Topic: Cancer

More than 1,800 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in Australia.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is held annually in February to educate, advocate, and increase awareness of ovarian cancer.

According to Cancer Institute NSW data, there has been an 18 per cent increase in the rate of ovarian cancer diagnoses in South Western Sydney over the past decade, with 71 women diagnosed in 2021.

Unlike other cancers, ovarian cancer has no screening test, and symptoms can be vague.

Research by Cancer Australia shows that almost half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are unable to recognise any symptoms.

It is crucial to be aware of your body and look out for any symptoms that may arise.

Common Symptoms include:

• bloating

• pain

• not wanting to eat

• feeling full quickly

• weeing often

If you are concerned about your family history of breast or ovarian cancer, your doctor can assess your risk.    

Find out more about symptoms

 

During February, wear a teal ribbon to show your support, raise awareness, start a conversation which could change a life and help raise funds to support people affected by ovarian cancer.

You can purchase a ribbon through the Ovarian Cancer Australia website.

You can also raise funds through:

• walk with women
• morning tea or high tea
• workplace bake sale
• trivia night

See Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation for more information.

 

South Western Sydney GPs have embraced the Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program which kicked off in early December.

Twelve GPS agreed to be a part of the SWSPHN-commissioned program in its first week of operation.

The program offers a tailored approach to shared care through a breast cancer CNC (cancer nurse coordinator).

The process is:

• Cancer service identifies breast cancer survivors suitable for shared care
• The cancer nurse coordinator discusses it with the woman and gets consent. CNC then contacts the woman’s regular GP and gets their consent to provide shared care
• The CNC supports the GP to provide shared care, with regular cancer follow-ups completed alternately by the hospital and GP. Eventually it is just the GP completing the follow-ups

The cancer nurse coordinator also acts as an escalation point if there are medical complications.

The Early Breast Cancer Survivorship Shared Care Program evolved out of work the SWSPHN did in 2019 with Cancer Australia regarding the development of national clinical guidance for early breast cancer survivorship shared care processes.

It also looked at the SWSLHD Cancer Services’ shared care pilot CISCO (centralised specialist cancer survivorship assessment clinic) for patients with early breast cancer (or DCIS).

In July, SWSPHN commissioned SWSLHD to fund a breast cancer CNC to implement a shared care model for the region. GPs may be contacted to provide shared care.

The initial pilot will focus on the Macarthur region, however, if interest is good there are plans to expand into Liverpool and Fairfield and also include other tumour groups.

The program will initially operate until 30 June 2025.

Look Good Feel Better is a free cancer support program run by the Cancer Patients Foundation.

The program is designed to support patients in managing the most common physical and psychological impacts of treatment, helping them face their cancer diagnosis with confidence.

Through face-to-face workshops on skincare, make-up and headwear, the program assists with the management of the appearance-related side effects of treatment, while a range of virtual workshop topics help participants learn ways to improve energy, mobility, nutritional health and mental wellbeing.

A Home-Delivered Confidence Kit service is also offered for those who feel more at ease accessing the program from the comfort of home, with the confidence kits containing a range of skincare and cosmetic products, in addition to practical written and video guides.

The program is open to any adult or young adult undergoing any type of treatment for any type of cancer. 

Workshop venues, dates and times can be viewed at lgfb.org.au/workshop and registration easy via the same link, or via free call on 1800 650 960.

Home-Delivered Confidence Kits can be requested at lgfb.org.au/home-delivered-confidence-kit.

In 2024, the following workshops are planned:

Face-to-Face workshops

• Liverpool Cancer Wellness Centre
• Campbelltown RSL Club

Virtual workshops

• Skincare and Makeup, and Wigs and Headwear
• Feel Better Fridays

Check for dates at lgfb.org.au/workshop

All cervical screening participants now have the choice to self-collect their own Cervical Screening Test sample.

A self-collected sample is taken from the vagina and is checked for human papillomavirus (HPV) – a common infection which causes almost all cervical cancers.

Find out more about self-collection Download How to take your own sample

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix, the lowest part of the uterus or womb. Most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

What is the Cervical Screening Test?

The Cervical Screening Test is how we screen for cervical cell changes so they can be monitored or treated to prevent cancer from developing. It’s for anyone with a cervix who has ever been sexually active – regardless of gender identity, sexuality or sexual history.

Who should have a Cervical Screening Test?

If you have a cervix and are aged 25 to 74, you should have a Cervical Screening Test every five years.

More cervical screening options

Everybody attending for a Cervical Screening Test can choose if they would like their clinician to collect their sample or if they would like to collect their own sample. This is called self-collection. Self-collection involves a vaginal / front hole swab. The collection device looks like a long cotton bud.

How do I know when I’m due for my next test?

The National Cancer Screening Register sends invitation letters to start screening when you turn 25 and reminders when your next test is due. The register collects your info from Medicare, so if your name does not match your Medicare card, you can change it in the National Cancer Screening Register by calling them on 1800 627 701.

As we near Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, BreastScreen NSW has launched its 2023-2024 awareness campaign “Breast cancer doesn’t wait”, which reminds women early detection is the key to successful treatment and a full recovery.

Women with breast cancer often do not have symptoms. While they are getting on with their lives, the cancer can silently be taking hold.

A breast screen with BreastScreen NSW takes only 20 minutes every two years, and the check is free. There are more than 250 screening locations across NSW. All screening is completed by female radiographers.

Screening is recommended for women aged 50 and over and for Aboriginal woman from aged 40. Its goal is to improve survival rates of women by detecting breast cancer early.

One in seven women – they may be a friend or work colleague – will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. More than 1,000 women died from breast cancer in 2020 in NSW.

Despite the startling breast cancer statistics, more than 620,000 – or 50 per cent – of NSW women aged 50 to 74 have not had their recommended breast screen in the past two years (as of July 2023).

For that age group, a breast screen is the best way to find breast cancer early – before a change or lump develops.

South Western Sydney breast screening rates for 2021-2022:

• All women – 41.5 per cent

• Aboriginal women – 37.2 per cent

• CALD – 40.1 per cent

Research shows many women with a busy lifestyle do not prioritise their health. Health checks, such as regular breast screens, are forgotten or appointments overlooked.

BreastScreen NSW has released a promotional video to highlight the message that “Breast cancer doesn’t wait” and why regular breast screening is crucial for early detection and treatment.

There are a number of BreastCancer NSW clinics conveniently located across South Western Sydney.

Permanent clinics:

• Bankstown, ground level, Civic Tower, corner Jacobs Street and Rickard Road

• Bowral, Bowral Specialist Centre, Suite 4/70 Bowral Street

• Campbelltown, Mawson Centre, 4 Browne Street, ground Level, Units 3-5

• Liverpool (screening) 157-161 George Street, Units 3-5 (screening and assessment), 102 Bigge Street

Mobile clinics (September to February 2024):

• Tahmoor (until 18 September), Tahmoor Community Centre car park, Harper Close

• Cabramatta (19 September to 2 February 2024), McBurney Road car park beside PCYC

Talk to your GP or allied health practitioner if you have any concerns about your breast health or the screening process. They are well-placed to give advice or provide additional information.

A BreastScreen NSW factsheet is available and explains why women should breast screen and what to expect before, during and after their mammogram. It is available in 28 language versions, including English. 

You can book a free breast screen by visiting breastscreen.nsw.gov.au or call 13 20 50.

For more information about breast cancer and options that fit your situation, visit Cancer NSW.

Support people from different cultural backgrounds to learn about cancer and the tests available for cancer screening.

Cancer Institute NSW education resources for multicultural communities are available for four topics, each topic includes up to 11 languages. An English language facilitator manual is also available.

Cervical screening flipcharts

Flipchart available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Bengali, Dari, Nepali, Tibetan, and Turkish.

Email: CINSW-CervicalScreening@health.nsw.gov.au

Cervical screening flipcharts

 

Bowel screening flipcharts

Flipchart available in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Assyrian, Macedonian, Korean, Vietnamese and Tibetan.

Email: CINSW-bowelscreening@health.nsw.gov.au

Bowel screening flipcharts

 

Breast screening flipcharts

Flipchart available in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Email: cinsw-breastscreennsw@health.nsw.gov.au

Breast screening flipcharts

 

Healthy living and cancer prevention flipcharts

Flipchart available in English, Macedonian, Mongolian, Nepali, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese

Email: CINSW-prevention@health.nsw.gov.au

Healthly living and cancer prevention flipcharts

 

Include in your email: The list languages required and your postal address.

 

Flipchart specifications

Flipcharts are A3-sized (297mm wide by 210mm high), spiral bound, with inbuilt stand to easily display.

 

Cancer Institute NSW multilingual resource directory

This directory is a repository for all of the Cancer Institute NSW’s translated resources, including videos, factsheets, flipcharts and webpages. With resources translated in up to 38 languages, spanning the cancer prevention, screening, and treatment continuum, this directory will support service providers to direct their clients, patients, and communities to resources in their language. The directory will be updated regularly as we develop new resources.

Multilingual resource directory

 

For more information on Cancer Institute NSW multicultural initiatives, email cinsw-multicultural@health.nsw.gov.au

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Visit Cancer Institute NSW for more information on cancer prevention and screening.