Post-treatment support for patients with haematological malignancies:findings from regional, rural and remote Queensland

Abstract

Social support is a significant factor in the cancer patient's psychosocial wellbeing. This paper presents the findings ofrecent Queensland-based research that explored the experience of families returning home to the regional, rural andremote sector after a family member completed specialist treatment for a haematological malignancy and related blooddisorder in a major metropolitan centre.Family and friends are the key resource persons providing support. To a large degree, this is because of the absence ofalternative sources. Even support from health professionals can be problematic and for many the only source of supportis the specialist centre many hundreds of kilometres away. The primary response to developing supportive services needsto be through person to person contact either via telephone or newsletter. If targeted appropriately, there is alsoevidence that educational programs, support groups and volunteers would be an effective medium for providingsupport. Educating the local health professionals (GPs and nurses) about haematological conditions is a logicalextension of providing support to families.