Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19.

Over the past two years, our community has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of dealing with a new way of living for everybody, there are still many people battling cancer.

Today is World Cancer Day – celebrated every year on 4 February to raise global awareness and improve education about cancer and its impact on those living with the disease. 

This year’s World Cancer Day is being recognised under the theme, ‘Close the Care Gap’ – which is all about raising awareness of the equity gap that affects almost everyone, in high as well as low- and middle-income countries, and is costing lives. 

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Australia.

Northern Health is helping to raise awareness by promoting World Cancer Day to our community, and providing continuous care to our cancer patients during the pandemic.

Dr Frances Barnett, Director of Medical Oncology, said, “We are able to look after people with all types of cancers. We offer the full range of strategies to manage cancer, ranging from surgery, to radiation treatment and to, my speciality, which is the drug treatment for different forms of cancer,” Dr Barnett said.

“We have supportive care programs to look after people, we have information sessions and we try to include patient families and carers in all steps of the cancer-related journey.”

Our utmost priority is the safety of our patients. During COVID-19, we have adapted the way we provide our services so we can continue to provide the highest quality of care. Northern Health launched the NOAH@Home service in 2020 – providing chemotherapy to patients in the comfort of their own homes.

It’s still important as ever for patients to continue medical appointments and regular check ups even during the pandemic. Reach out to loved ones who are living with cancer to see how you can support them during this time.

“Most of World Cancer Day’s focus is on raising awareness of cancer, things we can all do to prevent cancer, detect cancer early and the management of cancer as well,” Dr Barnett said.

Featured image: Dr Frances Barnett with cancer patient Maria.