Extra specialist nurses will expand care and compassion to more breast cancer patients, offering help to navigate a sometimes daunting health system.
The newly recruited nurses will help thousands of NSW patients like primary school teacher Angela Bonfiglio, who has undergone three rounds of chemotherapy and a dozen of radiation after her diagnosis.
Her mother died due to breast cancer and regular precautionary mammograms detected her own cancer in October.
McGrath Cancer Care nurse Linda Nolasco has been supporting Ms Bonfiglio through treatment.
"She’s been so reassuring and during my treatment checked in with me every single morning to see if I was OK or if there was anything I was worried about," Ms Bonfiglio said.
"The caring, compassionate strength that she has in her has helped me so much."
Ms Nolasco and other nurses advocate for patients and help them with their individual needs during treatment.
"Every day I make a difference supporting patients with breast cancer by being there, providing valid clinical information regarding their care and being the patient navigator across a sometimes daunting health system," the nurse said.
Health Minister Ryan Park said more patients would be supported by the recruitment of 23 more nurses, with another six to commence in July.
“During such a challenging time, it’s important to have a familiar face who understands what patients and their families are going through, not just clinically, but emotionally," he said.
The recruitment helped expand access to nurses and the clinical, psychosocial and emotional support they provide during treatment, McGrath Foundation chief executive Holly Masters said.
"Support from our nurses greatly minimises the stress and trauma of a cancer diagnosis for both the individual and their family," she said.
The federal government has also supported the foundation to expand to treat more types of cancer.
Nurses are meanwhile continuing to battle the NSW government for better pay and conditions.
A cohort of nurses and midwives went on strike at Sydney's Northern Beaches hospital on Monday as the Healthscope facility faces an imminent parliamentary inquiry.
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