| Introduction to Support Services
Who are the main
sources of support?
Your General Practitioner
(GP) and Breast Care Nurse (BCN) are available
and willing to "accompany you on the journey" through your treatment
and recovery phase. You can also look to the other health care professionals
involved in your care, and the many government and community agencies
who provide support.
Some women find that a self help support group offers them what
they need, others find it helpful to seek spiritual support. In
hospital you can ask a member of staff to arrange a visit by a member
of the Pastoral Care team.
There are also an overwhelming number of health related organizations
- with their websites - devoted to cancer, many specific to breast
cancer. In Victoria we have the Cancer Council
and its Cancer Helpline (with phone nurse counsellors), website,
and Cancer Connect - a peer-to-peer support service.
Nationally there is the National Breast Cancer Centre
(NBCC) with its website. They have developed a number of resources,
collated a wide range of information sources and analysed research.
Included in their resources is a guide to services in Victoria for
people with cancer and their carers, families and friends, titled
"Cancer Services".
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is a national
organization which advocates for women. Set up by women who have
themselves experienced breast cancer, two of their better known
initiatives are the "Beacon" (their newsletter) and the Dragon Boats.
Further information about these organisations can be found throughout
this Support section and in the Resources
section.
In the Loddon Mallee region there is a commonwealth funded initiative
called Commonwealth Carelink Hotline. They provide
information about general Health and Community Services in the region.
Call the free call number 1800 052 222.
On this website we provide a Directory
of Support Services in the Loddon Mallee region specific
to breast cancer.
What about support
for carers?
The carers of women with breast cancer are
another very special group. There are a range of supports specifically
for them – watch out for these in our Support
Services Directory under the Personal Support category.
What is the Loddon
Mallee Support Services Directory?
The Support
Services Directory identifies the particular support services
available in the Loddon Mallee region and the wider community. Each
entry gives an overview of the particular support service as well
as their contact details.
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