Bloomhill Cancer Help

Bloomhill Cancer Care is a centre for excellence for integrated cancer care, balanced by our profound connection with and understanding of our clients and their needs.

We are a Sunshine Coast based charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people living with and beyond cancer, through practical, physical and emotional support and empowerment through education and awareness.

We understand that health is more than the absence of illness, and offer support across the six dimensions of wellness, including physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual and occupational.

Operated by a dedicated team of professional staff and assisted by a large number of committed volunteers, the emphasis is on the integration of different forms of treatment and therapy.

Bloomhill represents a unique blueprint for client care, supporting people to manage their prescribed medical cancer therapy, as well as their carers to manage the many demands required of them.

Bloomhill works closely with acute cancer care services, general practitioners, community nursing services and other health care professionals to help build a holistic approach to the care of the person affected by cancer.

We have a clear understanding of the range of needs identified by people at all parts of the cancer journey, and are as able to support people at point of diagnosis as into extended periods of survivorship or through a palliative journey.

Bloomhill offers a strong specialist cancer nursing service which enables appropriate clinical assessment, needs identification, information provision, supported decision making, medication management support, survivorship and wellness planning and timely referrals to more specialised service when required.

Bloomhill is proud to offer an expert allied health multidisciplinary team to support people affected by cancer.

Exercise physiology, dietetics, psychology and occupational therapy are all available to assist with a range of issues including fatigue, fear of recurrence, healthy weight management, assistance with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, lymphoedema care and finding ‘normal’ again.

The range of complementary services offered are comprehensive and tailored to individual needs.

Bloomhill supports the best management of the mind/body connection to have people feeling strong and empowered about their cancer journey.

We provide counselling (in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast), oncology massage, reflexology, meditation and art therapy.

These services are also offered to carers and/or families.

We also offer a volunteer transport, shopping and buddy service to assist clients to access medical care and treatment for cancer related issues, and support independence as much as possible.

Our programs and therapies are designed to help you cope with the physical, mental and emotional effects of having cancer.

The Centre is warm and welcoming with all elements focused on creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere for all who visit.

Bloomhill receives no on-going government funding and relies primarily on the funds generated by our Op Shops, the Cotton Tree Markets and importantly on the generosity of the Sunshine Coast community through donations and bequests.

Services

Complementary therapies aim to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms of disease.

They are used together with conventional or mainstream medicine.

Our programs and therapies are designed to help you cope with the physical, mental and emotional effects of having cancer.

There are a wide range of complimentary services which are comprehensive and tailored to individual needs.

TOUCH THERAPIES

Massage

Massage is an ancient technique that involves manipulating muscles and rubbing or stroking soft tissues of the body.

Massage is considered a type of complementary therapy.

Reflexology

Bloomhill offers both general reflexology for relaxation and wellbeing, as well as reflexology and foot care for people experiencing chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice which dates back thousands of years.

Thin solid needles are inserted into specific points on the body to improve health and treat illness.

MIND & BODY THERAPIES

Meditation

Meditation is a mind-body process that uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind.

It has been defined as the intentional self-regulation of attention, a mental focus on a particular aspect of one’s inner or outer experience.

Creative Arts Therapy

Creative Arts Therapy is not about being an artist – no skills in the arts are required.

Children draw or write stories naturally, allowing their imagination to do the work. Adults can too.

Arts and Crafts

Crafting is a haven to let your imagination run wild.

There is no such thing as right or wrong.

With crafts, making the item, not the end result, is paramount.

At the end of the crafts experience, everyone comes away with their masterpieces.

Sound Therapies

Whether we like to sing along to a snappy tune or listen to a Mozart sonata, we all recognize the power music has to energize or calm us, pull us into the present, or sweeten a sour mood.

Yoga

Yoga therapy has the potential to improve a range of factors which affect quality of life, including depression and anxiety, social and emotional wellbeing, stress and distress, and physical function.

Soul Space

Spirituality is a key dimension of wellness.

It is a way to find meaning and purpose in your life.

It is not the same as religion, but is more about seeking understanding in the sense of the ‘bigger picture’.

