Chemotherapy

Depending on your condition, you may be recommended a course of chemotherapy. Modern chemotherapy has come a long way from what many people experienced in the past, and is now a routine part of the treatment of many conditions. It is often much less toxic than chemotherapy used in the past.

Medications to manage the side effects of chemotherapy have also vastly improved, and symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhoea are now much less common.

The vast majority of treatments we prescribe are either taken as tablets, or administered by injection as a day patient.

Your haematologist will discuss your treatment options with you, and will work with you to find the best course of action for your particular condition.

If you are not sure what to expect, you can always ask for another consultation with your haematologist, or make a time with our Clinical Nurse Specialist to discuss your treatment further. We can also direct you to appropriate patient support services.

We treat patients in both public and private hospitals, and in appropriate scenarios, you may be able to receive treatment in your own home (private insurance required).

Our haematologists are accredited to treat patients at Lake Macquarie Private, Newcastle Private, Maitland Private, Forster Private, and Tamara Private Hospitals. Treatment in the home is available to most privately insured patients in the Hunter and Manning regions through our partnership with chemo@home.

Treatment is also available at public hospitals in Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Taree, Tamworth, and other towns in the New England region.

Chemotherapy treatment in the private system requires you to have private health insurance, but is very comparable in cost to the public system. Often, there is no difference in the cost of treatment, other than gaps for seeing your haematologist.