Supporting a loved one through cancer treatment in Melbourne? Here’s how to make the journey as manageable as possible.

A cancer diagnosis changes everything. In the days that follow, families are suddenly navigating an unfamiliar world of oncology appointments, treatment schedules, specialist consultations, and difficult conversations. If your loved one’s treatment is at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre — one of the world’s leading cancer hospitals, located in Melbourne’s Parkville precinct — you may be facing the additional challenge of being far from home.

At Q Squared Serviced Apartments, we are located just a short walk from Peter Mac. Over the years, we have had the privilege of supporting many families through this journey — providing a stable, comfortable, and affordable base during what is one of the most challenging periods of their lives. We want to share some of what we’ve learned to help you prepare.

Why Treatment at Peter Mac Often Means an Extended Stay

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre draws patients from across Victoria, Australia, and internationally because of the highly specialised nature of its care. Unlike a single surgical procedure requiring a brief hospital admission, cancer treatment often involves:

• Multiple rounds of chemotherapy or immunotherapy, often administered weekly or fortnightly over several months
• Daily radiation therapy sessions spanning several weeks
• Pre and post-operative consultations surrounding complex surgical procedures
• Regular follow-up appointments for ongoing monitoring
• Unexpected admissions or treatment adjustments that extend planned timelines

For families travelling from regional Victoria, interstate, or overseas, this means accommodation isn’t just a one or two night consideration — it’s a medium-term living arrangement that needs to feel sustainable. A cramped hotel room simply isn’t built for that.

The Walk from Q Squared to Peter Mac

Our apartments on Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne are within easy walking distance of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre on Grattan Street, Parkville. The walk takes around 10–12 minutes through quiet residential streets and takes you past Royal Park — a large, peaceful green space that many of our guests tell us becomes part of their daily routine.

For patients who may be fatigued from treatment, the route is flat and manageable. For family members, having that short walk to decompress between the hospital and home — breathing fresh air, moving your body — can be genuinely restorative.

If walking isn’t practical on a given day, the tram along Royal Parade and Uber are both readily accessible from our location.

Why a Serviced Apartment Makes Sense During Cancer Treatment

Families supporting a loved one through cancer treatment have specific, practical needs that a standard hotel simply isn’t designed to meet. Here’s why a serviced apartment is the better choice:

Nutrition and diet control

Cancer treatment can significantly affect appetite and dietary needs. Having a fully equipped kitchen means you can prepare the specific foods your loved one can tolerate, accommodate any dietary restrictions their oncology team has advised, and ensure they are eating well — rather than relying on hospital cafeteria food or expensive takeaway.

Rest and recovery space

Treatment fatigue is real and profound. A separate bedroom, a quiet living space, and the ability to control your own environment — temperature, light, noise — makes an enormous difference to recovery between appointments. Our apartments are designed for this kind of living.

Privacy and dignity

Difficult days deserve privacy. Whether it’s processing upsetting medical news, managing treatment side effects, or simply having a cry in your own space, a private apartment provides the dignity that shared hotel corridors and thin walls cannot.

Room for family

Our one and two bedroom apartments mean that when another family member travels to Melbourne to help or to visit, there is room for them without the expense of booking a second room. During a cancer journey, having family close by matters.

Support Services at Peter Mac Worth Knowing About

Peter Mac offers a range of support services for patients and families that go well beyond clinical treatment. When you’re settling in for a longer stay near the hospital, it’s worth connecting with some of these:

• Social work team — can assist with accommodation support, financial counselling, and connecting families with community resources
• Psychology and counselling services — for both patients and family members navigating the emotional weight of a cancer diagnosis
• Nutrition and dietetics — specialists who can advise on managing treatment-related dietary challenges
• Pastoral and spiritual care — available to patients and families of all backgrounds and beliefs
• Cancer Connect — a peer support program connecting patients with others who have been through similar experiences

Don’t hesitate to ask the nursing or ward staff to connect you with any of these services. They exist precisely for situations like yours.

A Note on Flexible Bookings

We understand that cancer treatment timelines shift. A treatment round might be delayed due to blood counts. A patient might be admitted unexpectedly. Plans change constantly, and we know the last thing you need is a rigid accommodation booking adding to your stress.

At Q Squared, we work with our hospital guests as much as we possibly can when plans change. We’re a small, family-run business and we approach every booking with genuine care and flexibility. If your situation changes, just call us — we’ll do our best to help.

To every family supporting a loved one through treatment at Peter Mac: we see you, and we’re here to make at least one part of this journey easier.

Accommodation Near Peter Mac — Book Direct & Save

Q Squared Serviced Apartments | 115 Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne

📞 +61 (03) 8383 1072     ✉  enquiries@q2sa.com.au

Book direct at qsquaredservicedapartments.com — 10% off your total stay