Primary healthcare providers play an integral role in supporting cancer patients across the cancer continuum, and in connecting them to supportive care services.
When you refer your patients to Cancer Council NSW, your patients can speak to our experienced cancer health professionals about a range of issues including life after cancer and the long-term effects of treatment. Our health professionals can refer your patients to additional support services as required.
Cancer Council 13 11 20 is a national cancer information and support service available to anyone with a question about cancer including patients, carers, family members and health professionals.
The service is staffed by experienced cancer health professionals and is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays).
Patients, family members and friends can also contact 13 11 20.
Our 13 11 20 team support people along the cancer continuum, from diagnosis and treatment through to survivorship and/or palliative care. Often, speaking with a 13 11 20 health professional may be all the support a patient needs at the time.
Our 13 11 20 service can:
- explain different cancer types and treatment options
- outline what patients can expect during treatment, including possible side effects and investigations
- assist in preparing a list of questions to ask their specialist or other members of their treatment team
- explain clinical trials and research processes
- suggest strategies to help adjust to a cancer diagnosis and better cope during and after treatment
- discuss living well after cancer treatment including healthy eating and exercise
- provide support and strategies to manage fear of cancer recurrence
- answer questions and support patients living with advanced cancer
- answer common questions about dying and discuss strategies to cope with end-of-life issues
- answer questions about palliative care
- discuss the role of the carer and suggest strategies to manage the physical and emotional demands of caring and personal wellbeing
- assess your patient’s or their carer’s supportive care needs to determine what support may be beneficial
- provide information about Cancer Council NSW’s supportive care services and other service providers, and navigate to these services where appropriate.
If you are unsure what support your patient needs, our 13 11 20 staff can talk to them about any cancer-related concerns.
Our 13 11 20 team members do not provide individual medical advice to patients or anyone else contacting the service.
- Health professionals can refer patients and carers to 13 11 20 using the online referral form.
- When you refer your patient to 13 11 20, one of our experienced cancer health professionals will contact them.
- Please let your patient know a 13 11 20 health professional will contact them within 24 hours of receipt of referral or the next business day unless otherwise specified on the referral notes.
- Upon contacting your patient, we will update you on the outcome by email. Should we fail to contact your patient after 3 attempts, you will be notified by email.
- If your patient speaks a language other than English, we can arrange a telephone interpreter for them.
What other support services do we offer?
Cancer Council NSW provides a range of assistance for people affected by cancer. We provide support based on an individual’s needs.
Psychological and emotional support
We can help your patient or their carer to better cope with cancer by providing counselling in person, by phone or online. We also offer group or individual peer support for cancer patients.
Financial support
We can support your patient and/or their carer to manage financial issues arising from a cancer diagnosis. Our Financial Navigation support service empowers people to understand their options to manage financial issues and make informed financial decisions.
Legal and workplace support
We can help your patients and their carers experiencing financial hardship access advice on cancer-related legal issues, such as preparation of wills and power of attorney documents (patients only), or support with insurance or employment disputes.
We can support patients and their carers access guidance on workplace issues that arise due to a diagnosis, including while receiving treatment or returning to work after treatment.
Practical support
We can support patients with practical challenges, such as travelling to treatment, accommodation for them and their family during treatment, and *financial assistance towards home cleaning and gardening services (*for individuals experiencing financial hardship).
Please note Cancer Council NSW is unable to offer transport support in the Greater Sydney area.
| Health professionals can refer patients and carers to the above services using the online referral form. |
Resources for your patients
- We provide a range of easy-to-understand information about all aspects of cancer for patients, carers and family members.
- Our resources are evidence-based and reviewed by leading experts every 2-3 years to make sure they reflect the latest clinical advances.
- Resources include print booklets, fact sheets, podcasts, videos, and multilingual resources. These resources are available to order or download for free.
- Affected by cancer card – a simple way to tell patients and families how Cancer Council can support them. Easy to order and store in your practice (available in English and other languages).
- Cancer information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Information for LGBTQI+ people – understand how cancer and its treatment may affect LGBTQI+ people.
- Multilingual cancer information – a range of resources in these languages:
- Arabic
- Chinese (Traditional and Simplified)
- Greek
- Hindi
- Italian
- Korean
- Macedonian
- Spanish
- Tagalog (Filipino)
- Vietnamese.
Tell your patients about Cancer Council
Looking for an easy way to tell patients and families how Cancer Council can support them? Download this one-page summary of our services, or email us to request the printed A5 cards and a display stand.