What is the program?

A cancer diagnosis is difficult enough. The financial burden that comes with it can make 

an already overwhelming time even harder. As cancer patients ourselves, we understand firsthand what it is like to need supportive care while also having to consider whether you can afford it. Patients can find themselves prioritising some aspects of their care while delaying or going without others simply because of cost. And supportive cancer care is rarely just one appointment with one practitioner. 

A breast cancer patient, for example, may require regular lymphoedema support 

following surgery, counselling to manage the emotional impact of their diagnosis, 

physiotherapy or exercise physiology to help manage pain, weakness and the effects of 

chemotherapy or medically induced menopause, and dietetic support for appetite 

changes, weight changes and general health. 

That is before considering other supportive services that may have little or no Medicare 

coverage, such as acupuncture, reflexology and oncology massage. For someone receiving palliative care, their needs may be very different. They may benefit from physiotherapy or massage to help manage pain and treatment-related symptoms, psychology or counselling to help process their diagnosis, and a life transition doula who can support both the patient and their family through the uncertainty and challenges of end-of-life care. The Support exists. The problem is that many people simply cannot afford to access all 

of it. That is why we created the Cancer Sucks Program.

Our Vision 

The purpose of the Cancer Sucks Program is simple: 

To reduce the financial barrier between a person with cancer and the supportive care 

they need. Through the Program, eligible cancer patients attending The Patient Approach can 

receive access to up to five $65 appointment credits, providing up to $325 towards 

supportive care. These credits can be used across participating services at The Patient Approach, giving patients flexibility to access the combination of support most appropriate to their individual circumstances.