Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be restrictions on the number of visitors that patients can have at some WA hospitals. While these restrictions protect vulnerable patients and hospital staff, they can cause distress and anxiety for those receiving cancer treatment– especially for those receiving end-of-life-care and to their families.

Here are some tips to help patients, family and friends feel connected and informed.

For information and support contact a cancer nurse by calling 13 11 20 or emailing questions@cancerwa.asn.au. For other languages call 13 14 50.

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All Western Australians over five years of age are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. You will now need to show proof of vaccination to enter many public premises around Western Australia.

As you may know, the Australian Government’s Department of Health has developed Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy that outlines when individuals will receive the vaccination. All persons with specified underlying medical conditions* can now book in for their COVID-19 vaccination by going to the Roll Up For WA website or by calling 13 26843 between 8am and 6pm, seven days a week. Carers (paid or unpaid) of an adult or child with a specified medical condition are also eligible.

• *Haematological diseases or cancers: Including leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma resulting in immunocompromise.
  
• *Non-haematological cancer: Diagnosed within the past 5 years or on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted anti-cancer therapy (active treatment or recently completed) or with advanced disease regardless of treatment.
  

Bookings are the best way to ensure that you’ll receive your vaccination, whether you choose to be vaccinated in a WA State-run clinic, Pharmacy, or at your GP. Find a location and book on RollUpforWA or call 13 COVID for assistance.

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• Cancer Council's 13 11 20 Information and Support Line
  If you are feeling anxious, have questions or need support, please remember that Cancer Council WA's Support and Information line is available on 13 11 20 during business hours. Our specially trained team can provide emotional support as well as practical tips for minimising the risk of infection during this time.
  
• Cancer Council's Online Community
  Social distancing as a result of COVID-19 may impact how you access support. Cancer Council's Online Community is a safe and supportive online discussion site for people affected by cancer, their carers and families.
  
• Australian Government Department of Health
         -   Public health information on Coronavirus
         -   Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
  
• Cancer Australia
  If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and have questions about your cancer treatment and care and COVID19, speak with your GP or cancer care team. To learn more visit Cancer Australia.
  
• Multilingual resources
  Cancer Council recognises that all Australians need access to trusted, up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and cancer. See our support and information multilingual resources available in 12 languages.
  

Coronavirus is a flu like virus. It causes an illness called COVID-19 which can affect your lungs and airways. For most people, the virus won't cause serious problems. But for some people, the virus can have serious complications.

COVID-19 can be spread from person-to-person. This can happen when a person comes into contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person, for example through coughing or sneezing.

Spread of this Coronavirus from person-to-person is usually between close contacts. Close contacts are those people who have been face-to-face with a person infected with the virus for at least 15 minutes, or been in the same closed space for at least 2 hours with an infected person.

For more information, please visit HealthyWA website.

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Cancer treatment, for example chemotherapy, can lower the immune system. If you are currently undergoing cancer treatment or have a blood-related cancer such as leukaemia or lymphoma, your immune system may be weaker, which means your body may not be able to as effectively fight the virus as someone who is healthy and well.

As such, it's important to be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and get a COVID-19 test and speak to your doctor if you are concerned. Healthdirect Australia has developed a COVID-19 Symptom Checker, an online self-guided tool to help people find out if they need to seek medical help. There is further information around minimising your risk in the questions below.

It is normal and understandable that you might feel anxious about contracting COVID-19. If you are feeling anxious, have questions or need support, please remember that Cancer Council's information and support line is available on 13 11 20 during business hours. Our specially trained team can provide emotional support as well as practical tips for minimising the risk of infection during this time. We will also be updating our website frequently with new information, so please keep checking back.

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Cancer treatment can temporarily lower your immune system as it can damage healthy white blood cells in addition to killing cancer cells. Over time the body repairs and regenerates these healthy cells, so immunity can be strengthened however, the body's immune system may still be reduced even once active treatment is completed.

It is therefore difficult to know exactly which cancer survivors may be more at risk than others, even if you have completed treatment. We recommend that if you are concerned, you should read the section below on how to limit your risk of exposure. You can also read more about managing your infection risk here.

If you are feeling anxious about your risk of contracting COVID-19, have questions or need support, please remember that Cancer Council's information and support line is available on 13 11 20 during business hours. Our specially trained team can provide emotional support as well as practical tips for minimising the risk of infection during this time. You can also talk to the psychosocial support team within your treatment centre.

Healthdirect Australia's COVID-19 Symptom Checker, is online self-guided tool to help people find out if they need to seek medical help.

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If you are currently experiencing symptoms of infection (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath), please contact your treatment team and get a COVID-19 test.

