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https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-i-had-to-crowdfund-my-cancer-treatment-in-australias-universal-health-care-system-284562>
"Economic hardship is a lingering consequence of Brooke’s breast cancer
treatment, more than 30 years ago – which she paid for by selling her wedding
ring. The treatment left her debilitated, fatigued and unable to work for some
time. Friends brought groceries and the Cancer Council provided some financial
support, but Brooke needed to scrounge for food for her beloved dogs.
I interviewed Brooke and 24 others, working with Louise Chappell and Siobhan
O’Sullivan, who – like me – were both researchers and cancer patients.
I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer that had metastasised to my
lymph nodes in 2021, when I was 29 weeks pregnant. Louise was first diagnosed
with breast cancer in 2009, with recurrences in 2016 and 2020. She is currently
living with metastatic breast cancer, and is in regular treatment. Siobhan was
diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020, during COVID. Devastatingly, she died in
June 2023.
We wanted to find out about the challenges people face when navigating oncology
care in Australia, as patients and carers. We also spoke with health-care
workers, who revealed what it’s like to be on the “other side” of the desk."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
