Our March meeting brought together 22 members, both online and in person, at the Peter Mac Wellbeing Centre. This month, we welcomed Katya from Peter Mac’s psychology team as our guest speaker. Her insights sparked an important conversation about the emotional and psychological impacts of head and neck cancer during treatment and well after.
Katya highlighted that the experience can be deeply traumatic, with reminders surfacing daily, around anniversaries, or during significant events like check-up scans. She encouraged open discussions about challenges, as many struggles are invisible to others. Being upfront with people and setting clear expectations can help manage interactions and emotional energy.
A key takeaway was the importance of making meaning in what we choose to do and focusing on what we can control. Managing anxiety involves setting personal boundaries and deciding how much energy to invest in difficult situations and conversations. And above all, asking for help is never a sign of weakness.
The group strongly agreed that a referral to a psychologist should be a standard part of care for all head and neck cancer patients, if only for a single session. The psychological impact of treatment is significant, and support should be readily available.
We look forward to our next meeting in April, where we will be joined by Head and Neck Cancer Australia CEO, Nadia Rosin.
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