Artist - Steven S. Donovan

A Cancer Journey

HealthMid North Coast Local Health District

Guudji YiiguJourney of Healing

Gathang language

Port Macquarie Health Campus

Treatments ChemotherapyRadiationPlanning

RadiationTreatment

Travel &Accommodation

HelpfulInformation

NCCI

The North Coast Cancer Institute (NCCI)is part of Port Macquarie Health Campus.

You are welcome to bring a family member or friend to help you on your journey.

For all cancer treatment, you will be given an appointment card with the dates and times for your treatment, and for your next clinic visit.

You will probably see different Doctors from your health team for your appointments.

Don’t be afraid to ask Doctors or Nurses questions about your medicines if you are not sure.

NCCI reception

NCCI

This is the waiting areafor your clinic visit

TreatmentsChemotherapy (Chemo): is a medicine given to treat cancer.

Radiation therapy: is a special x-ray machine that is used to treat cancer.

Chemotherapy (Chemo) Radiation therapy

Treatments

Chemotherapy (Chemo)

NCCI chemo waiting area

Chemotherapy (Chemo)

Before you start your treatment you will be invited to attend a group education session.

You will then spend some time with a treatment Nurse who will explain your specific treatment to you.

Everyone must wash their hands before entering the Day Unit.

Your treatment could last all day (lunch provided for the patient).

You can bring a support person with you.

Nurses will wear a gown, mask and gloves when giving your chemo.

If you are worried or unwell please talk to the nurses.

Your support person can also help Nurses and Doctors by:

• Washing hands on entry to the Day Unit.

• Talking to the Nurses if you have any problems.

• Making sure once home you don’t have contact with someone who has a cold or illness.

Chemotherapy

Radiation Planning

Radiation Planning

Planning can take 1-2 hours and is painless.

Please bring your old x-rays with you.

More x-rays will be taken by radiation therapists who may give you one or more small dot tattoos. This will make sure that radiation is given in the same area each treatment.

Talk with Nurses who will give you advice on looking after yourself during the treatment.

You might have to start treatment straight away or you might go home and come back some time later.

RadiationPlanning

Radiation treatment

This is the waiting areafor your radiation treatment

Radiation Treatment

Usually every day, Monday to Friday, sometimes twice a day.

Notify the reception staff of your arrival.

Sit in the waiting area.

The therapist will call your name: you will get changed into your gown.

You will see Nurses and Doctors during your treatment period.

The time on the treatment bed is only a few minutes.

Skin Care

Daily shower with warm water (not hot).

Use gentle soap e.g. sunlight/baby soap.

Use Sorbolene cream morning and evening.

The nurses will provide a handout with more information.

RadiationTreatment

Rotary Lodge

Travel

If you need to travel more than 200kms in any week for treatment, you can get financial assistance with your travel and accommodation costs through the IPTAAS scheme.

If you do not qualify for IPTAAS and you have problems with transport, please see the social worker or the Aboriginal hospital liaison officer.

Accommodation

If you need to stay here during your treatment there is accommodation at Rotary Lodge.

Please see the social worker if you have any questions.

Travel &Accommodation

Wishing you well on yourJourney of Healing

GapuGathang language

Helpful InformationOncology social workers: not just practical assistance but can also assist with counselling and emotional support for you and your family.

Dieticians: to assist with any dietary needs and advice.

Lymphoedema therapist: to assist with swollen limbs if required.

Speech therapist: to assist you if you have difficulty swallowing or speaking.

Cancer Nurse Coordinator: to assist you navigating your way through the health system.

The Specialist Breast Care Nurse: for those patients with Breast Cancer.

The Look Good Feel Better Volunteers: who can assist with wigs and turbans. They are available if you lose your hair (this won’t happen to everyone).

Local Aboriginal Health Unit: Aboriginal health workers to provide you with support. Ph: 02 5524 2186.

There are other support services outside of the hospital that can also assist. These include:

The Cancer Council Helpline13 11 20The Leukaemia Foundation1800 620 420 There is lots of information available from websites. Please be cautious about the sites that you visit and trust the government, university, The Cancer Council and Leukaemia Foundation sites.

We suggest:

www.cancercouncil.com.au www.leukaemia.org.au www.cancerinstitute.org.au The Cancer Journey Booklet Working Party would like to acknowledge Leila Murison for her initial concept from Townsville Cancer Centre, Queensland Health.

Be aware the spelling for names of Aboriginal groups may differ. Unless otherwise referenced, the spelling of Aboriginal language names in this booklet is taken from the NSW Lands Council Map. This map is just one representation of other map sources that are available for describing Aboriginal Australia. The map indicates only the general location of larger groupings of people which may include smaller groups such as clans, dialects or individual languages in a group. Boundaries are not intended to be exact and the spelling of each language Nation is variable.

This initiative is part of the Aboriginal Well Being - Closing the Gap in Cancer Care Program funded through a Cancer Institute NSW Aboriginal Innovations Grant 2012.

HelpfulInformation

“Saltwater being the provider of the health, spiritual and well being for the Birpai people.

Saltwater also provides the main supplement diet, healing and spirituality.

The dolphin representing guidance to relevant food sources, spirituality and external life.

- The dolphin represents the totem of the Birpai people in the Hastings area.

- Waterholes represent the links to creeks, channels and rivers.

- Seaweed represents the healing medicine used by traditional custodians.”

Artist - Steven Donovan