Icon Centre calling on local residents to acknowledge importance of carers

Lee-Anne Cremin and her husband Patrick know all too well about the challenges of living with breast cancer during Covid, however, the experience was made easier with the support of each other.

LEE-ANNE Cremin and her husband Patrick know all too well about the challenges of living with breast cancer during Covid, however, the experience was made easier with the support of each other.

Icon Cancer Centre Townsville has marked breast cancer awareness month by calling for local residents to acknowledge the important role carers of people living with breast cancer play and the untold challenges they have faced during the Covid.

“Since losing my father to cancer at age 58 and my mother to breast cancer at age 48, I have always been aware of breast cancer and vigilant with yearly ultrasounds or mammograms,” Ms Cremin said.

“In January 2021, when we were already dealing with the impact of Covid-19, I discovered a lump in my right breast. I was only two months overdue for my check-up,” she said.

After receiving a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis, Lee-Anne began 20 weeks of chemotherapy treatment at Icon Cancer Centre Townsville in February of this year.

Throughout this time, Patrick was there to support Lee-Anne every step of the way – from driving her to appointments to participating in consultations with her doctor.

“Having my husband with me for my appointments, either in person or by phone, was so important. It really helped reduce a lot of my anxiety,” Ms Cremin said.

Patrick and Lee-Anne Cremin. Picture: Supplied

“If Patrick was unable to take part, it would have been extremely hard. He could retain a lot of the information, whereas I found it hard to concentrate as the chemotherapy treatment had clouded my brain,” she said.

For Patrick, being able to participate in Lee-Anne’s cancer care meant a lot for their family.

“It’s been really important to be involved with Lee-Anne’s treatment. We could work as a team to face these challenges together, alongside our family,” Mr Cremin said.

While regional centres like Icon Cancer Centre in Townsville make it easier for patients to choose cancer care closer to home and have loved ones visit, restricted hospital visitation and social distancing measures have proved even more challenging.

Lee-Anne was thankful that she could access her chemotherapy treatment at Icon Cancer Centre Townsville, rather than needing to travel further from home.

In the past, Lee-Anne and Patrick would make the hour-long trip to Townsville to see her doctor before treatment, and if her blood counts were too low, they would need to drive back to Ayr and reschedule her treatment for the following week.

Picture taken in 2020. Concerned doctors want to protect regional Queensland through tighter travel restrictions. Pictured outside Townsville Mater Hospital (back row L-R) Dr Stuart Lavender (Anaesthetist), Dr Rahul Dua (Nephrologist), Dr Sugeet Baveja (Cardiologist), Dr Mark Zonta (Surgeon), Dr Dhamesh Anaud (Cardiologist), (middle row L-R) Dr Craig Costello, (Neurologist), Dr Ed Morris (Haematologist), Dr Jason Boldery (Surgeon), Dr Abishek Joshi (Oncologist), (front row L-R) Prof Ajay Rane (Obs Gyn) and Prof Sabe Sabesan (Oncologist). Picture: Shae Beplate.

Through the innovative use of telehealth to manage Lee-Anne’s care, the team at Icon Townsville were committed to reducing this disruption in their lives.

“Once my care team had an idea of how my blood results were behaving with my chemotherapy each week, a plan was put in place to have my bloods taken the day before my scheduled treatment,” Ms Cremin said.

“My doctor would then phone me on the day of treatment to advise me if treatment would proceed. This helped me avoid travelling the long journey to Townsville unnecessarily,” she said.

Icon Medical Oncologist Professor Sabe Sabesan says this is just one way Icon Cancer Centre has been connecting patients and loved ones to the best possible care throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Director of medical Oncology Professor Sabe Sabesan at the Townsville Hospital in a telelink with a patient and medical staff in Mackay. Picture: Evan Morgan

“For families like Lee-Anne and Patrick, a cancer diagnosis is difficult news to receive at the best of times. Covid-19 restrictions, social distancing and reducing the risk of their loved one contracting the virus means there is an even greater burden placed on the carer. However, the longer treatment is delayed, the worse the outcomes will be,” Professor Sabesan said.

“At Icon Cancer Centre Townsville, we can expedite pathways to treatment such as virtual pre-chemotherapy education and telehealth consultations, while having mechanisms for social distancing during this challenging time.

“Ensuring that our patient’s partner or family member can be connected to their loved one’s care, whether on the phone or at the end of a Webex teleconference, provides a huge amount of support. Sometimes it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference,” he said.

Icon Cancer Centre Townsville has proudly provided world-class care to the Townsville community since opening in 2013.

With a focus on regional cancer care, Icon Townsville offers a wide range of treatment options including chemotherapy and treatment for blood disorders, saving patients from travelling long distances to access the care they need.

Originally published as Icon Centre calling on local residents to acknowledge importance of carers