Friday Update 21st January 2022
Friday Update 21st January 2022
Hello members,
Welcome to the first Friday update of 2022!
First, I would like to extend my thankyou to our wonderful members
who kept me in the loop with items that needed attention over the office
closure period, as we didn’t have our usual fulltime moderating schedule. It
was extremely helpful - THANKYOU.
There has been quite a few important updates in relation to
COVID-19 vaccinations and associated impacts in the health system that I will
share in this update, as well some welcoming news in relation to Telehealth.
Community highlights
Looking
back on 2021 Online Network activity
The below data is more than numbers; these are valuable conversations,
support and connections:
·
1058 discussions
·
10,486 comments
·
509 contributors
·
3,610 active users
·
914,450 page views
TOP 5 Popular
forum discussions in 2021
Members new and old may have missed some of the forum discussions that
have received the most comments in 2021:
3. COVID 19 jab
5. Our Gardens
(Check out the beautiful lilium shared by @Locksley)
Community News
BCNA 18 Jan 2022 – Telehealth Consultations
BCNA welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement to
reinstate MBS items for Telehealth consultations made via telephone with cancer
specialists. We know this will help to reduce exposure and risk to the
community during the ongoing pandemic and allow for flexibility in how Telehealth
is delivered. BCNA, the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and other health
professional groups strongly advocated for telephone Telehealth items to remain
on the MBS due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. BCNA has the
latest in how this may impact you go to https://buff.ly/3mxBuVy
BCNA 13 Jan 2022- COVID-19 booster vaccine
Those
who received a third COVID-19 vaccine due to being immunocompromised or on
active cancer treatment are now eligible for a booster vaccine four months
after their third shot. Visit My Journey or call BCNA’s
helpline for more information about COVID-19 and breast cancer. My Journey: https://buff.ly/35NnMrp
RACGP - A guide, action plan and symptoms diary for patients
The RACGP has developed a guide to assists COVID-19 positive
patients to self-manage their symptoms at home, and is the patient complement
to the GP resource Home-care guidelines for patients with COVID-19. CLICK HERE for further details
WidgitHealth
Widget
Health provides
free visual images about healthcare. The images can be used for communication
or as part of a social script to prepare for a hospital visit or medical
procedure for people who may have a communication need or disability. CLICK HERE for further details
Dine Pink to help BCNA
Now, more than ever, we understand the
importance of human connection and we can finally celebrate our friendships and
family by connecting in person.
We encourage you to Dine Pink this
summer while raising vital funds to support BCNA. You can help ensure people
affected by breast cancer stay connected to their support networks by
connecting them to resources and services such as the BCNA Helpline, My Journey
app, local support groups, and BCNA’s online network. CLICK HERE to find out more
Podcast (Have you checked out Charlotte Tottman’s
podcast?)
‘What
You Don’t Know Until You Do’ – EP3 The Showing Up and Letting Down: Surprises
and Disappointments in Relationships
When unexpected
family or friends show up to support you through your breast cancer diagnosis
it can make you feel a great sense of comfort and value.
However, when
the people we love step back when we need them most, it can leave you feeling a
great sense of disappointment.
In episode 3 of
What You Don’t Know Until You Do, Clinical Psychologist Dr Charlotte Tottman
discusses how best to respond to disappointment, recalibrate expectations, and
how to clearly communicate your emotional and practical needs to those around
you.
Listen to
episode 3 via the link: https://www.bcna.org.au/.../charlotte-tottman-podcast.../
Books / Movies/ TV Series/ Documentaries
This one is from the My Journey Library and I have watched the intro
and first video of the series. Some of you may be interested in exploring
further:
Emotional
Health During and After Cancer Treatment video series
- Julie Bolton (Counsellor and breast cancer survivor)
(This
series of six videos explains the impact of a breast cancer diagnosis and
treatment on our emotional health and provides simple but effective strategies
to help improve your quality of life. The first video is currently available
free of charge, and then there is a charge of $49.99 for unlimited access to
the full series. You can watch a three minute introduction to the series on
Julie's website - follow the link above)
Hope you
enjoyed the content this week and in the meantime, if you have any concerns
while online, please contact one of the moderators -
@Jenny_BCNA @Carissa_BCNA @Anna_BCNA
@Pat_BCNA @MichelleP_BCNA @Mez_BCNA
If you need to
speak with someone regarding your concern, please call 1800 500 258
alternatively, you can email contact@bcna.org.au
Take care,
The mod team – Mez, Carissa,
Jenny, Anna, Pat & Michelle
“Feelings are
just visitors, let them come and go”- Mooji