People diagnosed with lung cancer in the Mackay region now have access to a dedicated McGrath Cancer Care Nurse for the first time, bringing vital support to patients during one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Leah Greenfield started at Mackay Base Hospital in November as Queensland’s first McGrath Cancer Care Nurse dedicated to lung cancer.
Her role is part of an expansion of the McGrath Foundation’s cancer nursing service and comes after Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) was identified as a regional lung cancer hotspot, with incidence rates significantly higher than the national average.
Residents in the Mackay region are 57 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer compared to the Australian average based on analysis of national cancer incidence data, Leah said.
Several factors contribute to region’s higher incidence rates including higher smoking prevalence, occupational exposure and socio-economic disadvantage. Cancer Council Queensland data shows that between 2018 and 2022, 502 people were diagnosed with lung cancer within the region.
Leah said her role is focused on helping lung cancer patients navigate the complex journey after diagnosis through to treatment and beyond.
“My role is to provide support for patients and their families by providing clinical guidance as well as emotional and psychosocial support,” she said.
“A lung cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and patients often have many questions. I work with them to help make sure they have the information and support they need at every stage.”
Leah has 12 years of nursing experience, and a career has spanned many specialties at Metro North, including the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, neonatal unit and respiratory outpatient services at Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
She has also worked in oncology and palliative care and was the lung lesion coordinator at Caboolture Hospital, assisting patients in the diagnostic phase of their disease.
“Now I’m supporting patients once they have a lung cancer diagnosis and am helping guide them through treatment and beyond. That’s true continuity of care,” she said.
Since relocating to Mackay in late October, Leah has observed additional challenges faced by regional patients.
People living in rural and remote areas experience 31 per cent more lung cancer cases and 12 per cent lower survival rates than those in major cities, often due to limited access to specialist expertise and treatment services, she said.
Mackay has a large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population with them also being twice as likely to be diagnosed with and die from lung cancer compared with non-Indigenous Australians. They are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage.
“The biggest difference in regional cancer care is the distances people have to travel for appointment and access to diagnostic services,” she said.
“This can add stress and further complications for patients, which is why having someone here locally to help provide support can make a big difference.”
Leah said working with cancer patients was very rewarding.
“These patients often see life differently and have a deep appreciation for the care they receive. They are also incredibly resilient and grateful for your help,” she said.
“Building relationships with patients is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. I enjoy building rapport, so they feel supported and as comfortable.”
Leah joins two McGrath Cancer Care Nurses already supporting people experiencing breast cancer at Mackay Base Hospital, helping advance the McGrath Foundation’s goal that ‘no one goes through cancer without the care of a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse’.
Mackay HHS warmly welcomes Leah to the team and thanks the McGrath Foundation for expanding this vital support to more patients in our community.