- 4 min read
What is a prostate cancer specialist nurse?
There are lots of nurses throughout Australia working in a variety of jobs helping those affected by prostate cancer. A prostate cancer specialist nurse (PCSN) or PCFA nurse is an experienced registered nurse who has received additional training from PCFA to make them an expert in prostate cancer care. PCFA nurses work within a specific framework to ensure you receive the same level of care, no matter where you live.
PCFA’s nursing service
PCFA’s nursing service is free and available in many health-care centres around Australia.
Thanks to funding from the Federal Government, Dry July Foundation, and generous local and community supporters PCFA is in a position to place specialist nurses in various Australian health care settings, such as hospitals and clinics To provide education and support to men and their families impacted by prostate cancer.
How can a PCFA nurse help?
PCFA nurses work with you, your doctors and others involved in your care. They provide care and support to you and your family in all areas of prostate cancer care – whether you are newly diagnosed or have already had some or all of your treatment.
They can help you by:
- Providing you with an ongoing point of contact and support
- Assisting you to access services both in the hospital and in your community during and after treatment
- Providing you with reliable information about your diagnosis and treatment plan
- Providing you with information on dealing with the effects of treatment and how to get further help to deal with specific problems you may be having
- Coordinating your care – wherever you are in your cancer journey
- Helping you access a support group
How do you see a PCFA nurse?
To see a PCFA nurse in person you either need to be a patient of the hospital where the nurse is based or live locally (you will need to be registered as a patient at the hospital that the PCFA nurse works at). There are nurses located in both public and private hospitals.
The following are ways that you can see a PCFA nurse:
- You can ask your hospital or doctor to contact the nurse on your behalf
- You can contact PCFA on 1800 22 00 99 or at [email protected] to find out if the service is available in your area
The service is available on weekdays during normal office hours – please note that some of our PCFA nurses work part time and may not be available on specific days of the week. It’s also not an emergency service, and you should contact your nearest emergency service for urgent issues.
The following locations have PCFA nurses:
NSW / ACT
- Canberra Hospital
- Dubbo Base Hospital
- Albury Wodonga Health Service
- Bathurst Hospital
- Bega
- Blacktown Hospital
- Broken Hill Hospital
- Calvary Mater Newcastle
- Coff’s Harbour
- Cambden/Campbelltown Hospitals
- Central Coast Cancer Centre
- Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
- Goulburn / Queanbeyan
- Illawarra Cancer Centre
- John Hunter hospital
- Lismore Cancer Care Unit
- Liverpool Hospital
- Macquarie University Hospital Sydney
- Moruya
- Murrumbidgee Local Health District
- Nepean / Blue Mountains
- Orange Health Service
- Pt Macquarie
- Prince of Wales Hospital Randwick
- Royal North Shore Hospital
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre
- St George Hospital
- Sydney Adventist Hospital
- Tamworth Hospital
- Westmead Hospital
NT
- Royal Darwin Hospital
QLD
- Bundaberg & Hervey Bay Cancer Centres
- Cairns and Hinterland Health Service
- GenesisCare Southport
- Greenslopes Private Brisbane
- Gold Coast University Hospital
- Mackay – ICON Cancer Centre and Mackay Base Hospital
- Ipswich Hospital
- Mater Hospital Brisbane
- Princess Alexandra Hospital
- Redcliffe Hospital
- Rockhampton Hospital
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
- Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- Toowoomba Base and St Andrews Hospitals
- Townsville Hospital
SA
- Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network
- Eyre & Far North Local Health Network (Pt Lincoln)
- Flinders Medical Centre
- Genesis Care Adelaide
- Limestone Coast Local Health Network (Mt Gambier)
- The Lyell McEwin Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Royal Adelaide Hospital
- Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network
- Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (Wallaroo and Pt Pirie)
TAS
- Launceston General Hospital
- Royal Hobart Hospital
VIC
- Austin Health
- Bairnsdale Regional Health Service
- Ballarat Base Hospital
- Barwon Health – Andrew Love Cancer Centre
- Cabrini – GenesisCare Radiation Oncology Centre
- Casey Hospital (Monash)
- Central Gippsland Health
- Echuca Regional Health
- Footscray Hospital
- Goulburn Valley Health
- ICON Cancer Centre – Epworth – Richmond / Freemasons
- ICON Cancer Centre – Mulgrave
- Latrobe Regional Hospital
- Mildura Base Hospital
- Moorabbin Hospital (Monash)
- Wangaratta
- Warrnambool
- St Vincent’s Private and Public Hosptial Melbourne
- Swan HIll
- The Alfred Hospital Melbourne
- The Bays Hospital
- Wimmera Base Hospital – Horsham
WA
- Fiona Stanley Hospital
- GenesisCare Mandurah
- GenesisCare – Shenton House
- GenesisCare Wembley
- Hollywood Private Hospital
- Midlands – Icon Cancer Centre
- Royal Perth Hospital
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
- St John of God Bunbury Hospital
- St John of God Murdoch
- WA Country Health Service
What if there is not a PCFA nurse in your area?
If you can’t find a PCFA nurse in your local area, you can connect with a PCFA Telenurse on 1800 22 00 999. To find out more follow the link to:
Additionally, many hospital providers have nurses and social work services specifically to help people with cancer. Ask your doctor to put you in touch with your local services.
Health Direct Australia is a 24-hour health advice line staffed by Registered Nurses to provide health advice. This is free to call from a land line 1800 022 222.
The Cancer Council provide a wide range of services to support those affected by cancer. Contact your local Cancer Council to find out what is available in your area on 13 11 20.
Key Points
- PCFA nurses are experienced registered nurses who have received additional training to make them expert nurses in prostate cancer care
- PCFA nurses offer a free service to men who are patients of a hospital or other healthcare setting
- PCFA nurses provide care and support to you and your family throughout your prostate cancer experience, whether you are newly diagnosed or have already had some treatment
- There are nurses at various locations across Australia
