Whittlesea patients with metastatic breast cancer will benefit from the support of a new McGrath Foundation breast care nurse.
Metastatic breast care nurse Kathryn Wallace has been appointed by the foundation to provide care and support to patients and their families living in Melbourne’s north-east.
Ms Wallace will provide physical, psychosocial and emotional support, and will be based at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre at Austin Hospital.
Ms Wallace has been a breast care nurse for 25 years and said she is passionate about supporting families through their experience with breast cancer.
“I’ve been fortunate in being able to follow my passion in supporting those affected by breast cancer for many years and am excited to take the next step as a Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Nurse,” she said.
Ms Wallace said that being a source of support and guidance is what drives her every day in the role.
I want to enable my metastatic patients to live ‘well’ no matter what timeline they have. I want them to feel connected, empowered and supported through times of uncertainty,” she said.
With 57 people diagnosed with breast cancer every day in Australia, including both men and women, there
is an increasing need for specialist McGrath breast care n urses to support people impacted by the disease, the foundation said.
Recent data suggests that approximately 5 per cent of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia have metastatic disease at initial breast cancer diagnosis, while others with early breast cancer at diagnosis will have a recurrence that is metastatic, according to the foundation.
McGrath breast care nurses are available to help anyone experiencing breast cancer, free of charge and without a doctor’s referral.