OTHER SERVICES

Transport Assistance

Our Volunteer Transport Assistance service provides transport for Bloomhill clients to medical appointments or to the Bloomhill Centre.

Psychology

People affected by cancer face emotional and psychological demands in addition to the physical effects of the disease and treatment.

Challenges include existential fears following diagnosis with a life-threatening disease, treatment decision dilemmas, pain, discomfort and functional impairment associated with the disease and its treatment, andbody image changes associated with cancer treatment.

Respite Care

Bloomhill volunteers are able to provide temporary respite relief to those caring for family members.

Nutrition Network

Diet and nutrition is an important component of managing the experience of cancer.

Children’s Days

Cancer creates uncertainty and change in the lives of everyone it touches, which includes children.

Whether a child has cancer or is coping with the diagnosis of a parent or sibling, addressing the emotional needs of children during this time is important.

Bloomhill Buddies

Buddies are Bloomhill trained, compassionate and caring volunteers who provide companionship to a client or carer for about an hour per week.

Shopping

Assistance with shopping is available. If required please see your Client Care RN.

Counselling

Bloomhill offers the services of a qualified cancer counsellor, who also is a registered radiation therapist.

This mix of knowledge and skills supports the provision of a high quality cancer counselling service, with an excellent understanding of cancer treatment impacts, both short and long term.

The Bloomhill Counsellor is also skilled at supporting clients with grief and bereavement through a range of individual and group activity.

Lymphoedema Service

Bloomhill offers a lymphoedema service which provides clinical assessment, client education, maintenance therapy and support.

Support Groups

Bloomhill support groups are available for people living with and beyond cancer.

Carer Support

A carer can be a wife, husband, parent, daughter, son, relative or friend who is able to provide the care, support and responsibility of the care needs for someone who is facing a life threatening illness or is dying.

Exercise Classes

Participating in exercise has been associated with benefits during and following treatment for cancer, including improvements in psychosocial and physical outcomes, as well as better compliance with treatment regimens, reduced impact of disease symptoms and treatment-related side-effects, and survival benefits for particular cancers.

Men’s Group

A group exclusively for men which focuses on good health and living well with cancer.

Child Minding whilst at Bloomhill

Child-minding can be arranged for clients with young children while coming to Bloomhill for appointments.

Reviews

“The staff at Bloomhill are amazing. I have had several different treatments there and have found that in my times of need, there is always someone who cares available.”

“I did my Social Science degree in community work practice semester at Bloomhill in 2002.
I have always wondered what happened to Margie, the founder of Bloomhill.
She was an amazing person who started it from scratch and put her heart and soul into it.
She supported myself and my co-researcher, Cathy Tallent, enthusiastically as we produced a client feedback survey which is catalogued at the National Library of Australia.”

“When I was 24 my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My mum was a carer to her mother with Alzheimer’s, I was a single mother. So I suddenly found myself looking after 4 generations on my own. A friend told me about ” bloom hill” and said they might be able to help, and help you did!! My mother passed away 12yrs ago but I will be forever grateful for your help, support, medical aids and counselling that you provided over that period of time. I often think back and remember how kind everybody was to me. So I guess I just want to say thank you for everything you do, you really were my angels in my time of need X”

“Bloomhill has been a great help to me as both my late husband and beautiful daughter have suffered with Cancer. My husband passed away 10 months ago and i am grateful for the assistance we had from BLOOMHILL. Sally is now a survivor and enjoys the friendship of other fellow sufferers. Thank youBloomhill for such a peaceful and tranquil envjronment.”

“Today I dropped a few items into your Brightwater store and I just wanted to say what a lovely bunch of people you have there . Some of the items belonged to my much loved mother who passed away from cancer many years ago. The ladies were so appreciative of the goods and it was a great feeling to know they were going to such a good cause . Well done ladies the store is immaculate and a true credit to those working there.”

“Have mainly used the Bloomhill transport to get me to hospitals. All drivers have been great, but a very special thanks to Robyn, who also works at Bloomhill in the transport department, as she goes above and beyond the call of duty to get me to hospital, even weekends. Such an amazing lady.”