Solaris Brings Cancer Support to Pilbara Families Facing Travel for Care

Two staff from Solaris Cancer Care walked into Ngaarda Media's Roebourne studio to talk with Lynnese O'Donoghue about what the organisation says it can offer Pilbara families who face a cancer diagnosis and the upheaval of travelling south for treatment. The visitors were chief executive Tony Hume and colleague Sam Doran.

The help starts small and practical. According to Sam, staff can meet a patient at Perth Airport, carry their bags, get them to their accommodation and go with them to specialist appointments. The aim, as described in the interview, is to give people one consistent contact in an unfamiliar and often stressful place.

Mr Hume said the cost of travelling for care is more than logistical. "You're away from family, you're away from community, you're away from Country," he said, and on top of that a person is dealing with a frightening diagnosis. He described the medical side as its own challenge: "It's a whole new language when you get cancer." Staff can attend appointments, help people understand the information they are given and advocate for their needs. Sometimes, he said, support is less formal, a meal or just a cuppa.

Solaris has existed since 2001, when haematologist Dr David Joske established it. It provides supportive care alongside conventional cancer treatment, and North Metropolitan Health Service independently acknowledges its role in providing free, supervised complementary therapies for people receiving cancer care. The organisation is now marking its 25th anniversary. Its services include counselling, support groups and complementary therapies, plus a dedicated Pilbara program that helps people move between their home region and Perth.

The program is funded by Hancock Iron Ore and Hancock Prospecting. Solaris's published description lists personalised support, counselling referrals, information and coordination with local services.

To make sure health workers and families know the help exists, the team has been visiting Aboriginal medical services, hospitals, GP clinics and local governments. Mr Hume said his travels had taken him to Paraburdoo and Tom Price, with a focus on people beyond the Pilbara's larger coastal centres. Sam said the schedule is a visit roughly every 12 weeks, with two to three weeks on the road each time. "My passion is closing the cancer postcode gap," Sam said.

The interview also showed how personal the work can become. Mr Hume recalled meeting a woman with a terminal diagnosis who had asked her partner to marry her. He first offered his old Mustang as the wedding car. The offer grew into a wedding in a Solaris garden, with around 160 guests, food prepared by volunteers and contributions from local businesses. The woman later died, but Mr Hume said the celebration brought her joy in her final months. "What a privilege to be part of those last few months with her," he said.

Families who need help now are encouraged to reach out directly or ask their local health provider for a referral. The Pilbara support service can be reached on 0484 244 526, by email at pilbarasupport@solariscancercare.org.au, or through solariscancercare.org.au.