I'm in an interesting situation. Just finished chemo and due to start radiation for 6 weeks (30 treatments). I am a public patient and the radiation was to be in the same hospital as my lumpectomy and chemo. However, after a counselling session with a non government funded charity Breast Cancer Care organisation (free counselling), they suggested that as I lived closer to a private radiation clinic it might lessen my travel time and fatigue to go there instead. Genesis Cancer Care treats public patients for radiation (not other oncology areas I gather) and there is a gap payment, which in my case is $500. This is based on assessment. I am on the DSP so not sure if the $500 is because of that or if it will be reduced further. Awaiting my first meeting with them. The charity organisation breast nurse contacted my hospital home base on my behalf to be referred to Genesis. Then they will contact me. With my home base hospital I rely on hospital transport and need to be ready to leave home two hours before my rad session, then have rad, say 30 mins undressing, treatment set up and dressing etc, then wait to go home, dropping off patients on the way, usually 2 hours. So that's about 4.5hrs out of every day for 6 weeks. At the private clinic it takes 20 mins to drive there top, and parking is free. So maybe 40mins travel and 30 mins for rad prep and rad tops. I get to see the same Dr each time and can phone the nurses anytime. I also have free use of the gym and individual exercise program designed for me by a onc physio/exercise trainer. (I'm not a fan of exercise but the results speak for themselves ... this is part of the ECU Vario exercise research program featured on Catalyst and the BCNA website as ground breaking global research!) I am quite taken aback with this gift from the charity. It's a bit of a huge shock that they are also going to fund me to do this! My surgery experience with the public system was very good with a multidisciplinary team and good follow up with the surgeon and lovely breast nurses. Chemo was sloppy with follow through from various chemo oncs but the chemo nurses were the backbone of the operation and great. I had already met with the public rad onc and thought he was very good and again the multidisciplinary team sounded on top of things. My only fear was change from the hospital I know, warts and all, to somewhere new. I will still need to drive but I will cut down on time spent in travel and waiting. I'm not saying private is better than public but this seems like a good move? I am still allowed to be a public patient at my hospital base for my herceptin injections. I wouldn't have thought this possible without the charity org counsellor telling me - so if this info helps anyone that's great. Even though $500 may not seem a lot, I am in the red with chemist bits and pieces and wouldn't be able to afford. I am totally amazed and grateful to be funded to do this, and hoping that the experience will be as good as possible. Does this sound a good decision?xxx
