Breast & Prostate Cancer Association of QLD Inc.

Resources

Breast and Prostate Cancer Services and Resources Directory Queensland

Services & Resources Directory has recently been updated.

With help from Daryl Hyland and Lorraine Hagaman from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (Qld), there is a new section with information for prostate cancer resources. This is a much smaller section than the breast cancer portion, but we hope over the years it will grow in the same manner that breast cancer support and services have. We thank PCFA for their help and input into the directory.

Download the Prostate Cancer Services and Resources Directory Queensland >>

Download the Breast Cancer Services and Resources Directory Queensland >>

A newsletter is produced twice per year, and circulated throughout Queensland to supporters, members of the association, health care workers and interested parties. The newsletter aims to provide up to date information on new treatments, therapies and other matters pertaining to breast cancer and to keep the community informed of the activities and achievements of the association.

Click here to download the lastest Newsletter

Life Planning Documents – Three Things to Do

If you are over 18 years of age and have capacity, there are three important documents you should/must have.

1. A Will

This is a legal document indicating to whom you wish your assets to go after you die.

A valid document must be typed, dated and signed, with your signature witnessed by two people.

Your appointed executor (solicitor, family member or friend) will apply for probate, pay your debts and distribute assets.

The law is complex, and so it is advised not to write your own will. Homemade wills are more likely to be contested, hence it is recommended to engage a solicitor to assure that your assets are distributed as you wish.

To make a will, one needs to know:

(a) What is a will;

(b) What are your assets; and

2. Enduring Power of Attorney

This is a formal document giving another person(s) the authority to make personal and/or financial decisions on your behalf.

Personal – decisions about care and health matters.

Financial – to pay bills and manage your money.

A Power of Attorney appoints someone to manage your finances for a specific time, e.g. while overseas. If a person loses capacity during this time, the Power of Attorney becomes null and void.

An Enduring Power of Attorney is recommended. This enables the person you nominate to manage your affairs when you are no longer able to do so by reason of physical or mental problems.

Unlike the Power of Attorney, it is valid if you lose capacity. It can be revoked only if you have, or regain, capacity.

The form can be purchased from many newsagencies and must be signed with a witness to the signature. Again, it is recommended that a solicitor be involved. The document does not have to be registered unless property is being bought or sold, in which case registration should be with the Titles Office.

If no-one is nominated for personal (health) matters, your next-of-kin is your statutory health attorney to make decisions regarding health matters if you are not able to do so. This authority ceases if/when you regain capacity

Your attorney can attend to most transactions on your behalf but is not able to vote for you.

3. Advance Health Directive

This is sometimes referred to as a living will. This document records your wishes regarding your future healthcare. It enables you to give instructions on how you wish to be treated in various situations such as irreversible brain damage, terminal illness, and addresses issues such as resuscitation, tube feeding and ventilation.

It only comes into effect if you are not able to make your own decisions. This document gives guidance to your family and doctors on how YOU wish to be treated. It is a lengthy document and requires your doctor to go through it with you and complete one section so make a long appointment for this.

Make it now while you are well and thinking clearly. Don’t wait until you have an urgent or life-threatening illness.

This must be dated and your signature witnessed by a JP or legal practitioner, not a relative, beneficiary of your will, your doctor, or the attorney for your financial matters.

All of the above documents can be altered or revoked at any time providing that you have

(a) Capacity to do so;

(b) It is written; and

Crossing out or added notes on the original document will not be accepted.

Do it now

Keep these documents in a safe place

Ensure your family/friends know where these are.

Breast Cancer Medical Information

www.canceranswers.org
www.thebreastclinic.com *
www.oncolink.org

Prostate Cancer

Cancer Council Queensland Ph: 13 11 20 (8am-8pm Monday to Friday)
Website: www.cancerqld.org.au

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia – Queensland Chapter
Freecall: 1800 220 099 Queensland: Ph: (07) 3166 2140
Website: www.prostate.org.au Email Queensland: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Prostate Cancer Institute Ph: (02)9113 3903
Website: www.prostatecancer.org.au

Prostate Screen Australia Ph: 1300 103 333
Website: www.prostatescreenaustralia.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Suite 3.03 Mater Private Clinic, 550 Stanley St, South Brisbane

Mater Prostate Cancer Research Centre
Web: www.mmri.mater.org.au

Australian Prostate Research Centre – Queensland
Web: www.australianprostatecentre.org

National Continence Helpline Ph: 1800 330 066
Website: www.continence.org.au

Prostate Health Lions Australia
Web: www.prostatehealth.org.au

Andrology Australia Ph: 1300 303 878
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.andrologyaustralia.org