One of the things I've noticed since I've been on this forum are various discussions about Breast Care Nurses - who has one, what do they do, whether they're helpful or not, how to access one... etc, etc. It all seems like a great idea and the couple I have met seem very nice but the actual application of the service on the whole seems to be rather slipshod. The ones I met in hospital when I had surgery were helpful at the time and rang once when I got home to check that I was okay but I was very surprised to find out months later, that they were meant to be my nurses on a continuing basis. I have not developed any relationship with them and, unless I end up back at that hospital, I feel I am unlikely to. I read people's posts saying how fantastic their bc nurses are and I also read posts asking how to access such a service. Absolutely not knocking the nurses, but wonder why it's such a hit and miss thing.

Ladies I think it comes down to a few things .... the work load that each individual nurse has .... What area they are covering in rural areas that can be a huge area. my first McGrath Nurse was okour new McGrath Nurse is awesome she started our local monthly support group and attends it, I see her like others have stated hitting the floor running basically each day. she goes out of her way to find the resources any of her patients will need. I think we need to see that dependent on if they are a breast care nurse (attached to hospital) or a McGrath BC Nurse there are different agendas with their roles.... Always reach out and ask for help with McGrath or your local cancer unit if you need support... call the BCNA helpline or the cancer council in your state. We need to remember they are human too.... they need to have breaks and take holidays so they can do this day in and day out for us ladies/men who need support etc... Want more of them buy at PINK BUN in May at Bakers Delight and help raise monies to employ more of them. Soldiercrab PS @Sister you didn't diss any staff you raised a concern.

My breast care nurse through St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney is awesome. She came to see me at my pre-admission appointment then several times in hospital after my DMX surgery. She ordered the My Journey kit and bra for me and made sure I had my drain bags and zonta pillows. She took a base-line lymph drainage reading and gave me info about lymphodaema and lymphatic massage and has phoned me once a week since I left hospital - that was 4 weeks ago. I can ask her anything and she’s only too happy to help. An angel on earth :)

Hi all,Thanks for alerting me to this conversation @iserbrown. The very varied experiences and disparity in care you all describe with breast care nurses reflects what we learnt from our State of the Nation project. We are aware that this is particularly an issue for women who have neoadjuvant therapy as they may not see a breast care nurse until much later in their treatment or at all. We have fed the information we received form the State of the nation back to McGrath and CNSA and have been in close communication with them. There isn't an updated position statement re breastcare nurses but I understand that this is a priority for them and we will maintain communication with them during this process.

@Sister & all others! Shortly after I was diagnosed, I received a lot of info to read. One of the brochures was about the McGrath Foundation so I went onto the website, typed in my postcode & found the nearest nurse to me which was still an hour away as I live in the country. I emailed her my story & shortly after she rang me & we have been in constant contact ever since by phone, email & she has also dropped in to see me one day when she came to my town for a monthly cancer support group she runs. As no-one in my town knows about my condition, i told her I wasn't comfortable going to the meeting so she came to visit me at my home! She was a trained medical nurse also so she knows EVERYTHING I need to know. She has been with me every step & her advice & support has been invaluable. She seems to know just what i am thinking & knows when to ring me & she rang only a few days ago. I can ask her any question & if she doesn't know the answer, she will find out. She also sends me lots of info in the mail & has forwarded me a wonderful book to read about DCIS. Sometimes doctors/surgeons don't explain things well enough so I am always asking her clarification on what things mean & what i should do. Even though i am back at work & am not undergoing any further treatments/operations, she said she will stay with me for as long as I need her & definitely through the first year. I also had a nurse at the hospital & one that was attached to my surgeon & I did have to ring them on a couple of occasions to ask specific questions. I'm sorry that many of you who seem to have needed the services of a nurse more than me, haven't had the wonderful experience I have. I did have to initiate the relationship at the beginning to introduce myself & I did wonder at the time if somehow they got told of our names & contacted us first but know that is not the case now. I encourage any of you to look up the website & find a nurse near you & even if they live an hour or so away, you can chat on the phone or email them anytime. I feel very lucky to have her but this forum & the BCNA website has also been invaluable but it is lovely to be able to speak to a professional who understands. xx

I got a pleasant response to my email pretty promptly this morning which I was nice - she also asked how I am going with my chemo.

