Gut Cancer Foundation has launched a new My Care KIT for oesophageal cancer, giving New Zealanders affected by oesophageal cancer access to clear, practical and trusted information at no cost.
Created for patients, whānau and carers, the My Care KIT is designed to help people make sense of what can be a complex and confronting diagnosis. It brings together key information about oesophageal cancer, treatment, nutrition, side effects, clinical trials and support, all in one accessible resource.
The oesophageal cancer Care KIT is available now through the Gut Cancer Foundation website and can be downloaded digitally or ordered as a printed binder, with free shipping across New Zealand.
Helping patients, whānau and carers feel more prepared
A diagnosis of oesophageal cancer often comes with many questions. People may need to understand new medical terms, upcoming tests, treatment decisions, changes to eating and swallowing, and what support is available to them.
This My Care KIT has been developed to help reduce some of that uncertainty. It provides evidence-based information in a practical format, so patients and whānau can read at their own pace, keep important notes together, and feel more confident when speaking with their healthcare team.
It is part of Gut Cancer Foundation’s wider upper GI support service, which supports people affected by cancers of the oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, liver and biliary system.
What's in the oesophageal cancer My Care KIT
The KIT includes a range of resources to help people better understand oesophageal cancer and the care pathway ahead, including:
The oesophagus and how it works
How oesophageal cancer is diagnosed
Common tests and investigations
Cancer staging
Treatment journey
Managing symptoms and treatment side effects
Clinical trials
Diet and nutrition
It also includes space for patients, carers and whānau to record appointments, questions, notes, symptoms and important information to discuss with their care team.
Available free across Aotearoa
The oesophageal cancer My Care KIT is free for people affected by oesophageal cancer in New Zealand and is available to order or download here:
https://www.gutcancer.org.nz/shop/
The oesophageal cancer KIT joins Gut Cancer Foundation’s pancreatic cancer My Care KIT, with further Care KITs for stomach, liver and biliary cancers also being developed.
Acknowledgements
The My Care KIT resources have been adapted from the Pancare Foundation Australia, and Gut Cancer Foundation is incredibly grateful for their support.
Gut Cancer Foundation also sincerely thanks the organisations whose support has made the Care KIT programme possible, in particular The Lion Foundation, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, the David Levene Foundation, and the North & South Trust.