Cancer Survivor Guide Podcast

Getting a cancer diagnosis can be devastating.  You can feel like the rest of your life is put on hold while you tackle treatment.. but what happens when treatment stops (or moves into a maintenance phase)?  You've become a Cancer Survivor but now what?

Oncologist Dr Michael Jefford from Peter MacCallum Cancer hospital has helped to found the Australian Cancer Survivorship Center (ACSC).  The Center aims to optimize the health and well-being of cancer survivors and their carers.  Dr Karolina Lisy(PhD) is a researcher at the Survivorship Center looking at how treatment can be optimized for all cancer patients no matter what their background.

In this Cancer Survivor Guide podcast you'll hear how ACSC provides information to survivors and their health carers about the best wellness pathways after cancer treatment and the research that's being done to make sure treatment gives the very best survivorship outcomes.

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Why do I always feel so tired?  Cancer and cancer treatments can leave you feeling like you've been run over by a truck.

Exhaustion is expected during a lot of oncology treatments but it shouldn't dominate your life.  Occupational Therapist Kelsey Morecombe from Ballarat Health Services talks about the role occupational therapy can have in your cancer treatment.

In this Cancer Survivor Guide Podcast you'll hear Kelsey explain how to make the most of your energy so that fatigue doesn't dominate your whole day.

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What role does diet have in helping you thrive during cancer treatment and beyond?

In this podcast you'll meet Amy Smith a practicing Dietitian with Ballarat Health Services who works with the Oncology department to make sure their patients are as healthy as they can possibly be during treatment.

Amy loves busting some of the most popular myths surrounding cancer and food.  This includes the 'does sugar cause cancer?' question so many people are asking.

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Exercise may not be something that comes to mind when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or undergoing treatment.  But, did you know exercise can help counteract many negative side effects of cancer and its treatment, including fatigue? 

Accredited Exercise Physiologist Tracey Duggan shares in this podcast some valuable benefits of exercising before and after surgery, during treatment and beyond.

Working as an Exercise Physiologist with Ballarat Health Services in the oncology department, Tracey works with patients undergoing all sorts of treatment.  She feels fortunate to be able to help patients improve their quality of life, physical function, as well as assist manage treatment related side effects through exercise.

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Why would you want to see a psychologist when you've been diagnosed with cancer?  It could be that a psychologist could help you deal with the things that are really troubling you during your cancer treatment.  When you're undergoing treatment it's important to acknowledge that sometimes the psychological toll can be worse than the physical symptoms of cancer.
Clinical Psychologist Dr Sarah McKinnon finds it a privilege to work with cancer patients at Ballarat Health Services, helping them to cope and focus on what they value most in life.

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What extra help is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities dealing with cancer?  There are some really great supports available provided through Indigenous Health Services.  These can help you or a family member through cancer treatment and afterwards.

In this podcast you'll meet Emma Leehane, Aboriginal Support Worker at the Ballarat Base Hospital who understands the complexities you might experience if you're from the Aboriginal community but has seen the difference her experience and community support can provide.  You'll also meet Anthony Harrison and Sandy Anderson, practice nurses at the Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC).

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Chemotherapy: just the word can fill you with dread.  But maybe what you think you know about chemo isn't quite true any more..

Treatments have changed, drugs that can help with side effects have improved, thanks to clinical trials treatments have become more specific.. but it can still be tough. 

In this podcast you will meet Dr Craig Carden a Ballarat based Medical Oncologist who will talk you through what you might expect if you're about to undertake your first round of chemotherapy.  You'll also meet Oncology Nurses Elizabeth McEncroe and Heather McErvale form St John of God Ballarat Hospital.

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Once you've discovered you've got cancer it's understandable you want it out.

Surgery may be the first step in your cancer treatment.  What are the surgeons looking for when they're operating on your cancer?

In this podcast you'll be meeting Miss Caroline Baker Head of Breast Surgery St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Mr David Deutscher - a Surgeon based in Ballarat, Victoria.

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Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high energy particles or electro-magnetic energy to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours.  What's involved in this high tech cancer treatment and what can you expect? 

In this podcast you'll meet Dr Simone Reeves a specialist Radiation Oncologist and Campus Director at Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology Centre (BAROC).  Joining her are Sharon Gibbs and Chris Hoyne, Radiation Therapists at (BAROC).

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Cancer is tough and you need all the help you can get.  That's why the Cancer Council has a number you can call to speak to nurses who know their stuff.  Call 131120 to talk to someone who can help.

There are no silly questions.  All you need to do is ask.

In this podcast you will meet two of the nurses who work on the phone lines.  Katherine Lane and Craig Morton

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