Passionate pink team needed

SCONE Neighbourhood Resource Centre Manager, Lee Watts, is calling for passionate people to join her in raising funds for local McGrath Breast Care Nurses in Scone and the Upper Hunter Shire.

McGrath Breast Care Nurses provide specialty support and information to women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Ms Watts said many families in the Upper Hunter are experiencing breast cancer first hand and would greatly benefit from McGrath Breast Care Nurses services.

“I recently spoke to a woman in Scone currently going through treatment for breast cancer and she told me she has had many unanswered questions and needs reassurance from someone who understands what she is going through,” Ms Watts said.

“Sometimes just a chat with a breast care nurse is what you need to get through the day,” she said.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“With Breast Cancer Awareness Month coming up in October, I would like to see all of us be a part of raising funds to place a McGrath Breast Care Nurses here and show support for people experiencing breast cancer,” she said.

“Let’s start painting our town pink,” said Ms Watts.

Ms Watts said Upper Hunter residents need better access to McGrath Breast Cancer Nurses, with the closest nurses currently located in Maitland, Newcastle and Tamworth.

“The women going through this journey need the support and access to information that McGrath Breast Cancer Nurses can provide,” Ms Watts said.

“Having a McGrath Breast Care Nurse dedicated to the Upper Hunter would provide support to those of us on this journey we never wanted to take without having to utilise the over taxed services in Newcastle and Tamworth,”she said.

Those who would like to help fundraise for McGrath Breast Care Nurses and be on the committee are asked to phone 02 65452562.

What is a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?

• McGrath Breast Care Nurses are registered nurses specially trained to manage the care of people with breast cancer throughout the course of their treatment;
• They are a principal liaison between the individual and the specialists who coordinate their treatment, whether it be early or metastatic breast cancer;
• McGrath Breast Care Nurses also play an important advocacy role as well as helping to clarify technical or complicated information that may not be easily understood;
• Most importantly, McGrath Breast Care Nurses offer vital emotional support for people with breast cancer and their families, during what can be a very difficult time.