Specialist prostate cancer nurse joins St John of God Bunbury health care team

A new medical specialist has moved to Bunbury to help tackle the most common cause of cancer in Australian men.

Rachel Hotchin joins the St John of God Bunbury Hospital team as the new prostate cancer specialist nurse to help support South West men living with the disease, which affects one in six men in their lifetime.

Almost 1800 Bunbury men are living with prostate cancer, with nearly 200 more diagnosed each year. Ms Hotchin said she was was looking forward to helping men and their families as they undertook the journey from diagnosis to survival.

“Around the South West region, any man who is diagnosed with prostate cancer will understand that it can bring uncertainty, fear and sadness — among other things — to not only themselves but to their partners and families,” she said. “But we are here to support and empower them.

“We provide a confidential and supportive environment for men and their families to talk openly about their diagnosis, treatment options and side effects from treatment.”

St John of God Bunbury Hospital CEO Jeffrey Williams said about 300 patients would be seen by the specialist nurse each year.