Support and supportive care

Call us on 13 11 20

Whether it's dealing with a cancer diagnosis and treatment or supporting a loved one through their experience, Cancer Council's information and support phone service helps anyone impacted by cancer.

Cancer Council 13 11 20 is a free, confidential telephone information and support service run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory.

Anyone can call Cancer Council 13 11 20 - cancer patients, people living with cancer, their families, carers and friends, teachers, students and healthcare professionals. We provide vital practical and emotional support that's often not readily available to the wider community.

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and staffed by cancer nurses and specially trained professionals for the cost of a local call (except from mobiles).

Although we can't give individual medical advice, we can talk about the effects of specific types of cancer and explain what will happen during processes like chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other cancer treatments.

As well as giving direct support, our 13 11 20 staff can link you to Cancer Council's wider network of services around the country. Cancer Council is here to help all Australians affected by cancer.

Supportive care:

A diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming. It can be hard to take in all the information provided to you and your family. It is important that, as well as focusing on your medical issues, other areas where you and your family might need support are considered. Supportive care can assist you and your family by helping to manage any physical symptoms, your emotional and practical needs, as well as help you understand more about what may happen.

Supportive care compliments your medical care. It refers to all aspects of your health and well being, including:

• Physical symptoms
  Pain, feeling sick, feeling tired
• Family, social and practical needs
  Home help, child care, financial support
• Spiritual and religious needs
  Faith, courage, hope
• Information needs
  About diagnosis, prognosis, treatments
• Emotional and psychological needs
  Fear, sadness, anger

You may need support for some or all of the things listed above.

As supportive care issues may change over time, your health professional should discuss your needs over time. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire that will assist you to identify your supportive care concerns. You could be asked if you’d like to complete this form a number of times. Each time you fill out this questionnaire, you can decide if you would like to seek help.

Your health professional will read the completed form and discuss any issues with you. Sometimes you may need additional information or a referral to another specialist or service. Your health professional can assist you with this. Please speak with your health professional if you have any questions.

What are the benefits of supportive care?

There are supports and services that can help people, their families and carers to cope with cancer and its treatment. These can help you to enhance the benefits of treatment and to live as well as possible during this time.

These supports and services can help you to manage fatigue, anxiety, depression, dietary and eating issues, nausea, vomiting and pain, and increase your knowledge about your treatment. Having these important needs addressed can also assist recovery and improve symptoms and overall quality of life.

Who provides supportive care?

All members of the multidisciplinary team have a role in identifying supportive care needs and providing the relevant supports and services to assist with those needs.

Allied health professionals (AHPs) are key members of the team working to support patients.

Alongside oncology nurses, allied health professionals involved in supportive care for cancer include:

Dietitians – provide dietary recommendations and advice to treat malnutrition which is common for people with cancer. Dietitians can help with limiting weight loss, managing weight gain, minimising discomfort, reducing tiredness, and improving nutrition.

Lymphoedema practitioners – have specialist training in prevention and management of lymphoedema (swelling). Treatment includes massage, compression bandages, and exercises.

Music and art therapists – work with you to use the arts to help with communication, and physical and mental health issues such as altered body image, anxiety, tiredness and pain.

Occupational therapists – assist you to overcome problems that arise as a result of your cancer so you, your family or carer can maintain independence with day to day tasks (such as managing fatigue, and addressing barriers to returning to driving, work and home based activities after treatment).

Pastoral care workers – Spiritual health and wellbeing can be anything from making some quiet time to reflect, to receiving support from trained pastoral care workers. Pastoral care workers can connect patients to organised services or provide support visits.

Physiotherapists – help you improve mobility, breathing, functional ability and independence as well as gain relief from symptoms of physical disability or pain by using hands-on treatments and exercise programs.

Psychiatrists – work closely with psychologists to provide a range of psychological care and support. They can assess and treat the effects of cancer treatments on mood, for example depression or anxiety, and thinking or memory changes.

Psychologists – You and your family and carers may experience sadness, grief, lowered mood or anxiety following a diagnosis of cancer, its treatment and associated life adjustments. Psychologists with experience in oncology can help with adjusting to life changes, relationships and communication, spiritual issues, and emotional support. You do not have to be feeling very distressed in order to seek a referral to psychology.

Social workers – provide information on resources, medical and insurance coverage, and how to talk to your family and friends about cancer. Social workers provide assistance in coping with your diagnosis and connect patients and their families with community, state, and national resources.

Speech and language therapists – assess and treat patients with speech, language or swallowing problems.

In addition, support from family, friends, support groups, volunteers and other community-based organisations make an important contribution to supportive care.