Caring for or supporting someone through their cancer and its treatment can be a worrying time. A carer or caregiver can include any person who provides support as a partner, family member, relative, or friend. Feelings of concern or questions about the impact of cancer are common and understandable. Knowing where to get support and the type of questions to ask can help those caring for someone with cancer find a better quality of life.
Information for carers and families
- Cancer Council Victoria booklet: Caring for someone with cancer
- Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) factsheet: Caring for a cancer survivor: tips for coping
- Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ASC) factsheet: Questions you may wish to ask about the time after treatment
- National Cancer Institute: Support for caregivers of cancer patients (US)
- CanTeen Australia: A guide to supporting your friend when someone in their family has cancer
- Care Gateway has carer resources in different languages Carers Gateway
- Cancer Council NSW podcast: Cancer affects the carer too
- Cancer Council Victoria webinar: Looking after yourself: when supporting someone with cancer
- Cancer Council Victoria support: Carer Connect- support for family and friends of someone with a cancer diagnosis
- Cancer Council 131120
- Carers Couch: A safe place of community and support for those caring for a loved one with cancer
- WeCan: An Australian supportive care website
- OlderCan: Resources developed with and for older Australians affected by a diagnosis of cancer
- Beyond Blue: The Beyond Blue Support Service
- Psychology services: Psychologists use various approaches to help people with cancer and their families adjust to the emotional and psychological challenges of cancer. Services for carers are available through your GP.
National, state and territory carer’s support and resources:
- Australia
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- Western Australia
- South Australia
- Northern Territory
- Australian Capital Territory
- Tasmania
- Young Carers Network
Guidance documents
If you would like to advise of any relevant guidelines or provide feedback please email, ACSC
Additional resources for health professionals
If you would like to advise of any relevant services or provide feedback please email, ACSC
Projects
CareNET: Caring for carers of people with advaNced cancer at hospiTal discharge (CareNET): A single-arm open label feasibility study.
Contact: Celia Marston
If you are health professional and would like to share or receive information about projects involving carers being undertaken at Peter Mac, please contact Dr Elizabeth Pearson and ACSC
Services at Peter Mac Parkville
The following services are available to patients of Peter Mac, Parkville. If you are treated elsewhere, please speak with your oncology team, as you may have different clinical service options.
- Social work services: Social workers can provide counselling and support, advocate on behalf of you and the person you’re caring for and offer practical advice and referrals to community services.
- Spiritual care services: Spiritual care draws on respect, trust and understanding and aims to provide a compassionate, listening presence that adds to your spiritual and emotional health and wellbeing.
- Carers Circle: These weekly sessions are a safe and supportive space for you to connect with other carers and share experiences of caring for someone with cancer.
- Arts for Wellbeing: These workshops invite patients, family members and carers to explore their wellbeing through creative processes. We reflect, imagine and experiment with art materials. No art skills are needed.
- The Wellbeing Centre: The Wellbeing Centre is located on Level 1 of the VCCC building. It is a gathering place for patients and their families and carers, a sanctuary from treatment and the stresses associated with having cancer. Educational sessions and resources are offered by experts to support you in your cancer experience as a carer
- Cancer Wellness Program: These sessions are a free education and support program for people who have completed cancer treatment and are living with and beyond cancer. It is also for carers, partners and family members.
Other clinical services in the Parkville precinct
Peter Mac is also part of the Parkville precinct (Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital), with services listed separately, above. If you would like to advise of any relevant services or provide feedback please email, ACSC. If you are treated elsewhere, please speak with your oncology team, as you may have different clinical service options.
