Nurse offers specialist support

Supporting women emotionally and physically while they are going through a tough time is the role of a McGrath Breast Cancer Nurse.

Ann Retzlaff, who has 10 years experience as a nurse, was made permanent in the role this month at St John of God Hospital Bunbury.

Ms Retzlaff said her role was to help the patient through their cancer journey.

“It is important we are here because having breast cancer brings a whole number of issues from mental to psychophysical, for the patient and the family,” she said.

“They have a familiar face alongside them, which is important if they develop complications and we can point them in the right direction.”

“In my 10 years as a nurse, majority of that time has been in oncology, so I feel well informed and I also completed my Post Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing.”

She said while the job presented its difficulties there was a 90 per cent survival rate for breast cancer patients, which was better than the early 1980s when it was just 72 per cent.