Premier opens new accommodation facility for country cancer patients

29/2/00
Premier Richard Court has officially opened a new accommodation facility in Perth for country cancer patients who travel to the city for treatment.
The $5 million A H Crawford Lodge is located at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and has been developed by the Cancer Foundation of Western Australia.
"Undergoing treatment for cancer is hard at the best of times, but there is an added burden for country people when they have to leave their communities and come to Perth for treatment," Mr Court said.
Crawford Lodge comprises 42 rooms for use by patients and their carers. It also includes kitchen and lounge facilities. The building also houses the Cancer Helpline and Canteen, an organisation that supports children and young people with cancer.
Mr Court said the need for facilities such as Crawford Lodge reflected the fact that one in three men and one in four women were expected to develop some form of cancer before they reach 75 years of age.
"Although these statistics are concerning, 54 per cent of cancer patients can now look forward to a cure, while many others lead fulfilling lives due to advances in treatment," the Premier said.
"New research and treatment methods mean that the recovery rate for children continues to increase with 80 per cent of children diagnosed with leukaemia recovering.
"As community awareness grows we will have a greater chance of detecting cancer at an early stage, and successfully treating it."
Mr Court said the Cancer Foundation was to be congratulated for developing Crawford Lodge and for its ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of cancer in the community.
Media Contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9475