Receiving a cancer diagnosis and understanding the care required is truly confronting for patients when English is not their first language. Icon is committed to supporting our diverse communities with appropriate information to ensure they understand their illness and the treatment options available to them.
The Cancer Institute of New South Wales has developed a suite of multilingual resources to assist cancer patients and carers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to obtain an understanding of cancer and cancer care. The multilingual resources are available in eight languages – Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean.
The Institute has also produced a number of multilingual fact sheets for patients, their families and carers. These cover specific cancer treatments and common side effects, including what people can do to manage side effects at home, and when to call a doctor. A range of cancer care tips have also been collated to assist patients who speak Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese.
