- Our services
- Medical and surgical
- Cancer care
Our services
- Medical and surgical
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- Allied health
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Oncology rehabilitation
- Chronic disease management
- Exercise physiology
- Hydrotherapy
- Inpatient rehabilitation
- Occupational therapy
- Orthopaedic rehabilitation
- Outpatient rehabilitation
- Parkinson's disease
- Physiotherapy
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Reconditioning rehabilitation
- Social work
- Speech pathology
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Community and youth
- Healthcare at Home
- Self-funded care
Cancer care
Our cancer care oncology services
Our oncology services at St John of God Bendigo Hospital provide a holistic care to support your emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing as well as your surgical and medical needs.
Our cancer treatment services offer a high standard of professional and multidisciplinary care, including oncology and haematology.
When you come to St John of God Bendigo Hospital, you can access cancer surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, care from a range of specialists across different disciplines including allied health, pain management, pastoral care and Breast Care Nurses.
Day chemotherapy at St John of God Bendigo Hospital
Your cancer treatment may include day chemotherapy.
As a patient at St John of God Bendigo Hospital, you can receive day chemotherapy in our comfortable Day Oncology Centre, located on the ground floor of the Atrium.
Our Day Oncology Centre caregivers aim to offer a soothing and caring environment as you undergo your chemotherapy treatment. Tea, coffee, a special menu and reading materials are available to help you feel as relaxed as possible.
We are a small, dedicated team that are passionate about providing very personalised and individualised care, which is supported by the patient feedback we receive.
Scalp cooling caps
Scalp cooling caps are designed to help reduce hair loss as you undergo chemotherapy.
The scalp cooling acts by lowering the temperature of the scalp and reducing the blood flow and the metabolism of the chemotherapy. As a result, the hair is not damaged by the chemotherapy treatment and is less likely to fall out.
This service is all a part of our cancer care at St John of God Bendigo Hospital which is focused on your physical and emotional wellbeing.
McGrath Breast Cancer Nurses
McGrath Breast Care Nurses inform, organise, empower and support people with breast cancer and their families.
No cancer treatment is without its challenges, but this is where a McGrath Breast Care Nurse can help. They listen, guide and support people with breast cancer and their families every day through meaningful conversations, advice and quality care.
A McGrath Breast Care Nurse builds an important relationship with each person they support. They become a trusted, consistent and knowledgeable point of contact.
They provide education, support, care coordination, referrals and clinical care.
Introducing our team
Dr Amy Davies is a Medical Oncologist and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). She completed her medical degree in 2015 (MBBS, UNDF), concurrently completing a Masters in Public Health (MPH, USyd). She also holds a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (BClinSc, SCU) and Masters of Medicine (MMed, USyd).
She has experience in treating most solid organ malignancies and has an academic interest in primary brain tumours and molecular oncology.
Dr Davies has published almost 20 papers in her field and has contributed three evidence-based cancer treatment protocols to the leading consensus-driven organisation eviQ. She is a member of the Emerging Leaders Board at Private Cancer Physicians of Australia, a member of the TOGA Advanced NSCLC Working Group, and has been an invited peer reviewer for several international journals.
Having grown up in Torquay, Dr Davies recognises the importance of care close to home.
Dr McLaren (Cam) is a general medical oncologist with clinical interests in breast, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers.
At St John of God Bendigo, he offers a hybrid in-person and virtual model of care. Dr McLaren visits patients in Bendigo, and from his home base at Berwick uses a combination of telehealth (video conferencing and telephone).
View his Find a Specialist profile.
Shanya Beattie has been with St John of God Bendigo as our McGrath Breast Care Nurse Consultant since October 2023. Shanya has been nursing for 17 years and has a passion for women’s health, in particular breast cancer nursing. In addition to her nursing degree Shanya has post-graduate certificates in both plastic reconstruction nursing and breast cancer nursing.
As a McGrath Breast care nurse consultant Shanya provides care for anyone experiencing breast cancer and their families free of charge through St John of God Hospital. She is there from diagnosis and throughout treatment to educate, organise, empower and support people with breast cancer and their loved ones.
