Preferably, these should be doctors who visit their region or who have a specific interest or expertise in breast cancer management and dealing with rural women. In this way, most rural women should have effective and efficient multi-disciplinary assessment and management available to them. Women travelling for treatment benefit if they have an appropriate carer accompany them for support during their time away. The cost of travel to a regional or urban centre is financial hardship, social dislocation and emotional strain. Women who have treatment away from home may also find that communication between their local doctors and the treating specialists is not adequate.
Most states have a travel and accommodation scheme.
These need to be broadened and fully implemented. The treating surgeon and general practitioner need to ensure this. There is a shortage of plastic and reconstructive surgical services in regional and rural Australia, which puts a further barrier in the way of reconstructive surgery and may be another reason for a woman having to leave her home area for treatment. There is little research about issues of diagnosis, treatment, psychological outcomes and needs for women of Aboriginal or non- English speaking background. Cultural factors may contribute to some women feeling uncomfortable with male practitioners, with obvious implications for the quality of care.