News

The Lismore & District Women's Health Centre releases the Irregular Periodical, a newsletter for its clients and for the information of the community.

Past issues of the
Irregular Periodical:
(requires Adobe Reader)

2009
November (2.63MB pdf)

2008
December (2.42MB pdf)
May (10.4MB pdf)

2007
May (408KB pdf)
January (873KB pdf)

2006
November (423KB pdf)
September (265KB pdf)
June (161KB pdf)
March (226KB pdf)

2005
August (66KB pdf)
July (204KB pdf)
June (84KB pdf)

National funding to support local Lismore women with breast cancer

Local women in Lismore will have access to a trained therapist and information about a common side effect of breast cancer treatment, courtesy of seeding grant funding from the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign.

Administered by the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, the funding aims to improve community-based support for women with breast cancer, in particular those living in rural, regional and remote Australia.

The $10,000 grant to the Lismore & District Women's Health Centre will facilitate the establishment of the Refresh program to develop information resources about the benefits of lymphatic drainage massage and to provide access to a lymphoedema practitioner.

Secondary lymphoedema is the swelling of the arm following the removal of lymph nodes during breast cancer treatment. It is estimated that secondary lymphoedema affects 20 percent of breast cancer patients. Secondary lymphoedema is a chronic condition which is not curable but may be alleviated by appropriate management.

"We are thrilled to receive funding to provide women with breast cancer from Lismore and the surrounding regions with information on secondary lymphoedema and the management of this condition. We will be offering women a series of 6 sessions which will include Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) massage and education about the self application of MLD. We will also offer training in the application of MLD to carers of the women who join the program.

Access to our lymphoedema practitioner will be at a reasonable cost" said Ms Karuna Fielden, Manager of the Lismore & District Women's Health Centre.

"It is also important for women undergoing breast cancer treatment to know what secondary lymphoedema is and what they should look out for. Currently there are no programs like Refresh in the Lismore area and this new funding will allow us to address an existing gap in the provision of breast cancer support in our local area."

Associate Professor Christine Giles, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre General Manager, said women with breast cancer face a range of emotional, psychological, physical and practical challenges, which can be compounded by their rural or regional location.

"The swelling associated with lymphoedema can make everyday activities painful and difficult, and can also significantly impact on a woman's body image" said A/Prof Giles.

"With more women surviving breast cancer than ever before, improving the quality of life of survivors is becoming increasingly important, this includes supporting women to manage the side effects of treatment."

The Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign is an international initiative which aims to address disparities in care for women with breast cancer. National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre administers the program within Australia.

To book for Refresh please ring the Lismore & District Women's Health Centre on 02 6621 9800 Monday - Thursday.

For more information on breast cancer and the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign, visit www.nbocc.org.au/pinkpony.

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre is funded by the Australian Government and works with consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers and governments to improve care and cancer control in breast and ovarian cancer.