Breast Care Nurses | BCNA Online Network

63 Replies

kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Anne94 Those are shocking numbers. Disgraceful.
Anne94
Member
8 years ago
I think I might end going on a bit of a rant, I live in Cairns, and there is funding for 2.5 breast care nurses. The second was only appointed last year. They work for the McGrath foundation. Today, one of those lovely nurses is retiring, so we will be back to just 1 full-time nurse to see hundreds of women & men with breast cancer especially at initial diagnosis( that was the last time I saw mine). Queensland health needs to find more money for these nurses. The burn out is going to be staggering. Rant over
Anonymous
Not applicable
8 years ago
The user and all related content has been deleted.
iserbrown
Member
8 years ago
Feedback whether good or bad needs to put forward so that they understand the fragility of patients when they are flippant about conversation
Sanra
Member
8 years ago
@kezmusc ....wendy and I have done just that
kezmusc
Member
8 years ago
Oh dear @Sanra,

That is poor form. Maybe you should complain "Wendy"
Sanra
Member
8 years ago
I had a horrible one. She just banged on for hours about nothing for 3 hours before my first chemo, to the extent I was exhausted. Then walked me to chemo and ran away lol
I had 6 mths chemo, masectomy ( she was suppsed to be at pre-med but no show) and now radiation via six hospital visits and reviews where she was advised everytime and again no show.
She popped in on my last visit to my radiologist and called me wendy...
Kiwi_Angel
Member
8 years ago
I got a pleasant response to my email pretty promptly this morning which I was nice - she also asked how I am going with my chemo.
Rubylulu
Member
8 years ago
When I was first diagnosed I had a lovely BCN but she went on long service leave. The one I have now is not so nice, I've had a lot of questions and the last time we spoke she was quite abrupt with me, which actually left me in tears. I found just basic information which you think they would tell everyone - was not forthcoming from this particular BCN so I always had to ask. My constant questions seemed to really annoy her.
Anne65
Member
8 years ago
@Sister & all others! Shortly after I was diagnosed, I received a lot of info to read. One of the brochures was about the McGrath Foundation so I went onto the website, typed in my postcode & found the nearest nurse to me which was still an hour away as I live in the country. I emailed her my story & shortly after she rang me & we have been in constant contact ever since by phone, email & she has also dropped in to see me one day when she came to my town for a monthly cancer support group she runs. As no-one in my town knows about my condition, i told her I wasn't comfortable going to the meeting so she came to visit me at my home! She was a trained medical nurse also so she knows EVERYTHING I need to know. She has been with me every step & her advice & support has been invaluable. She seems to know just what i am thinking & knows when to ring me & she rang only a few days ago. I can ask her any question & if she doesn't know the answer, she will find out. She also sends me lots of info in the mail & has forwarded me a wonderful book to read about DCIS. Sometimes doctors/surgeons don't explain things well enough so I am always asking her clarification on what things mean & what i should do. Even though i am back at work & am not undergoing any further treatments/operations, she said she will stay with me for as long as I need her & definitely through the first year. I also had a nurse at the hospital & one that was attached to my surgeon & I did have to ring them on a couple of occasions to ask specific questions. I'm sorry that many of you who seem to have needed the services of a nurse more than me, haven't had the wonderful experience I have. I did have to initiate the relationship at the beginning to introduce myself & I did wonder at the time if somehow they got told of our names & contacted us first but know that is not the case now. I encourage any of you to look up the website & find a nurse near you & even if they live an hour or so away, you can chat on the phone or email them anytime. I feel very lucky to have her but this forum & the BCNA website has also been invaluable but it is lovely to be able to speak to a professional who understands. xx