Today we're talking to Sue Peacock. Thank you so much for joining us. Sue is a volunteer
with Cancer Council Victoria's Cancer Connect program. She joined the program over 5 years
ago after attending a cancer survivor's forum conducted by the Cancer Council. Now, can
you tell us more about yourself and also your contribution towards Cancer Council Victoria?
Yes, I was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly 12 years ago now. I went through the treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy and the like that most people know about, and I was about 5
or 6 years out from my treatment and felt a need to maintain a connection with the cancer
community and make sure I was up-to-date with the different research that was going on.
I noticed and advertisement for a survivors forum being run by Cancer Council Victoria
and so I attended that and met with a lot of people who were experiencing similar sorts
of things as myself as I was going though the other side of that black tunnel that we
entered into.
At that forum I was made aware of the fact that they were recruiting people to be volunteers
for the Cancer Connect program. So I went through the training and became a volunteer
for that program where we provide contact for newly diagnosed people who want to chat
to someone about their experience.
So it's one-on-one?
Yes it is. Someone will ring the Cancer Helpline and will talk to one of the nurses on the
line there, but quite often they're wanting to talk with someone who has actually been
through this experience or the nurse might feel that they would get some benefit from
that, so they'll be put in contact with someone who matches the situation of the caller as
closely as possible. As a result of that, phone contact will be made. We can talk through
what the person's going through and we can relate that back to our own experience, and
maybe we can help them in some way to make that journey that little bit easier.
Well you represent living proof that there is hope. It must be very comforting for people
for people who have just been diagnosed to speak to somebody like yourself because I
know that there are many adjustments that a person would need to make - practical things
that you would never think of unless you faced the same sort of diagnosis and treatment you've
been through.
That's right. A lot of the information people get when they are first diagnosed is medical-style
often and the treatments and those sorts of things. But we do have to deal with things
on a day-to-day basis. In my case I'm talking to women with breast cancer and quite often
women will busy themselves in organising everyone else's lives and so forth, and all the support
that's around them and trying to deal with everybody.
But there can be some practical issues that they face as well. They tend to set those
aside but often in a conversation on the phone they will be mentioned. So, little things
like the practicalities of how to deal with scarred areas, the wound and that sort of
thing, how to get out and about and just some of the tricks we're able to share. How I might
have gotten through a particular situation - it can be quite simple but it can maybe
free that person up to enjoy their life a little bit better.
Sue, your experience relate to breast cancer specifically. What happens if someone such
as a man contacts the service.
Well, anyone can contact the service - male or female. The Cancer Connect program has
volunteers that cover a whole range of cancers. Obviously there are many, many types of cancer
and you can't have someone covering everything. Most of the more well known cancers are covered
and there are volunteers that people can be put in contact with. But even in instances
where there may not be someone to contact, in instances where it's a bit more rare that
needs to be discussed, well, some of the things are associated with cancer go across the whole
range and so the Cancer Council will, through this program, connect you with someone who
can actually help with a specific question that person might have.
So what is your message to anyone who has been recently diagnosed with cancer?
Well, you're going to be presented with a whole range of information. You get the show
bag of information and so forth from medical professionals and the family and carers around
you, but I think a lot of people are looking to get through that minefield. The Cancer
Council Victoria provides this Helpline on 13 11 20. People can ring in and can be put
in contact with someone that can actually talk to them about the experience and maybe
help them in some small way in dealing with this journey that they're about to face.
Now how can our viewers today help you do this wonderful work?
Well, like everything, these things take resources. All of us work as volunteers and give our
time very freely and we are more than happy to do that. Of course there are resources
that need to be used and one of the ways in which the Cancer Connect program is funded
is through Australia's Biggest Morning Tea. We have that coming up on the 25th of May
and through the money that's raised through that program it helps to support the work
that we're doing.
So everyone should have a cuppa to help you out.
That's right.
If you want to host a Australia's Biggest Morning Tea you can contact the Cancer Council
and they can give you the kit that need and then you invite your friends; whether it be
at the workplace, at home, anywhere you like really, big or small, decadent or very basic;
enjoy a cuppa with your friends or workmates and of course you'll be helping people like
Sue help maybe people like us one day.
Well thanks Sue for talking about your experience with illness and your ongoing involvement
with Cancer Council Victoria, it truly is inspirational. I hope this segment can also
help the community with a greater understanding and acceptance of cancer. Thank you for your
community work and for your time.
Thank you.