Breast Survivorship Clinic

About
Region Western & Central Melbourne
Type of Service Dedicated outpatient survivorship clinic, Nurse-led service
Tumour Stream Breast
Mode of Delivery Video call/ telehealth

Dedicated outpatient survivorship clinic

Who can access the service?

  • Age Demographic: Adult 18+
  • When? Post curative treatment and during treatment maintenance
  • Patient eligibility: up to 1 year post treatment completion
  • Who can refer me? ​​Automatic referral to service when diagnosed

Service details:

  • Appointment length: 1 hour
  • Service operations: 6-10 patients, 2 days per week
  • Service caters to priority populations (e.g., CALD communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander)

How does the clinic/s keep up with patients? Paper forms, Manual spreadsheets eg. Excel, Microsoft List

  • Does your health service record patient survivorship encounters? Yes, electronic and paper
  • Does your survivorship the service/s receive dedicated resourcing/funding? Hospital budgets eg. VINAH, NWAU, MBS

Communications with community services: Online application or portal, Through electronic medical record, hard copy posting

Using ​Quality of life screening tools eg. UW-QOL and local supportive care screening tool which includes improvised distress thermometer, we can address:

  • Long term side effects of cancer treatment
  • ​Short term side effect of cancer treatment
  • Financial toxicity
  • ​​Information for patients
  • Psychological concerns
  • Social concerns
  • Practical concerns eg. transport, housing, accommodation
  • Carers
  • Physical concerns eg. lymphoedema

*screening tools available in languages other than English

  • ​​Tailored cancer survivorship care plan
  • ​​Important contact details
  • Treatment summary
  • Discharge summary (eg. acute admission)
  • Non-profit organisation resources
  • Health service generated resources

Clinic doctors initiate transfer to GP only follow-up; data manager completes diagnosis & treatment summary

Health service: Royal Melbourne Hospital

Treatment Provided: Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Surgical

Survivorship policy in place? No

updated April 2025

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