Our Cancer Supportive Care Team provides services for those living with cancer to meet their physical, emotional, social, psychological, informational, spiritual and practical needs. We provide this support during all phases of the cancer journey.
About this service
Our team includes Cancer Specialist Nurses (also known as Cancer Care Coordinators) and our Cancer Psychosocial Specialists (Social Workers and Psychologists).
Cancer specialist nurses have in-depth knowledge about specific cancers and provide support, education and information to you and your family.
Our Specialist Nurses can help you by:
- Explaining your treatment options and advocating for your needs and preferences.
- Ensuring you are assessed and promptly referred to specialists, allied health and support services based on your needs.
- Supporting you in navigating the health care system.
- Making sure your care is coordinated across different treating teams.
- Providing timely and consistent education and information to you, your carers and family. This might include things like treatment information, how to manage side effects, and which support groups and community organisations are available to you.
- Teaching you how to manage your health and wellbeing at home.
Our Cancer Psychosocial Team provides counselling and social work.
We can help you with:
- Practical support for financial issues, accommodation and transport needs.
- Information and referral to community services.
- Advocating for you and your family or carers.
- Counselling to help you adjust to your diagnosis, grief and loss, role and identity changes or carer burden.
- Support for the psychosocial impact of cancer and strategies to address this.
- Support when you are discharged from hospital, including family meetings.
Each member of the Supportive Care team has specific expertise and we work together to ensure you are supported.
Who we care for
The Cancer Supportive Care Team is available to anyone who:
- is aged 15 years and over and
- has a cancer diagnosis and
- lives in the ACT or surrounds and
- has been seen initially or for follow up at Canberra Hospital (but may receive their treatment elsewhere) or
- is an adolescent or young adult with cancer irrespective of whether they have been seen at Canberra Hospital.
People are not eligible for our services if they are seen in private medical practices and receive their treatment in private hospitals.
We cannot see inpatients at hospitals other than Canberra Hospital.
This service is free.
How to access this service
Your treating team can refer you to this service to help you with your supportive care needs.
You can also self-refer by ringing the Canberra Region Cancer Access Team line on (02) 5124 8444. Please ask to speak to the Supportive Care Team and they will make sure you are supported by one of their team members (Cancer Specialist Nurse, Social Worker or Psychologist) that best addresses your needs.
Please see Cancer Counselling for specific information about cancer counselling.
What to expect
We will contact you by phone or email once we receive your request.
We aim to improve health outcomes for people with cancer, improve the quality of cancer care, and reduce spending for cancer treatment.
We have more information about what to expect before, during and after cancer treatment.
What to bring to your appointment
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- Medicines you need to take while you are here
- List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
- Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
Where we’re located
The Cancer Supportive Care Team is based in the Canberra Region Cancer Centre, but also work from inpatients wards at Canberra Hospital and some community health centres.
The team will let you know where your appointment is.
We have directions and transport information for these services.
Resources
Information for referrers
Referral options:
- Phone: Canberra Region Cancer Access Team line on (02) 5124 8444.
