- 6 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.
PCFA nurse locations
NSW
Macquarie University Hospital
South Eastern Local Health District (St George Hospital)
Mid North Coast Local Health District (Port Macquarie Base Hospital)
Mid North Coast Local Health District (Coffs Harbour Health Service)
Western NSW Local Health District (Orange Health Service)
Western NSW Local Health District (Dubbo Health Service)
Western NSW Local Health District (Bathurst Health Service)
Murrumbidgee Local Health District (Wagga Health Service)
- South West Sydney Local Health District (Liverpool & Bankstown Hospitals)
South West Sydney Local Health District (Camden/Campbelltown Hospitals)
Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre
Central Coast Local Health District (Gosford Cancer Centre)
Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (Wollongong Cancer Centre)
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (Shoalhaven Cancer Centre)
Hunter New England Local Health District (Calvary Mater Hospital, Newcastle)
Hunter New England Local Health District (Tamworth Base Hospital)
Far West Local Health District (Broken Hill Health Service)
Western Sydney Local Health District (Westmead Hospital)
Western Sydney Local Health District (Blacktown Hospital)
Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga
Sydney Local Health District (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital)
South East Sydney Local Health District (Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick)
Northern Sydney Local Health District (Royal North Shore Hospital)
Southern NSW Local Health District (Bega/Moruya Health Service)
Southern NSW Local Health District (Goulburn and Queanbeyan Health Services)
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (Nepean Hospital)
VIC
Grampians Health Service (Ballarat Hospital)
Barwon Health (Geelong Hospital)
Western Health (Footscray Hospital)
The Bays Hospital (Mornington Peninsula)
Mildura Base Public Hospital
Alfred Health (The Alfred Hospital)
Monash Health (Moorabbin Hospital)
Monash Health (Casey Hospital)
Eastern Health (Box Hill Hospital)
St Vincent’s Health (Private & Public Hospitals)
Wimmera Health (Horsham Hospital)
North East Health (Wangaratta Hospital)
South West Health (Warrnambool Hospital)
Swan Hill District Health Service
ICON Cancer Centre Epworth Richmond & Freemasons
ICON Cancer Centre Mulgrave
Austin Health
Latrobe Regional Hospital
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service
Goulburn Valley Health (Shepparton)
Echuca Health Service
Central Gippsland Health Service (Sale)
Genesis Care Cabrini & Western Private
QLD
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Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service
-
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (Rockhampton)
-
Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane
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Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Health Service
-
Metro South Health (Princess Alexandra Hospital)
-
Metro North Health (Redcliffe Hospital)
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Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (Bundaberg & Hervey Bay Hospitals)
-
Mackay Hospital and Health Service & ICON Cancer Centre
-
Townsville Hospital and Health Service
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Townsville Hospital
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Ipswich & West Moreton Hospital and Health Service (Ipswich Hospital)
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Genesis Care Southport and Tugun
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Mater Adult Hospital
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Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
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Gold Coast University Hospital
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ICON Cancer Centre Noosa
-
Toowoomba Base Hospital
WA
St John of God Bunbury & South West Health Campus
St John of God Murdoch Hospital
WA Country Health Service
South Metro Health Service (Fiona Stanley Hospital)
Genesis Care Wembley
Genesis Care Joondalup
East Metro Health Service (Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital)
East Metro Health Service (Royal Perth Hospital)
Hollywood Private Hospital Cancer Service
Genesis Care Mandurah & Local Health Service
ICON Cancer Centre Midlands & Surrounding Districts
Hollywood Private Hospital
SA
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (Flinders Medical Centre)
Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Royal Adelaide Hospital)
Central Adelaide Local Health Network (Queen Elizabeth Hospital)
Limestone Coast Local Health Network (Mount Gambier)
Eyre and Far North Local Health Network (Port Lincoln)
Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (Wallaroo)
Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (Murray Bridge)
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (Mt Barker hospital)
Genesis Care Adelaide (Flinders Private, Tennyson Centre, St Andrews Precinct, Elizabeth)
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (Lyell McEwin Hospital)
TAS
Launceston General Hospital and Health Service
Royal Hobart Hospital and Health Service
ACT
- Canberra Health Services
- Canberra Hospital
NT
- Royal Darwin Hospital
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
