How Cancer Council's Helpline is helping to Support Cancer Patients
On the eve of this year’s Biggest Morning Tea Fundraiser, Doctors are encouraged to refer cancer patients to Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 helpline.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is incredibly difficult to cope with. Many people experience feelings of shock, fear and confusion. Sharing a cancer diagnosis is also not easy. You may worry about how cancer will change your way of life and how it will impact family and friends.
The information patients receive can differ and some find it hard to understand or retain everything discussed during their medical consultations. Patients often return home with many unanswered questions about the details of their diagnosis, treatment process and the reality of living with cancer.
That’s where Cancer Council can help. The 13 11 20 Information and Support Service is a confidential service staffed by health care professionals who can help with any cancer-related queries, including:
- Questions about the disease
- Support if you or someone you care about has cancer
- How to cope with treatment and its side effects
- Assistance with legal, financial and transport to treatment
- End of life care
- Information about services, resources or support groups
Not just an information resource, Cancer Council also provides many practical and emotional support services to help cancer patients and carers at any stage of their cancer journey.
Cancer Council staff member talking to a cancer patient
Annalise Harvey is a breast cancer survivor who found the 13 11 20 helpline extremely valuable in answering questions she had about the day-to-day of living with cancer and treatment process.
“I was fortunate enough to be referred to Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 Information and Support Service by my oncologist".
"I signed up for Cancer Council NSW’s Cancer Connect program, which connects cancer patients with a trained peer support volunteer who has had a similar cancer experience. Through this service, I was matched with someone of a similar age and this made the experience so much more valuable and relatable to me. It was really encouraging to be able to speak to someone a few years down the treatment track and learn more about the experience from their perspective".
"I urge all healthcare professionals to refer any cancer patients to 13 11 20 and give them the opportunity to experience the Cancer Council’s wealth of relatable information and incredible services".
Wavelength has been supporting the Cancer Council for over 10 years and will be participating in this year’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea with all funds raised helping support Cancer Council’s life-saving cancer research, prevention, advocacy, and support programs.
We salute and thank all our wonderful Doctors who provide specialist care to cancer patients every day and encourage all Doctors to refer cancer patients to the Cancer Council.
We are currently working with a number of clients across Australia who are looking for experienced Oncologists and Palliative Care Physicians. If you can help, please get in touch by registering with us or alternatively view our current medicine job vacancies.