Vietnamese voices sought to help understand the impact of the pandemic on people with cancer
Media Release
Date: 31 May 2022
Cancer Council Victoria in partnership with The Daffodil Centre are calling for people from the Vietnamese community affected by cancer during the past two years to share their stories
While Victorians across the state return to COVID-normal, many people affected by cancer continue to live life in lockdown, experiencing unique challenges including isolation and anxiety.
Cancer Council’s cancer nurses have been a key support throughout the pandemic, receiving and responding to more than 20,000 calls and emails from people affected by cancer during the pandemic.
In a first-of-its-kind research project by the organisation, Cancer Council Victoria is seeking participants from the Vietnamese community diagnosed with cancer, their carers, family and friends, aged 18+ to share their experience of cancer during COVID-19.
Who?
· Are you from the Vietnamese community and aged 18 or older?
· Have you been diagnosed with cancer, received treatment, or follow up care for cancer in Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic (since March 2020) OR
· Have you cared for someone with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic?
What?
· Participants will meet in small, gendered focus groups of approximately six people and will be asked about what it was like to have cancer, or care for someone with cancer during a pandemic.
· An interpreter will be available if required
· The meeting will take around 2 hours (including a break in the middle) and each participant will be gifted a $50 Coles/Myer Group gift card as a thank you for their time
The research will explore the impact of COVID-19 on cancer care including the emotional impact, treatment changes, the cost of cancer, and hospital visitor restrictions, and will shape Cancer Council Victoria’s cancer support programs in the future.
Amanda Piper, Head of Cancer Strategy at Cancer Council Victoria, said that COVID-19 continued to have a strong impact on how those affected by cancer lived their everyday lives.
“Through our conversations with people with cancer and their families, we know that many have experienced unique challenges throughout the past two years,” she said.
“Cancer is hard, and COVID-19 made it even harder. We want to better understand the impact the pandemic has had on those affected by cancer in our priority communities and their access to services and support through this time. It has been, and continues to be, an incredibly challenging time for many people,” Amanda said.
Cancer Council Victoria believes the focus group findings will play an important role in planning for the future and improving services to diverse groups in the Victorian community and would not be possible without the support of community organisations including cohealth.
“The pandemic forced many changes in healthcare that affected cancer care – some changes were for the better, others weren’t. This project is set to help shape the future of our support offerings and the way we look at cancer care more broadly,” Amanda said.
If you are from the Vietnamese community and have been diagnosed with cancer, or are a carer, family member or friend of someone who has the disease, please register your interest by contacting The Daffodil Centre via email info@daffodilcentre.org or call 1300 640 685 and help your community benefit from improvements in cancer care in the future.
About Cancer Council Victoria
Cancer Council Victoria is a non-profit cancer organisation dedicated to world-leading cancer research, prevention, and support since our establishment in 1936. Our mission is to prevent cancer, empower people and save lives.
Find out more at www.cancervic.org.au
About Cancer Council Victoria’s 13 11 20 Information and Support Line
Cancer Council Victoria’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line is available for all people affected by cancer. Our nurses support people with questions about COVID-19, and link people to trusted information, as well as emotional and practical support services to improve their cancer experience. This service is available Monday-Friday, 9-5pm.
