LMICS

Steps in a cancer patient's journey

The Patient Management Frameworks assert that there are seven steps on a cancer patient's journey:

• Cancer Screening,
• Diagnosis and Referral,
• Determination of Treatment,
• Treatment,
• Follow–up Care,
• Determination of Plan and Treatment for Recurrence, and
• End–of–Life.

Supportive Care

Throughout this journey there is a need for supportive care for both the patient and their carers and loved ones. It is recognised that if these needs are not met there is the potential to result in long term distress.

Supportive care describes all the services that may be required to support people with cancer and their carers to meet their physical, psychological, social, information and spiritual needs from the time of screening onwards.

LMICS has set up a number of initiatives to address the need for improved supportive care in the Loddon Mallee Region:

• establishing both a Clinical Reference Group (CRG) and a Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) to work with LMICS to identify supportive care needs and to implement initiatives to address these needs,
• the development of a website for the consumers of Loddon Mallee (LMCancerSupport.com.au), and
• the development of a directory of the actual cancer support services available in Loddon Mallee.

Consumer website

LMCancerSupport.com.au (the consumer website) explains the different types of Cancer Support that a consumer can expect to find within the region.

If you are a Health Professional new to the region or to the profession, or indeed one who would just like a refresher, the consumer website provides invaluable information which will provide background and support to your best practice.

The website also contains downloadable resources.

Directory of Cancer Support in Loddon Mallee

And don't forget that LMICS has compiled a Loddon Mallee Cancer Support Directory for the benefit of both the Health Professional and the consumer - it is constantly monitored and new services are added as they become known. This directory can be accessed from either this site or the consumers' website.

Do contact us if there is a service type or individual service provider which you would like LMICS to include in its Directory, or if you have any other matters you would like to discuss.

Informing the Community

As a Health Professional we ask for your help in spreading the word by informing your consumer about the website and directory.

LMICS provides a bookmark advertising the consumer website and the Loddon Mallee Directory of Cancer Support. Please contact us if you would like supplies for your waiting room or other public space.