At the October meeting of the Victorian Head and Neck Cancer Support Group, 20 members—15 in person and 5 online—came together for a thoughtful and informative session. We were joined by Allison and Anna from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s consumer engagement team, who discussed the importance of consumer engagement in at PeterMac. Anna and Allison highlighted how involving patients and carers leads to improved quality and safety of care and improved research outcomes. They shared examples of how consumers are contributing to PeterMac’s work including the strategies for patient and carer experience, support services and peer mentoring initiatives. It was exciting to hear that members of our own group are actively involved in these projects.
Following Anna and Allison’s talk, the meeting moved into the members-only discussion. During this time, we heard from six new members and all exchanged personal experiences of managing life during and after treatment. The group discussed how recovery and finding the “new normal” looks different for everyone, touching on challenges like navigating dinner invitations, dealing with changes in taste, and managing pain and fatigue. A key takeaway was the importance of finding what works best for each individual, especially when adjusting to ongoing changes.
We’d like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. Don’t forget to register for our next meeting on November 6th at the Peter Mac Wellbeing Centre or join us online.
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