Breast cancer care and treatment can be complex. Our breast care nurse consultant is available to help clarify complicated information and offer emotional support to patients and families during this stressful time.
Shanya is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 4pm.
Contact 03 5434 3160 or 0412 487 086.
Claire Pysing has been the Nurse Unit Manager at St John of God Bendigo since 2014. She’s always been passionate about oncology nursing, having previously worked at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
After finishing her nursing training in 1999, Claire completed her graduate year in 2000 at Maryborough District Health Services. After two years she moved to Melbourne and worked at PMCC from 2002 to 2012 in various roles and departments.
Claire completed a graduate diploma in Advanced Acute Nursing in Cancer and moved to Bendigo at the end of 2012, working initially at the Peter MacCallum Radiology satellite centre.
Claire is proud to lead a small team which has years of experience in oncology. This enables very individualised care in an intimate and supportive environment.
Oncology rehabilitation
Cancer care at St John of God Bendigo Hospital doesn't stop after surgery or therapy treatment, we consider your long term wellbeing and getting you back to doing what you love.
Our oncology rehabilitation program gives you access to support, information, exercise programs and education to enhance your health and wellbeing during and after your cancer treatments.
We offer a wealth of experience in medical and oncology nursing and care, working as a team to deliver a personalised health care program to help take care of your medical, physical and emotional needs.
GP information
Whilst specialising in provision of day chemotherapy treatments, including scalp cooling caps, our Day Oncology Centre also provides a variety of non-chemotherapy infusion services, including:
- Iron infusions
- Infliximab and vedolizumab for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Tysabri and OCREVUS for multiple sclerosis
- ORENCIA for rheumatoid arthritis
- IVIg for multiple conditions
Patients can access these services via referral to one of our private physicians. Call our Oncology Nurse Unit Manager Claire Pysing on 03 5434 3317 for advice.
Oncology rehabilitation referral forms should be addressed to Rehabilitation Physician Dr Kareen Khaw.
Our Senior Exercise Physiologist Katie Sutton can be contacted directly via email with any oncology rehabilitation enquiries.
Headwear and wig library
Supporting cancer patients on their journey
Hair is a powerful part of our identity, and hair loss can add an emotional toll to the cancer journey. Our trained staff and volunteers are here to help, providing a compassionate, understanding environment.
What the headwear and wig library offers
- Free access to high-quality wigs, turbans, and scarves for those undergoing cancer treatment.
- Personalised appointments with trained staff or volunteers in a private, supportive setting.
- Guidance on wear and care to help you maintain your wig with confidence.
- Flexible borrowing periods — keep the wig as long as you need, with professional cleaning and sterilization after each use.
Appointments
For appointments or further information, please contact our Allied Health reception:
Phone: 03 5434 3216
Email: [email protected]
Location: Level 1, Room 192
Costs and fee payment options
If you have private health insurance, the costs for your hospital stay and specialist fees may be covered by your health fund, based on your level of cover.
If you don’t have private health insurance, you can access treatment at a St John of God Health Care hospital through our self-funded care option.
When you use your private health insurance, you get benefits that include access to St John of God Health Care private hospital facilities, your choice of specialist, minimal wait times, and with an eligible policy most of your hospital costs can be covered by your private health insurance fund.
You should contact your health insurer to understand your level of cover, and whether your policy is subject to additional fees such as a hospital excess or other ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses. Your health insurer will also be able to assist in understanding if you will have doctor, radiology and pathology out-of-pocket costs.
Patients who don’t have private health insurance can choose to access St John of God Health Care private hospital services and treatments by paying fees themselves.
By accessing our self-funded care option, you’ll be able to avoid wait times and have your surgery or treatment with your choice of specialist at a St John of God Health Care private hospital.
- Learn more and enquire about the self-funded care option.
- Call 1300 940 199 to get a quote for self-funded treatment.
If you have received an invoice for an expense associated with treatment from a St John of God Health Care service you can pay your bill online.
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