Bass Coast Health (BCH) is easing the burden on people whose lives have been upended after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.
A comprehensive cancer care service from Wonthaggi Hospital and the Phillip Island Health Hub is saving patients the cost of time, energy and money in travelling beyond the region to receive treatment and medical advice.
Patients are able to consult with oncologists from Alfred Health at Wonthaggi, undergo surgery, and receive chemotherapy and other infusions at the L. Rigby Centre – a dedicated cancer and infusion facility at Wonthaggi Hospital.
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s timely to highlight that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia for women, with 40-48 breast cancer cases in Bass Coast Shire each year.
Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare predict that 57 people will be diagnosed each day with breast cancer. Bass Coast Health CEO, Jan Child, highlighted that over 20,428 people are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia this year, including 212 men.
“Bass Coast Health has been working hard over the years to expand the variety of specialists and services that we offer to our community. We are particularly proud of the oncology services we can offer to people who are already battling exhaustion, the side effects of treatment and stress that a cancer diagnosis brings,” Ms Child said.
BCH is also fortunate to have the services of McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Taryn Robinson, funded by the McGrath Foundation. She provides free physical, psychological and emotional support to her clients affected by breast cancer and their families. Taryn has 20 years of experience working in oncology, has specialist breast care nurse training, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Cancer Care and a Masters in Advanced Nursing Practice.
“As a McGrath Breast Care Nurse, I feel very privileged to be able to deliver personalised care with my passion of oncology, improving outcomes for a regional community,” Taryn said.
“I find people are grateful to have someone involved in their care that is an advocate for them and can help them coordinate their medical care, understand the medical jargon and help to make their breast cancer experience more manageable.”
Taryn is part of a multi-disciplinary team working with clients during their breast cancer experience. The team at Bass Coast Health includes a Breast Surgeon (Dr Sarah Birks), Medical Oncologists, a Radiation Oncologist, Allied Health professionals and the L. Rigby Centre team. Wonthaggi Hospital also has Breast Screen Victoria onsite.
Judy Mashford of Surf Beach Estate had chemotherapy at the L. Rigby Centre, in addition to surgery at The Alfred hospital and radiation therapy at Gippsland Radiation Oncology at Traralgon.
For five weeks, volunteer drivers from Bass Coast Health took her to Traralgon on a Monday, and she stayed at Gippsland Rotary Centenary House until Friday, while she received daily radiation therapy. A volunteer driver drove to Traralgon every Friday to return Judy home to Phillip Island.
“It’s marvellous to be able to have treatment locally. I moved down to Phillip Island from the city and did not release what was available here,” Judy said.
“It makes life so much easier when you get can treatment locally. Everyone involved has been wonderful. The girls and guys from the L. Rigby Centre made me feel at ease from the get go.”
Una Curtin of Wonthaggi was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. After initially being told she would need to travel to Melbourne to receive treatment, Una said being able to be treated in her home town was “incredible”.
“It meant that I did not have to rely on anybody and not have to stay in Melbourne. It meant that my family members did not have to travel to take me to my appointments,” she said.
Una underwent two surgeries and then chemotherapy at the L. Rigby Centre, and is now having appointments with her oncologist and physiotherapist at Wonthaggi Hospital.
“The staff are incredibly friendly and in a scary situation, the staff have been incredibly calming,” she said.
Taryn’s services are free and can be accessed through self-referral – without a doctor’s referral. Taryn can be contacted on taryn.robinson@basscoasthealth.org.au or 0417 552 327.