Rockhampton Information Forum

BCNA hosted an Information Forum in Rockhampton for people living with breast cancer and their supporters.

The Information Forum covered a range of topics including the latest in breast cancer treatment, managing your emotional wellbeing after a breast cancer diagnosis, and how you can live well during treatment and beyond.

It was also an opportunity to hear about what BCNA does and the services and resources we have available to support you, alongside discussing the unique rural challenges you may experience and the local services available in your community.

We heard from Medical Oncologist Dr Rebecca Moor, Oncology Social Worker Dr Carrie Lethborg, Breast Care Nurses Donna Wellington, Sally Haley (McGrath) and Carolanne Boland, Exercise Physiologist and BCNA member Karen Seymour and BCNA member Michelle Peters.

There were two concurrent information sessions throughout the day – one for people with early breast cancer and one for people with metastatic breast cancer.

Watch the videos

Rockhampton local community groups

Bra-ology

Faye Smith owns Bra-ology, a mobile breast prosthesis fitting business for those who have experienced surgery due to breast cancer. Faye will come to you and fit you for your prosthesis in the comfort of your own home.

As a prosthesis and lingerie fitter for Rockhampton and the surrounding region, she fits and sells the Amoena brand and is also trained in Triumph and Hickory.

Cancer Council Qld

Cancer Council Queensland provides information and support to all people affected by cancer. This support can be accessed by calling the information and support line on 13 11 20 or by visiting the cancercouncil.com.au website. Cancer Council works across all different cancer types and supports all stages of a cancer journey.

Cancer Council provides practical support, including legal and financial assistance, home help, transport and accommodation, emotional support including peer support, counselling and support groups and information booklets, factsheets, podcasts and webinars.

BreastScreen Queensland

BreastScreen Queensland is the state program of BreastScreen Australia and it provides breast screening for women at over 260 sites throughout Queensland with 11 local services and have 11 mobile screening vans, including one 4-wheel drive van that travels to rural and remote areas to make breast screening accessible for more women.

ACTIVATEhealth

ACTIVATEhealth uses experience and science-based exercise interventions to target your needs.

All programs and interventions include an initial consultation and assessment to ascertain your specific needs, previous history, current health level and injury and/or pain specific information and then an Accredited Exercise Physiologist works with you to form achievable goals, functional aims, and current ability to aid in improved program outcomes.

ACTIVATEhealth also do home visits with their Exercise Physiologist can visit your private facvility and design programs which can be achieved in this setting.

Look Good Feel Better

Look Good Feel Better is a free national community service program, run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, dedicated to teaching cancer patients how to manage the appearance-related side-effects caused by treatment for any type of cancer.

Catholic Care

CatholicCare (formerly CentacareCQ) is the longest running, not-for-profit local social services organisation in Central Queensland, providing professional community services for over 40 years. With over 340 staff and many dedicated volunteers, we are a large, vibrant and well-respected community organisation.

We work to encourage and strengthen individuals, couples and families through our broad range of services, which include aged care and disability support, counselling, and family and community support and education. CatholicCare serves all people, without regard to religion, race, age, economic circumstance or ethnic background.

Our reach extends from Mackay in the north, to Bundaberg in the south, and out to the Central West. While we have seven office sites across the region, staff travel far and wide to deliver services, offering outreach programs in many small townships.

CatholicCare also operate the Family Relationship Centres (FRC) in Mackay and Rockhampton. The FRC provides information and referrals to families at any stage of their relationships, and offers dispute resolution and property mediation to separated or separating families.

Find a McGrath Breast Care Nurse

Referral to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse is available to you for free, whether you’re in the private or public health system. McGrath Breast Care Nurses can support you from diagnosis, and throughout your treatment.