The Cancer Council Victoria will launch an awareness campaign in Western Victoria today, which aims to alert people affected by cancer to the support services they can access.
Professor David Hill, Director of The Cancer Council Victoria, said research had shown that people were not aware that they could ring
the Cancer Council for support and advice about cancer.
He said each year hundreds of people in Western Victoria were diagnosed with cancer and thousands more family and friends were also coping with the challenges a cancer diagnosis brings.
He said the Cancer Council Helpline operated from 8.30am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and was staffed by trained cancer nurses. In addition, people in desperate circumstances could also apply for small amounts of financial assistance. The helpline was also multilingual.
People who call the helpline get a range of support from emotional to factual information about cancer types, treatment centres, side effects and ways to cope with practical and emotional life-issues..
In 2007 the Helpline had over 60,000 contacts with Victorians, and many from those in Western Victoria.
Local Area |
Number |
Calls to Cancer |
| Ballarat |
417 |
1032 |
| Ararat |
71 |
88 |
| Horsham |
99 |
104 |
| Moyne |
79 |
68 |
| Southern Grampians |
107 |
115 |
| Warnambool |
161 |
199 |
| West Wimmera |
28 |
25 |
| Buloke |
59 |
41 |
| Colac Otway |
108 |
105 |
| Glenelg |
110 |
116 |
|
Hindmarsh |
41 |
32 |
| Northern grampians |
80 |
48 |
| Yarriambiack |
54 |
64 |
"Almost 24,000 Victorians are diagnosed with cancer each year and potentially in need of support. In addition, their carers, family and friends also need assistance at this difficult time," he said.
The television and print advertisements portray a hypothetical scenario where a woman is newly diagnosed with cancer wondering how she is going to break the news to her son. The advertisements were created based on real life experiences often relayed to cancer nurses on duty at the Cancer Council Helpline.
The television advertisement will run for 5 weeks commencing on 18 May. It will feature on WIN Television, Prime Television and Southern Cross Ten and will be seen by the following towns: Ballarat, Hopetoun, Kaniva, Donald, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Edenhope, Stawell, Edenhope, Ararat, Mortlake, Colac, Warnambool, Portland and Hamilton.
The print advertisement will feature in the Ballarat Courier and Ballarat News and will also fun for 5 weeks.
To speak with a cancer nurse call 13 11 20 from 8.30am to 8pm, Monday to Friday for the cost of a local call. The service is confidential and multilingual.
