Diagnosed with a Brain Tumour or Brain Cancer?
You're Not Alone.
Receiving a diagnosis can feel overwhelming.
You may be experiencing shock, fear, uncertainty, or have dozens of questions about what comes next.
While every diagnosis is different, you don't have to face it alone. Peace of Mind Foundation is here to provide practical, emotional and financial support for patients, families and carers throughout their brain tumour or cancer diagnosis and beyond.
Take One Step at a Time
You may feel like the news of being diagnosed is surreal. Processing information may be difficult right now.
You may even need to come back to this page another time, feel to bookmark this page and return at any time.
It's normal to feel overwhelmed.
Focus on the next appointment, not the next months or year.
Bring someone with you to appointments. Have them write down important information.
Organising a trusted family or friend to be your ‘communications person’.
Write down questions as they arise.
How Peace of Mind Foundation can help
Need practical or financial support?
Your Advocate or Navigator is here for your individual needs. National Advocacy Service
Grants and financial assistance programs – your advocate will be able to help you access these to ease the financial burden.
Financial Support
Telling Family & Friends
This is one of the first challenges many people face. This can be overwhelming, as there can be a flurry of questions.
Allocate one family member/s or friend to be your ‘communications person’.
A communications person can function as the ‘go between person’ between you and your family and friends to provide news, updates and help safeguard any overwhelm from large amounts of messages, questions and calls.
Some questions before making contact with your family and friends that you may wish to consider:
Who should I tell?
How much should I share?
Managing other people's reactions
Keeping communication simple with others can be helpful.
What Happens Next?
Every diagnosis and treatment plan is unique. Your medical team is the best source of advice about your individual situation.
Your medical team may want to complete further tests
You may meet additional specialists
Talking to children resources via Cancer Hub (there is also a ‘Kids Guide to Cancer’ app available to download)
Discussing treatment options and getting a second opinion if something doesn’t feel quite right.
Discuss family planning before treatment
You may want to ask more questions about your tumour type
Support for You and Your Family
Peace of Mind Foundation is here for you and your family.
We provide emotional and practical support when you need it most, at any stage from diagnosis and throughout your health journey.
National Advocacy Service
A team member working with you by phone to help you to apply practical supports, including NDIS, (My Aged Care), financial assistance and counselling referrals.
Community Brain Cancer Navigators
Providing face-to-face support available across Western Victoria, including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Canberra.
Events & Retreats
Each year, Peace of Mind Foundation supports our community with events and retreats.
