Breast care nurses are specially trained registered nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women with breast cancer, their families and carers. They provide accurate information, support and referral to services. It costs approximately $100,000 per year to employ each full time breast care nurse and the McGrath Foundation provides funding for each position for 3 years at a time.
If you would like to become involved in raising money to fund more specialist breast care nurses click here.
Together we can make a difference
Nurses
Bega NSW
Jennifer Garner
Jenny has been employed as the Emmett McGrath Breast Care Nurse at Bega Valley Community Health Service. Jenny
has three years experience as a Breast Care Nurse in rural NSW and feels strongly about providing care and
support to those dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis at all stages of their journey. The new position will
allow all women within the Bega Valley to access a Breast Care Nurse.
Jenny has been employed as the Emmett McGrath Breast Care Nurse at Bega Valley Community Health Service. Jenny
has three years experience as a Breast Care Nurse in rural NSW and feels strongly about providing care and
support to those dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis at all stages of their journey. The new position will
allow all women within the Bega Valley to access a Breast Care Nurse.
Moruya NSW
Andrea Franke
Andrea Franke (in her own words) has been a registered nurse “for a very long time”! She originally trained in
Germany and has worked as an Oncology Nurse for the past 17 years. She is keen to ensure that, through her role
as a breast care nurse, best practice standards of care are provided to all patients with breast cancer, and
their families. Andrea has been employed as the Emmett McGrath Breast Care Nurse within the Eurobodalla Community
Health Service.
Andrea Franke (in her own words) has been a registered nurse “for a very long time”! She originally trained in
Germany and has worked as an Oncology Nurse for the past 17 years. She is keen to ensure that, through her role
as a breast care nurse, best practice standards of care are provided to all patients with breast cancer, and
their families. Andrea has been employed as the Emmett McGrath Breast Care Nurse within the Eurobodalla Community
Health Service.
Albury Wodonga, NSW
Jude Peterkin
McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Jude Peterkin, is based in the Albury-Wodonga region. She has extensive
experience in the role of supporting women as a nurse and midwife.
Jude is passionate about the importance of supporting breast cancer patients throughout the whole journey with breast cancer and the critical role breast awareness plays in early detection.
McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Jude Peterkin, is based in the Albury-Wodonga region. She has extensive
experience in the role of supporting women as a nurse and midwife.
Jude is passionate about the importance of supporting breast cancer patients throughout the whole journey with breast cancer and the critical role breast awareness plays in early detection.
Perth, WA
Sherryl Potts
Sherryl Potts has been Registered Nurse for many years, working in the private and public health sectors. Sherryl
believes her role as a McGrath breast care nurse will help alleviate the increasing need for care and support in
the community for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
These dedicated McGrath Breast Care Nurses are conscious of the help and support they are able to offer women suffering from breast cancer and fully support the McGrath Foundation in its valuable and caring work.
Sherryl Potts has been Registered Nurse for many years, working in the private and public health sectors. Sherryl
believes her role as a McGrath breast care nurse will help alleviate the increasing need for care and support in
the community for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
These dedicated McGrath Breast Care Nurses are conscious of the help and support they are able to offer women suffering from breast cancer and fully support the McGrath Foundation in its valuable and caring work.
Success in Sydney
Originally funding three part time nurses at St George Public Hospital and St George Private Hospital, the
McGrath Foundation is pleased that these positions are now funded independently giving us the opportunity
to fund nurses in other locations. Contact the Foundation here if you wish to make a funding application.
Testimonials
From day one, when we first went to our surgeon, you have been invaluable to us. You have been available whenever we've attended cancer care sessions and are always available on the phone or email to ask questions. Your counselling skills and your in-depth knowledge with the ability to answer questions cannot be replaced in our opinion as we cannot always contact our doctor.
Elizabeth Nelson
The McGrath Breast Care Nurses were a tremendous support to me during a very difficult time. Their kindness and compassion were very important during this stressful period of my life.
