Australian Capital Territory Support Services

Cancer Council Helpline

Our Helpline 13 11 20 is a confidential telephone information and support service. For the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia, specialist cancer nurses can answer questions about any aspect of cancer, including:

• How to prevent cancer or find it early
• How to cope with treatment and its side effects

They can also:

• Send information resources
• Put callers in touch with services in their local area
• Offer emotional support to cancer patients, their families and carers

Breast Cancer Support Groups

The Breast Cancer Support Group meets once a month on a Saturday morning at Deakin. It is open to any woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Pink Links, a more recent initiative, is open to younger women who have breast cancer - generally around 45 years old and younger. This group also meets once a month, on a Tuesday evening at Fairbairn.

Also available to women who have breast cancer are The Cancer Council ACT’s two general cancer support groups. These groups, one held during the day at Deakin and the other in the evening at Fairbairn, are for people with any type of cancer and for their partners and/or family members.

Through the Peer Assistance Program women who have breast cancer can receive emotional support over the telephone. Assistance is provided by trained volunteers who have had a similar cancer experience in the past and are now well. Women are matched with volunteers with regard to cancer experience, treatment, age and other social factors.

Wig service

The Cancer Council ACT Wig Service provides a low cost wig hiring service to people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment. Other specially made headwear including a variety of styles of turbans and hats, as well as scarves and other accessories are also available for sale. The service is open 9.30 to 11.30am Monday to Thursday at The Canberra Hospital and during business hours at The Cancer Council ACT offices at Fairbairn.

Education sessions

The Living With Cancer Education Program is conducted by trained facilitators and combines presentations by health professionals with opportunities to share experiences with others in a similar situation. The program is generally held over 8 sessions but there is also a 4 session program for people who have advanced cancer and their carers/family members. It is expected that this latter program will be offered in October/November 2005.

© 2008 Cancer Council