Occupational therapists
Occupational Therapists, work with individuals whose daily functioning is impacted by illness. They support clients in maintaining independence and engagement in everyday activities. The overarching goal of OTs is to improve a person's quality of life by: promoting independence in daily tasks whenever feasible; optimizing function through the utilization of equipment or environmental modifications; providing education and empowerment to clients and their caregivers; and emphasizing the significance of home safety through client and caregiver education.
Lymphoedema arises from a malfunctioning lymphatic system, often occurring due to damage sustained by lymphatic vessels or nodes following surgery or radiotherapy. This condition manifests as persistent swelling in one or more parts of the body. Effective management of lymphoedema requires specialized attention.
Education, prevention, and treatment of lymphoedema are typically administered by trained occupational therapists or physiotherapists. At the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, lymphoedema services are currently delivered by occupational therapists, catering to referrals from the Macarthur, Wollondilly, and Bowral local government areas. Similarly, the Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre provides lymphoedema services, staffed by both occupational therapists and physiotherapists, and accepting referrals from the Liverpool, Fairfield, and Bankstown local government areas.
Dietitians
Dietitians are accessible resources for addressing your unique nutritional requirements, particularly when symptoms and treatment side effects impact your appetite or dietary intake. Their role involves evaluating your specific nutritional needs and offering guidance and support to facilitate optimal nutrition, alleviate side effects and symptoms, and enhance your ability to tolerate treatments.
Clinical Psychology
People affected by cancer may experience a wide range of emotions and concerns in relation to the abrupt changes that are happening in their lives
It is common and understandable for patients, as well as their carers or families, to find the experience difficult at different stages of their illness. Within the Cancer Therapy Centre, Clinical Psychologists are available to assist you, and your family or carer, to cope with the difficulties that you experience with your illness and treatments. The Clinical Psychologist can assist you to:
- Identify
strategies to deal with issues and emotions that may be difficult to
tackle,
- Explore
new perspectives about yourself and the situation you are facing, or
- Develop new coping skills to overcome some of the hurdles in adjusting to living with cancer.
Some of the common concerns that people discuss with us include:
- Adjusting
to a cancer diagnosis
- Changes
in the body and abilities
- Coping
with treatment and side effects
- Relationship
or intimacy issues
- Feeling
down, worried, anxious about the future
- Dealing
with end-of-life concerns
- Worries and concerns for those who are close to your heart
The service is free and is available to patients who are registered with the Cancer Therapy Centre. At any point in your cancer journey, if you or a family member would like to see one of the Clinical Psychologists, please:
- Let
any member of your treatment team know and they can make a referral for
you.
- Call Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre on (02) 8738 9853.
Phone: Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre on 02 8738 9853 - ask to speak to a Clinical Psychologist
Social Worker
The oncology social workers are part of the multidisciplinary team and specialise in providing emotional and practical support before, during and after cancer treatment.
Cancer treatment can be a very stressful and challenging time for patients, their families and carers. Some of the issues affecting people living with cancer include:
- coping
emotionally with adjustment to diagnosis or recurrence
- coping
with treatment side-effects
- managing
stress, depression and anxiety
- communicating
with family, friends and doctors
- making
difficult decisions
- practical,
legal and financial concerns
- effects
of treatment on self-esteem, confidence & lifestyle
- carer
stress
- sadness,
loss and grief
- survivorship
types of support provided
- professional
support in adapting to serious and chronic illness
- individual,
couple and family counselling
- family
conferences around important decisions
- stress
and anxiety management
- assistance
with practical, financial and legal matters
- transport
and accommodation issues
- information and referral to community resources.
The service is free and is available to patients who are registered with the Cancer Therapy Centre.
At any point in your cancer journey, if you or a family member would like to see one of the Social Worker, please:
- Let
any member of your treatment team know and they can make a referral for
you.
- Call Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre on (02) 8738 9853.
Speech Pathology
Speech pathology is mostly offered to patients with cancer of the head and neck region, although patients with other cancers can be seen as required. If you have a head and neck cancer, swallowing or communicating may be difficult because of the location of your tumor or the treatment you are receiving. You may be referred to a speech pathologist so they can assess any difficulties and provide relevant information and interventions.
Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery can all cause side effects such as difficulty swallowing, problems chewing and voice or communication problems that may require a speech pathologist. If you have had your larynx (voice box) surgically removed, a speech pathologist will help you communicate.
Swallowing problems are particularly common for cancer patients and, if left undetected or untreated, can impact significantly on your quality of life, and may lead to aspiration pneumonia. A videofluoroscopy study (a moving x-ray examination) or FEES (fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) may be used to thoroughly diagnose the cause of a swallowing problem. Suitable advice and/or exercises can be provided, including teaching techniques to make it easier and safer to swallow or changing the texture or thickness of what you eat and drink.
The service is free and is available to patients who are registered with the Cancer Therapy Centre.
At any point in your cancer journey, if you or a family member would like to see one of the Speech Pathologist, please:
- Let
any member of your treatment team know and they can make a referral for
you.
- Call
Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre on (02) 8738 9853.