Patricia Williams
Alison Szwajcer (a McGrath Breast Care Nurse at St. George Hospital) helped me through the darkest period of my life. She came to see me prior to my surgery to offer support and to answer any questions I may have had.
It was so nice to know that I had support at a time when I had so many questions and was scared to death of what lay ahead. She was a Godsend to me.
So you see, if it wasn't for the Foundation and Alison, I would have been floating in a sea of despair.
Kristen Kasparian
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?
How does the involvement of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse improve the care of a patient?
What training do McGrath Breast Care Nurses have?
At what stage of the diagnosis does a McGrath Breast Care Nurse become involved?
Does everyone diagnosed with breast cancer have access to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?
Can patients request a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?
Where can I find more information about the McGrath Foundation?
McGrath Breast Care Nurses are health professionals specially trained to manage the care of breast cancer patient
throughout the course of their treatment. They are the principal liaison between the patient and specialists to
coordinate treatment, whether it is surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses also play an important advocacy role as well as helping to clarify technical or complicated information that the patient may not understand.
Most importantly, McGrath Breast Care Nurses offer vital emotional support to the patient as well as being a friend for the patient and their families during these times of extreme distress.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses also play an important advocacy role as well as helping to clarify technical or complicated information that the patient may not understand.
Most importantly, McGrath Breast Care Nurses offer vital emotional support to the patient as well as being a friend for the patient and their families during these times of extreme distress.
How does the involvement of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse improve the care of a patient?
The support of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse can substantially improve a patient’s quality of care because they have
one main source of information and care throughout their treatment plan.
Continuous support from a McGrath Breast Care Nurse can greatly minimise the stress and the trauma of the breast cancer journey for the patient.
Continuous support from a McGrath Breast Care Nurse can greatly minimise the stress and the trauma of the breast cancer journey for the patient.
What training do McGrath Breast Care Nurses have?
McGrath Breast Care Nurses are highly-qualified nurses that add much value to the co-ordination of care,
support, guidance and advice to the women dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses usually have a background in oncology or breast care and sometimes even psychology.
McGrath Breast Care Nurses usually have a background in oncology or breast care and sometimes even psychology.
At what stage of the diagnosis does a McGrath Breast Care Nurse become involved?
The McGrath Breast Care Nurse first meets the patient at hospital pre-admission prior to their first surgery. In
some cases, patients are referred to the McGrath Breast Care Nurse by a GP following a breast cancer diagnosis.
The McGrath Breast Care Nurse sees the patient each day they are in hospital after surgery and every time they receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
The McGrath Breast Care Nurse sees the patient each day they are in hospital after surgery and every time they receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Does everyone diagnosed with breast cancer have access to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?
While some major metropolitan Australian public hospitals have at least one McGrath Breast Care Nurse, there is
great need for additional McGrath Breast Care Nurses, particularly in rural and regional areas such as in the
Northern Territory.
The McGrath Foundation’s dream is to provide access for every breast cancer patient nationally to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse.
The McGrath Foundation’s dream is to provide access for every breast cancer patient nationally to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse.
Can patients request a McGrath Breast Care Nurse?
No. Patients are assigned a McGrath Breast Care Nurse if one is available in the area they are having treatment.
Where can I find more information about the McGrath Foundation?
To find out how you can support the McGrath Foundation to achieve it’s goal of funding McGrath Breast Care Nurses
throughout rural and regional Australia, please contact the McGrath Foundation on 1800 183 338.
"Over 400 diagnosed women have been helped by the McGrath Breast Care Nurses at St George Hospital in the past three years. That alone shows the importance of McGrath Breast Care Nurses in the community and why I firmly believe the Foundation provides an invaluable service to Australian women." Alison Szwajcer, McGrath Breast Care Nurse, St George Hospital
"Over 400 diagnosed women have been helped by the McGrath Breast Care Nurses at St George Hospital in the past three years. That alone shows the importance of McGrath Breast Care Nurses in the community and why I firmly believe the Foundation provides an invaluable service to Australian women." Alison Szwajcer, McGrath Breast Care Nurse, St George Hospital
