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Completed Treatment

When a breast cancer patient has completed hospital-based treatment, they transition to multidisciplinary follow-up care. Completed treatment can be from a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and systemic treatment like chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Follow-up care plans aid in the detection and management of treatment-related side effects. You will be eager to enter this new phase after treatment and move towards a life beyond breast cancer. This is a great time to implement strategies to remain well, which can include maintaining a healthy body weight, exercise and mindfulness.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a way you can connect with the breast cancer community.
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Become a National Breast Cancer Foundation volunteer.

Interested in becoming a valued volunteer for NBCF? Here’s how
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Volunteering

Volunteering can be great way to stay connected with the breast cancer community. This link provides information about becoming a National Breast Cancer Foundation volunteer: 
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Recommendations about diet, nutrition, and the 'survivorship' phase of your journey

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Upfront about Breast Cancer podcast

  • Episode 4: Ongoing and late side effects of breast cancer treatment
  • Episode 11: Exercise and breast cancer
  • Episode 17: Young women and breast cancer
  • Episode 18: Busting nutrition myths
  • Episode 19: Nutrition and breast cancer
  • Episode 33: Hair loss related to breast cancer treatments
  • Episode 34: Managing Fatigue related to treatments
  • Episode 32: Peripheral Neuropathy
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Exercise

Exercise has unbelievable benefits for people living with cancer for mental and physical wellbeing.
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Why is it important?

Treating exercise as a prescribed medication during and after breast cancer treatment has been found to benefit physical and mental health. Read more here:
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Free YMCA ENCORE Exercise Program.

A free 8-week breast cancer exercise and information program aimed for women recovering from breast cancer treatment. For further details, refer to:
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Exercise and Breast Cancer.

Exercise has many benefits during and after breast cancer treatment including making treatment and side effects more tolerable, improving mood and reducing fatigue. This Breast Cancer Network Australia guide explains how much exercise can help you, the types of exercises to try and how to stay motivated:
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Exercise and Breast Reconstruction.

This Breast Cancer Network Australia website provides a guide to exercises to do before and after breast cancer surgery to ensure that you are preparing your body for optimal. Click here to read and watch videos:
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Free Local Walking Group.

Physical activity has many benefits during and after breast cancer treatment, including helping manage side effects (fatigue, joint pain), mental health and quality of life. The Heart Foundation of Australia provides free walking groups. Find a community walking group near you:
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Exercise during and after cancer treatment.

Wondering how exercise can help you during your breast cancer journey or not sure where to start? This Cancer Council NSW website provides videos and articles about the benefits of exercise and simple, safe exercises to get you started:
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Free Online Pilates Program.

Pilates is a great low impact exercise that can help strengthen your body. This free online Pilates program is designed specifically to assist those following breast cancer surgery, but can be useful for anyone interested in Pilates as a form of exercise:
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Exercise group - Dragons Abreast.

This fun paddling group brings together people with and without a cancer diagnosis. Dragons Abreast accepts beginner and experience paddlers. Read more here:
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Exercise - Free exercise and information program for breast cancer survivors.

The YWCA Encore program provides 1.5 hours of virtual (Zoom-based) gentle exercise and interaction with instructors and participants for a fun and social connection. More information: https://www.ywcaencore.org.au/about-ywca-encore 10 free coaching calls + exercise and nutrition support for 6-months. Get Health program is free to all Australian adults and provides health support from a qualified personal health coach. Click here for more information:
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Free eight-week survivorship program.

After your cancer treatment ends, you may feel unsure how to adjust to a new way of living and any physical, emotional and personal challenges. This page provides information about a free eight-week survivorship program that covers exercise, nutrition, relaxation techniques and peer-support:
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General Information

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Upfront about Breast Cancer Podcast:

  • Episode 19: Nutrition and breast cancer
  • Episode 11: Exercise and breast cancer
  • Episode 13: Fear of recurrence
  • Episode 31: What I wish I knew
  • Episode 4: Ongoing and late side effects of breast cancer treatment
  • Episode 18: Busting nutrition myths
What You Don't Know Until You Do - with Dr Charlotte Tottman (10 episodes)
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Lowering your risks of cancer returning.

Did you know there are lots of small things you can do each day to lower your risks of cancer returning? This Breast Cancer Network Australia booklet explains ways to lower your risks and who to speak to if you need support:
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Healthy Eating

Living well' after any cancer treatment is impacted by diet and nutrition. A balanced diet is the cornerstone to anybody's health, but is particularly important for those who have been received cancer treatments.
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Healthy options for eating at restaurants.

The NSW Government Healthy Eating and Active Living website provides useful tips for choosing healthier menu options:
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Portion sizes.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommendations. Read more on the Five Food Groups and portion sizes:
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Nutrition and eating well when you are tired.

The Cancer Council have some quick high protein/high energy meal and snack suggestions. See this link for details:
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Easy, quick healthy recipes.

This website provides healthy means you can cook in less than 30 minutes, including a variety of dietary options and freezer-friendly options:
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Healthy eating.

Feeling too tired or unwell to cook? Cancer Council NSW provides quick and easy healthy meal ideas:
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Healthy eating.

