’ cancer had a positive response to the treatment, and he is looking forward to promising results from tests next month.

Head of Department, RGH Integrated Cancer Service, Dr Sanjana Kondola said James handled the treatment well and the team were proud of his progress throughout his cancer journey.

“We are hoping to cure James’s cancer here at RGH,” Sanjana said.

“The prognosis for individuals surviving with testicular cancer from 2014–2018 was 97 per cent for 5 years.

“Although Jame’s specific tumour is rare, testicular cancer has become more common, increasing from 321 cases in 1982 to 898 cases in 2018 in Australia,” Sanjana said.

The RGH Integrated Cancer Service includes collaborations between oncology, haematology, palliative care with allied health and pharmacy delivering exceptional care to RGH patients closer to home.

Jame’s message to others on World Cancer Day on February 4 is to get checked early and not ignore early signs.

This year, World Cancer Day (external site) places people at the centre of care and under the theme ‘United by Unique,’ explores new ways of making a difference to those with cancer.

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