Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital welcomes three new dedicated Breast Care Nurses

RBWH is thrilled to welcome three new McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses, Rikki Hopkins, Jennifer Hanlon and Jane Lushington

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) is thrilled to welcome three new dedicated McGrath Foundation Breast Care nurses thanks to the incredible support provided by the not-for-profit organisation.

With one in seven women in Australia being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85, there is an increasing need for more support for these patients.

The McGrath Breast Care Nurses help individuals and their families who are affected by breast cancer by providing invaluable physical, psychological and emotional support, from the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment.

The RBWH Breast Care Nurses are a welcome addition to the RBWH Cancer Care team, who provide lifesaving healthcare to more than 250 new breast cancer patients each year.

RBWH McGrath Breast Care Nurse Jennifer Hanlon said she is thrilled to have the opportunity to use her clinical expertise and knowledge to support breast cancer patients and their families during an incredibly difficult time in their lives.

“Having the team of McGrath Breast Care Nurses at RBWH allows us to better support our patients by establishing a trusted, ongoing relationship with them and their families,” she said

“A cancer diagnosis can be a very stressful time and patients often require support not only for their physical needs while undergoing treatment, but for their psychological and emotional needs.

“Many of our breast cancer patients are undergoing intense treatment for their disease which can impacts on many aspects of their lives, including their ability to work and care for their families. The effects of a breast cancer diagnosis can continue well past their treatment phase with many patients experiencing ongoing fatigue as well as dealing with fears of the cancer recurring.

“Our role as McGrath Breast Care Nurses is to support them in every stage of their journey, so they can focus on getting healthy without the added stresses.”