You can lower your risk of cancer by eating a healthy diet. Read about the evidence on the link between different foods and cancer and Cancer Council’s recommendations:
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Lympheodema

Depending on the type of treatment you received, you may be at an increased risk of developing a build-up of fluid in your body's tissue. These resources provide information on preventing and managing the condition.
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BCNA webcast (PART 1):

Understanding lymphoedema following breast cancer treatment:
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BCNA webcast (PART 2):

Living with lymphoedema – the conversation continues:
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Lymphoedema.

Understanding lymphoedema risks, warning signs and management are very important. Here’s a great summary of what you need to know from the Breast Cancer Network Australia:
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Lymphoedema Fact or Fiction.

The Icon Cancer Centre answers burning questions about lymphoedema, including common myths and helpful tips. Watch here:
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Complementary therapies

Breast Cancer Network Australia suggests a variety of complementary medicines and therapies to help manage your symptoms and side effects.
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Mental Health

Managing your psychological wellbeing throughout and beyond treatment is fundamental. How do you cope with what has just happened? You may need additional support in managing the psychological challenges that come with a diagnosis. Know that you are never alone and there are people who want to help.
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Fear of cancer returning.

Fear of cancer returning (or ‘recurrence’) is common and normal. Breast Cancer Network Australia offers advice from health professionals, women with breast cancer and provides contact details if you’re interested in additional support services:
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Anxiety and Depression:

Learn the signs, symptoms and recovery options for anxiety and depression with this informative fact sheet from Breast Cancer Network Australia:
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Support groups near you.

Support groups can be a great way to connect with people who understand what you’re going through and can support you at any stage of your journey. Find a support group near you by clicking here:
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Health and Wellbeing services in your area:

There are countless health and wellbeing programs available across Australia, including Exercise, Yoga, Massage, Physiotherapy, Meditation and Counselling. Click here to find services in your area:
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Free online chat with mental health professional.

Beyond Blue has an online chat function that can support you by providing expert mental health advice with a trained health professional. They can provide information and suggest support options to suit your needs. Learn more here:
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Guided meditation from a psychologist.

The ‘Finding Calm During Cancer’ podcast will guide you through a series of short meditation and relaxation practices. Click here for more information:
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Find services, government programs and support groups.

Breast Cancer Network Australia can connect you with most services you will need during your breast cancer journey. See services and programs available near you here:
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Psychologist support

Having support from a psychologist can be very helpful during the breast cancer journey. Westmead Breast Cancer Institute has a psychologist on staff to support you. Read more on the service here. To make an appointment, please call 8890 8888, or find a psychologist in your region here:
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Psychologist support - accessing services

Information from the Australian government regarding Medicare rebates for psychology services via the Better Access Initiative.
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Living with breast Cancer

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Living with breast cancer.

National Breast Cancer Foundation provides links to information that may help you cope with cancer after diagnosis, during treatment and after treatment has finished:
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Cording after breast surgery

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What is cording?

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Cording: a treatable complication of breast surgery.

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Managing Cording

Cording is very manageable! There's a number of things you can do to relieve your symptoms and live comfortably.
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Managing side effects

Some cancer therapies have prolonged side effects that impact people for a short time or a long time beyond active treatment. Find out what is and what is not normal, and find some tips and tricks for managing these side effects.
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Hormone therapy.

Are you taking hormone therapy (e.g. Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitor)? This Breast Cancer Network Australia website provides information about how hormone therapy works, why it’s important and ways to manage side effects:
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Sexual wellbeing.

Sexual wellbeing is important during and after breast cancer treatment. This Breast Cancer Network Australia booklet describes changes you may experiences, tips for managing changes and who to speak to if you need support:
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Managing hot flushes using relaxation techniques.

Research shows that using a few simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing, word repetition and meditation can help reduce stress, severity and frequency of hot flushes. Click here to read more
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Sleep.

Breast cancer can affect your sleep during and after treatment. This Breast Cancer Network Australia fact sheet provides easy helpful tips to improve your sleep:
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Tracking your sleep.

This printable sleep diary (page 2) can help you figure out what might be causing poor sleep and how to get the best sleep possible. You can even bring your sleep diary to your next medical appointment and talk about it with your cancer care team or GP:
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Menopausal symptoms.

What breast cancer treatments can cause menopausal symptoms? Breast Cancer Now provides information that may help you understand and manage these symptoms:
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Urinary problems.

Urinary problems can be difficult to cope with and can impact your quality of life. Read more here:
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Connecting with the breast cancer community

1 in 7 people worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. And whilst this statistic is shocking, it means that there is a huge community of people who you can support or who can support you. Many people find engaging with community initiatives and others who have been through similar experiences therapeutic. Peer support and connection amongst breast cancer survivors is an amazing tool to help you cope with life beyond treatment, and also an opportunity for you to support others or bring awareness.
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Online cancer community.

Cancer Council provides online discussion forums for people at all stages of the cancer journey. Connecting with people who understand what you’re going through can be helpful. You can connect with others online by responding to posts or just read about people’s experiences – how much you contribute is up to you:
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