Our Services
Support
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be a life changing experience. It can have a significant impact on family, friends, colleagues and most of all, you. Having someone to rely on for emotional and practical support can make a big difference to how you feel and how you recover.
At the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA Inc we offer a range of services to help take care of you and help you to focus on recovering.
Practical Assistance
Sometimes it’s the small things that become difficult when you are going through breast cancer.
We can provide practical assistance through:
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A volunteer picking you up for medical or therapeutic appointments
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Helping you with shopping
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Assisting in meal preparation and other day to day tasks
Improving quality of life
Susan had a mastectomy as part of her breast cancer treatment. She was experiencing some physical limitations due to the surgery and given that her husband had a disability, she found difficulty if performing some of life’s simple tasks. Susan found it painful to open and close her garage door. With limited income, Susan was not able to install an electric door. Susan found out about the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA and asked if we could help. The Foundation installed an electric module that enabled Susan to activate her garage door by remote control.
Financial Assistance
Going through breast cancer can be a cause of financial strain to the family. We provide financial assistance to anyone diagnosed with breast cancer and experiencing financial hardship. The funds can be used to cover medical treatments, day to day living expenses or anything that can help improve your quality of life.
To make an application for financial assistance contact our Breast Care Nurse on 9324 3703 or email nurse@breastcancer.org.au.
Paying for Medical Treatments
Judy, wife and mother of two, was diagnosed with breast cancer early in 2006. Her doctor recommended a drug called Herceptin which, at the time, was not subsidised by the government and cost around $60,000 per year. Short of mortgaging the family home, Judy could not pay for this life saving treatment. The Breast Cancer Foundation of WA Inc paid for Judy’s Herceptin treatment.“The Breast Cancer Foundation of WA, through their support and generosity made my personal journey with breast cancer something I will never forget. I found the warmth and dedication of the women an inspiration. I now feel like part of a family with a bond that cannot be broken. Whether you just need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, the Foundation is there to help you. Women in Western Australia are very lucky to have a professionally run organisation where the monies raised stay in the state to help those women and families in need. My thanks go to the wonderful women who have made such a huge difference in my life. God bless you all.” Judy
Emotional Support
Having the support of family and friends is so important in helping face the challenges of life following a diagnosis of breast cancer. The Foundation offers help to you and your family through home visits, telephone support and hospital visits. Your partner can also access our services and receive support from someone who is the partner of a breast cancer survivor.
To discuss how the Foundation can support you and your family, contact our office on 9324 3703 or email info@breastcancer.org.au.
Accommodation for visitors from the country
Mother of five, Tamara, lived in Port Hedland. She visited her doctor after finding a lump in her breast. The doctor recommended that she come to Perth for further testing. Leaving her five children was a concern in itself, but not being able to bring her husband for support created even more distress. Tamara wanted to have her husband by her side but with the cost of raising five children and her husband being unemployed due to an ongoing injury, they just could not afford it. Thankfully, a hospital nurse contacted the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA about Tamara’s situation. The Foundation assisted in organising flights and accommodation for Tamara and her husband. Tamara had the peace of mind having a family member care for her children as well as the much needed emotional support of her husband during her stay in Perth.