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Support and connection

Finding support and connecting with people living with breast cancer (MBC) can help you with your own MBC journey. Some people seek connection straight away; others wait. This page includes information about support services. These include informal peer programs and support groups, so you can find the right support at the right time.

Last updated 15 January 2025

Online communities and forums

Connecting with others who understand what you’re going through can be incredibly valuable.

Australian online communities:

Take a step back if needed

If you are feeling overwhelmed in any online group, it is okay to take a step back. You can mute, leave, or try a different type of support.

Local and national support services

Helplines

  • BCNA Helpline 1800 500 258 - Breast cancer specific information and navigation (9-5pm AEST, Monday to Friday)
  • Lifeline 13 11 14 - 24/7 crisis support
  • Cancer Council Information and Support: 13 11 20 (9-5pm local time, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays)

Breast care nurses

  • Many hospitals have specialist breast care nurses and some have specialist MBC nurses.
  • McGrath Foundation: McGrath Cancer Care Nurses provide clinical, psychosocial and emotional support throughout cancer treatment. The service is free, and you don’t need a referral. You can use their ‘Find a nurse’ page to see if there is a nurse near you. You can also contact the Nursing Program Team by phone (02 8962 6100) or email (enquiries@mcgrathfoundation.com.au).

State-based services

  • Cancer Council in your state or territory: These offer a variety of services depending on the state/territory you live in. Services include:
    • financial counselling
    • emergency financial advice
    • transport services
    • subsidised accommodation
    • pro bono legal and workplace support
    • wig and turban services.
  • Local cancer centres: May run support groups and living well programs.
  • Community health centres: May offer free or low-cost counselling.

Support groups

There are a growing number of MBC support groups in Australia. Many meet face-to-face, but several are now offered online via teleconferencing (e.g. Zoom or Teams).

The groups vary in style – some meet weekly, others monthly. Some have a therapeutic focus. Others are simply to connect. A couple are specifically for younger women (usually <45 years of age). Many people report that they have tried a few to find the one that is the best fit for them.

In addition to the groups that meet in ‘real time’, there are also several Facebook groups. Some are general; others are sub-type or treatment specific. The more specific Facebook groups are usually international rather than Australian.

More support groups

Find support groups by state or territory on the MBCAA website.

Finding your fit

You may need to try a few options to find the right fit for you. Not every group suits everyone, and that’s completely okay.

As a young, outgoing woman, breast cancer can still feel incredibly lonely. Connecting with others who truly understand makes me feel safe.

Peer support and mentoring programs

Talking one-on-one with someone who ‘gets it’ can be powerful. Peer support offers:

  • someone who understands from lived experience
  • practical tips that worked for them
  • hope and validation
  • a safe, non-judgemental space to talk about fears and concerns.

Peer support programs:

Being in a space where I don’t have to explain myself makes a real difference.

Other types of support

Support doesn’t have to be cancer specific. You might also connect with:

  • Country Women’s Associations (CWA)
  • Women’s Sheds
  • multicultural associations
  • faith communities
  • local clubs that can offer community and practical help.

Some support groups meet online, which can be helpful if you live regionally or can’t travel. If in-person groups aren’t for you, there are online groups (like on Zoom). These provide a way to connect from home, work or even when you are out and about.

Inclusive and safe MBC care

We’re not all the same, and neither are our families, cultures or identities. Many things shape how we experience MBC and how safe and supportive the health system feels, including our:

  • languages

  • cultures

  • gender

  • sexuality

  • postcodes

Many people with MBC face additional challenges when trying to get the care they need. These challenges include finding the right interpreter, feeling overlooked as a man with MBC, or dealing with racism, homophobia or transphobia.

This Info Hub aims to reflect those realities and point you to community‑led, culturally safe and gender‑affirming support. You’ll find links to groups created by and for your communities, as well as:

  • services that can help you ask for an interpreter

  • support to connect with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

LGBTQ+‑affirming care.

If we’ve missed something that would help your community, please let us know.

Click below to search for resources for each group:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

LGBTQIA+ community

Men

When you’re not ready for a group

It’s completely normal to not feel ready for support groups or peer support. Some people never want to join a group or talk to anyone else with MBC, and that’s okay.

You can still get support in other ways:

  • One-on-one counselling (ask your GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan).
  • Online forums where you can read without posting.
  • Podcasts and blogs by people with MBC.
  • Talk to your friends and family.

Last reviewed: 15 January 2025

Need immediate support?

Lifeline: 13 11 14 Cancer Council: 13 11 20 Breast Cancer Network Australia: 1800 500 258