If you have been referred to me or require an appointment you will most likely be coping with a recent cancer diagnosis and will have many questions and apprehensions about what lies ahead concerning your care.
Your first visit with me will be scheduled for 1 hour to allow a complete assessment, review of treatment options and recommendations, as well as an explanation of the care plan. There will be ample time to answer all your questions and it is important to know that there is no such thing as a stupid question.
Coping with a recent diagnosis can be stressful and overwhelming. I understand it can be frightening to sit in an Oncologists office and since it may be difficult to remember all the details of your first visit, I would encourage you to bring a family member or other support person with you for your first appointment and at any subsequent appointment. This can be so helpful to patients.
Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies or other methods. The type of treatment depends on the type of cancer, its location and the stage of disease as well as the general health of the patient. After your first visit I may order further blood tests, scans or biopsies. My lovely Practice Manager Kath Whalan will schedule these with you. If chemotherapy or radiotherapy is recommended, Kath will also help you to arrange this which usually occurs in the hospital as a day visit.
During your treatment there will be suffering and retreats, changes in strategies and hopefully victories. My goal of treatment is to have you cancer free. I understand that going through cancer treatment can be emotionally draining, if you have concerns or frustrations please share these with me of my practice manager Kath. It is important that patients and their families and carers are involved in all decisions about their treatment, management and support. I will always endeavour to give you the right information to assist you in making informed decisions whilst being sensitive to your preferences and aspirations of treatment.
It is normal to feel anxious about treatment, particularly if you have watched a family member or friend go through cancer treatment, and whilst everybody experiences treatment differently both physically and emotionally as the science of cancer treatment has advanced, so too has the science of managing treatment side effects, so that the side effects today of cancer treatment are often much less severe than what they were even 10-15 years ago. If family or friends have convinced you that all cancer treatments produce horrific side effects please speak to me about this.
A future with you alive and well is my goal.
The cancer Council of Victoria and Cancer Council of Australia homepages are also great resources which have a lot of information about cancer and all the support services available to patients and I would highly recommend that you take the time to have a look at these websites:
