Bowel Cancer Australia and Icon Cancer Centre unite to expand personalised care

Medical: In a move to bridge the care gap for bowel cancer patients, Bowel Cancer Australia and Icon Cancer Centre have unveiled plans to deploy specialist Bowel Care Nurses in select Icon cancer centres across Australia. This strategic collaboration aims to provide extensive support to individuals diagnosed with bowel cancer, ensuring they receive personalised care as close to home as possible.

Bowel Cancer Australia CEO, Julien Wiggins, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, “More than eight in ten patients have identified access to a specialist nurse in-person or by phone as one of the most important aspects of their care coordination.”

Despite bowel cancer being the third most diagnosed and second deadliest cancer in Australia, people diagnosed with bowel cancer do not receive the same level of support as those with other common cancers.

Mr Wiggins emphasised the organisation’s commitment to meeting patient preferences, noting that Bowel Cancer Australia pioneered telehealth support for bowel cancer patients over a decade ago.

“This new collaboration… will help to further close the care gap with an expansion of our in-person specialist Bowel Care Nurse Pilot in select Icon cancer centres across Australia,” stated Mr Wiggins expressing optimism about the partnership with Icon Cancer Centre.

Paul Fenton, CEO of Icon Cancer Centre Australia and New Zealand, underscored the significance of additional support during challenging times for cancer patients.

“We know that patients can become overwhelmed when it comes to navigating the health system following a cancer diagnosis,” said Mr Fenton. He continued, “We’re proud to partner with Bowel Cancer Australia to provide our patients with additional support to help them navigate this difficult time in their lives.”

Fiona, a Bowel Care Nurse at Bowel Cancer Australia, explained “Bowel Care Nurses provide care coordination, direct patient care, emotional support, as well as assist patients in navigating a sometimes-complex health system, enabling them to take a more active role in their treatment and care.”

Recruitment for the specialist Bowel Care Nurses is scheduled to commence in February, marking a crucial step toward closing the cancer care gap.

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