Cancer journeys shared

In fact, a report published in the Medical Journal of Australia showed people living in remote areas were 35 per cent more likely to die within five years of a cancer diagnosis than their city counterparts.

With these startling statistics in mind, a team of researchers from the University of SA’s Sansom Institute for Health Research have created a series of online videos titled Rural Cancer Stories.

As part of the project, clinical psychologist and UniSA research fellow Kate Fennell and oncologist Ian Olver spoke to rural people who shared their cancer stories in the hope of making other people feel less distressed and isolated and more informed and inclined to leave home to access treatment.

The project, which was funded by the auDA Foundation with support from the Sansom Institute for Health Research and Cancer Council SA, is a series of two to five minute YouTube videos featuring cancer patients, survivors and carers. It provides online peer support to those who cannot access face-to-face cancer support groups.

Kate said the video project stemmed from the Country Cancer Support website that she developed with a group of rural cancer patients while undertaking her PhD in 2012.

“The website was designed to help country people when they were diagnosed with cancer with information on treatments and support services,” she said.

“Feedback I received on the website was that people really appreciated the rural-specific information it offered and the fact it recognised the unique challenges county people face.”

Kate got the idea for the Rural Cancer Stories project after hearing about a highly-successful United Kingdom digital channel covering health issues at a conference she attended.

But the UK version was not rural-specific, making Rural Cancer Stories the first of its kind. 

It took six months to create, with Kate travelling across SA with a filmmaker to talk to people about their experiences.

“One aim was to help rural people feel less isolated and encourage them to adopt healthier lifestyles, which in-turn will help them better cope with the side effects of treatment and reduce their chances of cancer reoccurring,” she said.

Another aim was for the videos to be used as a teaching resource for urban-based health professionals, so they had a greater understanding of the challenges country patients face.

Because of the additional financial, social, emotional and practical barriers country people face in accessing cancer treatment, the videos provide information on services such as Cancer Council Lodge, where people can stay while accessing treatment in Adelaide.

Cancer Council SA chief executive Lincoln Size says the videos help to bridge the gap in information and support service accessibility in rural and remote areas.

“Dr Fennell’s series of stories are an innovative way to help reduce the burden of cancer for South Australians living in rural and regional areas,” he said.

“It’s really important that people living in rural and remote areas are able to easily access and understand relevant information on the cancer support services available to them.”

While services such as the Lodge are a great help to many people during treatment, Kate says there are also significant adjustments for both the person with cancer and their supporters when they leave metropolitan treatment centres and return home.

“Many people don’t feel ready or are unable to go back to living life the way they did before they were diagnosed with cancer,” she said.

“We hope that the videos may help them feel less isolated at a time when other support services can be scarce.”

Kate says she is grateful to those who shared their stories.

“The people featured in these films are so inspiring,” she said. “It was a great privilege and pleasure to visit their homes and help them share their valuable tips and stories.”

Two people featured in the video are Penola men Graham Hinze and Doug Redman. Graham was diagnosed with prostate cancer a decade ago.

“The main benefit I saw from the project was being able to promote going out and getting tested,” he said.

“Sometimes there can be no symptoms, particularly with prostate cancer. 

“The earlier you’re diagnosed, the better the chance of survival.”

Doug also had prostate cancer, and later was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The tumour was only diagnosed due to an off-the-cuff comment from a local doctor. When Doug was leaving the clinic for a podiatrist referral, the doctor asked if there was anything else he would like to discuss. 

Doug mentioned how he was having trouble with small things like doing up his shirts, and this comment led to his eventual diagnosis.

“I’m honoured to be part of Rural Cancer Stories,” Doug said. 

“I hope a lot of people watch the videos, because everyone featured on them has something important to say. The biggest message I wanted to get across is the importance of talking to your GP.”