Take a virtual tour of the Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre. Footage Bendigo Health
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hi, I'm Tanya and this is Philip. We had cancer and were patients of the Bendigo Regional
00:16Cancer Centre. A diagnosis of cancer can be stressful for
00:20you and your loved ones. We know it can be hard to understand the health system. This
00:25video will help you find your way. Come with us for a look around the cancer
00:29centre so you know what to expect. The cancer centre has a range of cancer treatments
00:39and services. Bendigo Health has other cancer services you can use which will help you get
00:43through this difficult time. Everyone's situation is different and treatment
00:48is planned around your cancer diagnosis. On your first visit to the cancer centre,
00:58it can be helpful to bring a friend or family member to support you. You'll come to the
01:01front desk where you may be measured and weighed, depending upon the treatment that's being
01:06considered for you. This helps the cancer team to keep an eye on your health during
01:10your treatment. There are three areas of the cancer centre.
01:13The chemotherapy unit, cancer clinics and radiotherapy. The radiotherapy service is
01:18provided by Peter McCallum. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments put medicine into
01:23your body to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses highly precise beams of energy
01:29to kill cancer cells. These are the main waiting rooms you'll come to if you have an appointment.
01:39Hi, I'm Riley, one of the nurse coordinators. My role is to guide and support you and your
01:44family from diagnosis to treatment. I will be your key contact for any questions you
01:49may have and will assist you with linking you to support services for your needs and
01:55your care. Hi, I'm Rob and I'm a medical oncologist
01:58at the cancer centre. I'm a doctor and my job is to work with other doctors and health
02:03professionals to help treat your cancer. We create a personalised treatment plan based
02:08on your cancer, where you live and how we can support you to stay healthy during treatment.
02:14Our aim is to treat you as close to home as we can. If you don't live in Bendigo, you
02:19can ask your oncologist where else treatment is available. The oncology team works closely
02:24with other regional hospitals to coordinate treatment closer to home if they can. I'm
02:29the person to ask any questions you might have about your treatment, how it works and
02:34its potential side effects and if a clinical trial might be right for you. Clinical trials
02:40test whether a new approach to treatment works better than what is currently being used and
02:46safe. We offer clinical trials at the cancer centre and these may provide another treatment
02:51option for you. Hi, my name is Nora and I'm a haematologist
02:56at the cancer centre. I'm a doctor that treats people with blood cancer and other blood disorders.
03:03I work in a team with other professionals and with Metropolitan Health Services to plan,
03:10coordinate and provide care that is right for you.
03:14Hi, I'm Justin and I'm an oncology nurse practitioner. I work with oncologists to treat your cancer.
03:21My job is to manage your treatment so you stay as well as possible. If you have concerns
03:25about side effects or aren't coping physically or emotionally, it helps to talk to me.
03:34If you're having chemotherapy or immunotherapy at the cancer centre, you'll come here. Before
03:40your first treatment, a chemotherapy nurse will tell you about the treatments and possible
03:44side effects. You'll have your treatment sitting in one of these chairs. That's a comfortable
03:48space and you can bring a support person with you. A chemotherapy nurse gives you your treatment
03:54and will look after you. If you have any symptoms while on chemotherapy or immunotherapy, you
03:59can contact one of the nurses at the SIRT clinic. The nurse will help you with your
04:03symptoms so you don't have to come to the emergency department or hospital.
04:11Hi, I'm Sulve and I'm a radiation oncologist at the cancer centre. My job is to work with
04:17a team of doctors and radiotherapists to plan for and treat you with radiotherapy. Before
04:23you start radiotherapy, you may need to have a scan which will help us plan your treatment.
04:30Staying healthy and well is about more than treatment. It's about looking after you, the
04:38whole person and supporting your carers and family. This means your general health, your
04:43fitness and your mental health.
04:49There are a lot of support services available to you. There are a large team of allied health
04:53staff who can help you stay as independent and strong as possible during your treatment
04:57and afterwards. The team includes social workers, an online psychology service for
05:03counselling, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and occupational therapists, dietitians and
05:10pharmacists, speech therapists, lymphedema and continence clinics. Other specialised
05:16support services include breast care nurses, haematology nurse coordinator and a genetics
05:23Aboriginal hospital liaison officers and cultural and language supports including interpreters
05:29and Karen and Afghan support. There are also services such as the Cancer Council Victoria,
05:35services within your local community, online or other organisations that can help you.
05:44Exercise helps you cope with treatment. It doesn't matter how old or active you are, small
05:49amounts of exercise make a difference. Exercise groups and cancer rehabilitation programs
05:54are available. During your treatment you'll be advised how to remain active and add exercise
05:58into your day. We know that many people travel great distances for treatment in our region
06:04so practical support is available with things like parking, travel and accommodation for
06:09treatment.
06:11We have the GoBay Wellness Centre near the hospital to support cancer patients.
06:16Hi, I'm Jenna, the Cancer Wellness Coordinator. At the Wellness Centre we offer therapies
06:22to help you live well with cancer. Our aim is to improve patients' physical, mental
06:28and spiritual wellbeing. We have oncology massage, reflexology sessions, mindfulness
06:35and yoga classes along with workshops such as the Look Good Feel Better program.
06:42So that gives you an idea of what to expect and the different kinds of supports available
06:46at Bendigo Health. The cancer team will give you a clear treatment plan that suits you.
06:51You'll be given key contacts so you know who to call. If you have questions we encourage
06:56you to raise them with someone in your healthcare team. Don't be afraid to be honest.
07:01We wish you all the best with your health.