Breast cancer

When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your GP will refer you to a breast surgeon. Your surgeon will then put you in contact with the Cabrini Breast Cancer Care Team where dedicated Breast Care Nurses will help you with all your questions and start planning the next steps. They can be reached on (03) 9508 5550 or (03) 9508 5568.

It depends on your private health insurance policy and the type of medical tests and treatment you will require. Every patient is different, so please speak to your doctors and health insurance company about the expected associated out of pocket costs. Generally, hospital cover policies pay the cost of in-hospital treatment charged by your specialist, and hospital costs such as accommodation and theatre fees. You may need to pay a gap, which is the difference between the total fee charged by your doctor and any Medicare rebate and health fund benefit.

There are no out of pocket expenses for wig room services, consultations with a breast care nurse, access to support groups, information sessions for patients and families and Look good feel good program.

The breast cancer exercise rehabilitation program generally will incur limited out of pocket costs with rehab cover.

Please note: this is a guide only; for further details please contact your private health provider.

Victoria now offers four pro bono programs for people experiencing financial hardship as the result of their cancer diagnosis: the Legal Referral Service, the Financial Planning Referral Service, the Workplace Advisory Service, and the Small Business Advice Service.

These programs are delivered by industry professionals who volunteer their time to assist clients who cannot afford to pay for advice. Cancer Council Victoria offers a detailed guide on Cancer and Your Finances Guide and also provides assistance to match clients with appropriate service providers.

Cabrini also offers access to a social worker who can supply patients with information about accessing superannuation and other financial information.

You will visit the breast surgeon for an assessment. You may require further investigations including: a medical examination, imaging, breast core biopsy and assessment for genetic counselling.

After you have met with the Breast cancer surgeon or medical oncologist you will meet your Cabrini Breast Care Nurse. The breast care nurses will help coordinate your care, provide referrals to psychologists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, provide information about treatment and liaise with the clinical team. A breast care nurse can provide support, information and navigation for you and your family.

Treatment will depend on the type and stage of your cancer and your individual supportive needs. Treatment may involve:

Surgery: An operation by a surgeon to remove a part of the body affected by cancer.

Reconstruction surgery: An operation by a reconstructive surgeon to create the shape following removal of cancer. This maybe done at the time of your surgery to remove cancer of a separate procedure at a later time.

Chemotherapy: The use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or slowing their growth.

Radiotherapy: The use of radiation, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams or protons, to kill cancer cells or injure them so they cannot grow or multiply. Also called radiation therapy.

Hormonal therapies: Treatment that blocks the body’s natural hormones. It is used when the cancer is growing in response to hormones. Also called endocrine therapy.

Targeted therapies: The prevention or treatment of disease using substances that alter the immune system’s response.

If you have had surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, simply call the ward where you have had your surgery. Alternatively, you can contact the main hospital switch number on (03) 9508 8777 for Cabrini Brighton or (03) 9508 1222 for Cabrini Malvern and they will direct your call. If you need urgent medical treatment, please contact Cabrini Emergency (03) 9508 1500, or call your specialist or an ambulance.

You can contact the Cabrini Breast Cancer Care office on (03) 9508 5568 for all assistance. The Breast Care Nurses will help you with all your questions and enquiries.

If you have any concerns, please speak to our Breast Care Nurses on (03) 9508 5568. They can make a time with you over the phone or invite you to attend a face-to-face consultation if you would prefer. They have access to our social work team, and can assist you should you need information about access to psychologists or psychiatry.

We also work with a range of partner groups such as Counterpart that can connect you with other women who have had a similar diagnosis. If you prefer to communicate online, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and Counterpart have an online network to support women with breast cancer. We also offer a monthly Breast Cancer support group facilitated by our Breast Care Nurses. Please ask your Breast Care Nurse for further information.

Please refer to our resources page for further information.

Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise when you are undergoing cancer treatment is proven to have profound benefits. Research shows that if you are active and eat well while you have medical treatment, it may improve your quality of life, reduce your risk of cancer recurrence, increase your chance of survival and extend your life.

However, it can be difficult to know what to eat and how much to exercise. That’s why Cabrini offers cancer patients advice on nutrition and exercise that is backed by science, and tailored to individual circumstances. Our dietitians offer nutritional support during cancer treatment to help you with weight management and advise you on the correct meal choices.

We also have a team of exercise physiologists to support you with your exercise needs. The cancer journey can take a heavy physical and mental toll on patients, and exercise is a safe and effective way to counteract some of the side effects. The latest evidence suggests regular exercise before, during and/or following cancer treatment decreases the severity of adverse effects. It has also been linked to reduced risk of developing new cancers and conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Please ask your specialist for more information, or visit our Allied Health Centre page. The Cancer Oncology Society of Australia’s Position Statement on Exercise in Cancer Care is also a great source of information.

One of the benefits of being cared for at Cabrini is our dedication to world-class research. Cabrini’s Oncology Clinical Trials Program enables eligible patients to access pioneering treatments, including immunotherapy and targeted therapies, for a range of cancers.

Our program, which was established in 2003, provides state-of-the-art care for cancer patients and continued advancements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. We achieve this through a combination of research, education and clinical practice.

Your specialist will discuss any clinical trials offered at Cabrini, or at other hospitals, that you may be eligible for. They may also be able to connect you to relevant special access programs, which can allow patients to receive new drugs before they are subsidised by the government.

When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, it’s common to be so overwhelmed with information that they do not think about the impact treatment may have on their ability to have children. For others, their future fertility is all they can think about.

We encourage our cancer patients to discuss how their treatment may affect their ability to conceive a child, or maintain a pregnancy, before treatment begins. The choices you make about fertility preservation will be based on your individual circumstances, such as your diagnosis, treatment plan and desire to have children in the future.

Your Cabrini cancer specialist or general practitioner can refer you to a fertility specialist or a counsellor who can explain the steps you can take to preserve and protect your fertility before, during and after treatment.

They will be able to explain the potential impact of treatment on your chances of conceiving and the latest fertility preservation techniques, while understanding the unique time constraints a cancer patient faces.

Yes. Your friends and family are always welcome in the Day Oncology Units as they provide important support during chemotherapy sessions. We ask that you are accompanied by one person for your treatment.

Yes. If you need radiotherapy, your surgeon will refer you to a specialist radiation doctor. GenesisCare Radiation Oncology is located at Cabrini Malvern hospital.

Yes. We know that a cancer diagnosis affects your loved ones too and we encourage them to seek support. They are welcome to call our Breast Care Nurses to answer any questions they may have.

Your specialist will discuss your individual follow-up plan with you and your GP. Generally patients see a doctor regularly for five or more years after cancer treatment finishes.