More information is available at the HealthyWA website.

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If you or a loved one is living with cancer, have had cancer or are undergoing treatment, in addition to following the Australian government's advice, there are additional precautions you can take to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. In many cases, these will be similar to precautions you may have been given by your treating team. These can include:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or if not immediately available use an alcohol-based hand rub. It's a good idea to carry this with you. It is especially important to wash your hands before eating or drinking.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as this can transfer the virus from surfaces.
  
• Avoid contact with those who are sick or unwell or have been exposed to the virus or may be at higher risk due to recent travel to a high-risk country.
  
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (such as tables, benches, light switches, doorknobs, sinks, toilets, remotes, mobile phone or eating surfaces).
  
• Avoid crowds, crowded areas and unnecessary physical contact, such as shaking hands, hugging or kissing, and limit the number of visitors and carers that accompany you to appointments (if possible). This is especially important if you are currently having chemotherapy or are post-treatments such as bone marrow transplantation. Please note, treatment centres are putting additional measures in place, such as removing every second chair to assist with social distancing, to keep patients safe and to allay anxiety about sitting in busy waiting rooms.
  
• Maintain a 1.5metre physical distance between yourself and others and avoid social habits such as kissing or handshakes.
  
• Talk to your doctor or member of your treatment team about the times in your treatment when you may be at the highest risk of infection so you can plan your activities accordingly (Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to boosting the immune system beyond adhering to a healthy lifestyle).
  
• Stay home as much as possible and avoid non-essential travel and avoid public transport if you can.
  
• Wear a mask when outside the home. This is currently mandatory in Western Australia. Find out more about how to safely wear a mask on the HealthyWA website.
  
• Call your treatment team to see if you can do you some of your consultations remotely via phone, Skype or FaceTime.
  

If you have had contact with a person who could be at an increased risk of having COVID-19, avoid any contact with the person who is receiving cancer treatment.

Talk to your health care provider about receiving the influenza vaccination as early in the flu season as possible to avoid passing on other infections and increasing the risk that you or your family member or friend will need healthcare.

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Feelings of worry and uncertainty are a normal response to a stressful situation such as this global pandemic. The primary reason that uncertainty is so stressful is that it erodes our sense of control.

There are strategies you can use to take care of your emotional health and increase your ability to cope. Many of these are skills we recommend for people responding to a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and recovery that can also be applied to current circumstances.

See our coping strategies information sheet for some helpful ways to focus on the aspects of life that are within your control. This is the most important coping strategy you can adopt.

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If you are affected by cancer, what does the COVID-19 pandemic mean for you? Should you delay tests and treatment? How can you still get support from those around you? And where can you turn if you need more information or support?

Listen now to the Cancer and COVID-19 podcasts and hear Cancer Council’s health professionals discuss these questions and more.

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Cancer Council WA’s Financial Hardship Program is working with other organisations to offer additional assistance to people with a current, confirmed cancer diagnosis and who are in significant financial distress as a result of that diagnosis.

Applications for the following support services are made by a health professional who is aware of the cancer patient’s social and financial situation. The health professional must submit an application to our Financial Hardship Program with consent from the patient.

Foodbank WA
Compared to regular supermarket, cancer patients can purchase groceries from Foodbank at a significantly reduced price. Access to cheaper groceries can substantially reduce cancer patients’ food bills, allowing their limited funds to be put to outstanding bills and other expenses.

Vouchers are available for eligible patients to shop at Foodbank distribution centres or the mobile vans.

For more information and locations, visit www.foodbank.org.au/WA/mobile-foodbank/?state=wa.

Cahoots Connects
Cahoots Connects offers a free shopping delivery service for people who are living with cancer and their families/ carers. Clients pay online for their ordered goods from supermarkets, Big W, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and Officeworks; no delivery fees apply. For clients who need extra help, teams of two will deliver the ordered goods and unpack them in the client’s home upon request. All staff and volunteers are required to provide a police clearance certificate and a working with children check before they are able to volunteer or work with Cahoots Connects.

Cahoots Connects deliver to Perth Metro areas, Bunbury and Mandurah.

Eligibility criteria, orders & FAQs are available through Cahoots Connects call centre on 1300 103 880 or online at www.cahoots.org.au/cahootsconnects.

Telstra Bill Assistance Program
The Telstra Bill Assistance Program assists people who are experiencing financial hardship and having difficulty paying their Telstra bill. Cancer patients with a Telstra account number starting with 2000 may be eligible for assistance.

Contact Us
For any queries, including client eligibility for any of our support services, please call our cancer nurses on 13 11 20.

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