Your relative or friend’s diagnosis of a brain tumour involves complex medical care including both inpatient and outpatient services by a range of healthcare professionals. If you have not had to deal with health problems in the past you might feel unsure how to navigate the health system.
There can be a range of health professionals involved with cancer care. See the following links for some explanations about their role in cancer (oncology) care: The role of a GP; The role of a pharmacist; and Other health professionals. They are also listed in the Glossary If you or your friend or relative is unsure who the best team member is for a particular problem, ask a Cancer Nurse Coordinator, who will be able to advise on this.
Sometimes it is not easy to know who to call or when. Some ways to explore your options include the following:
For very general ideas of where to go, or what is open when you need a service, you can get advice from: www.healthdirect.gov.au, or ring 1800 022 222
They are a reliable government service who can help to provide information 24 hours per day. For more information watch this video.