Breast Care Nurse

Hi Cherylek, you can ring an out of area BCN at the Breast Cancer Institute Westmead if you wanted to talk with someone I agree with the previous post about how different BCN positions are in rural regional areas ... our local Nurse covers an area that HUNDREDS Of Kms wide. 

I have found that even although she is only at our local hospital some days of the week I can leave her a message and she will get back to me. 

If your in another state I am sure you can access telephone BCN's if need be. 

I hope that this site helps in your support of the journey. 

 

Hi Cheryl

If you ever find youself wanting to speak with a cancer nurse and can't get a hold of one, you can always call the Cancer Council on 13 11 20. They are staffed by cancer nurses who can provide you with information on the phone - perhaps not as good as talking with a breast care nurse in person, but it is something.

~ Annie

Hi,

As a nurse who has had breast cancer (and had a Breast Care Nurse) and then went on to further study to become a Breast Care Nurse (BCN) there is a huge range of BCNs and services available in public and private, city, regional and rural with not much consistency!!!

The gold standard is a BCN who meets you after diagnosis, and follows you all the way through your treatment, rehabilitation or indeed recurrence and palliative care if needed. BUT this is not always the case. Many nurses (like me) have other jobs as well....I am a midwife! They may be employed as surgical nurses, chemotherapy nurses, radiotherapy nurses, in Breast Screen with BCN being an 'add on' with limited hours. Many hospitals have dedicated BCNs who do follow through both public or private women though. 

Best advice I can give is contact your BCN when ever you feel the need. They all have different 'follow up plans' no real strict guidelines, they would always be willing to chat even if it's a phone call follow up :)

Also ask at your treatment centre - you may find the girl giving chemo has done futher education.

Hope all goes well.

Cheers Jo

Hi Sue, yes I had two surgeries (4&11 dec12). I met her on 7 Dec 12. As I mentioned this is the only contact I have had. There has been no follow up to see how I am going, which I find strange. Cheryle.

Hi - my Breast Care Nurse is fantastic.  I am also a private patient.  Did you have surgery, if so you should have met her then, I met mine the first time I visited the surgeon and eventhough I did not have surgery until after 6 months of chemo I was able to visit her at any time or phone if I needed to.My breast care nurse has a lot of information, brochures and contacts that you cannot find out about otherwise.  She is also someone to talk who when no one else understands.  The chemo nurses are wonderful and know most things but I found sometimes I just needed to get another opinion.  Hope this helps Sue.

Hi - my Breast Care Nurse is fantastic.  I am also a private patient.  Did you have surgery, if so you should have met her then, I met mine the first time I visited the surgeon and eventhough I did not have surgery until after 6 months of chemo I was able to visit her at any time or phone if I needed to.My breast care nurse has a lot of information, brochures and contacts that you cannot find out about otherwise.  She is also someone to talk who when no one else understands.  The chemo nurses are wonderful and know most things but I found sometimes I just needed to get another opinion.  Hope this helps Sue.