Holistic needs assessment?

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Living with breast cancer
1

Hi,

 I wasn’t sure exactly where on the forum to ask this but hope here is ok.

Had anyone completed a Holistic Needs Assessment and if so was it worthwhile?

When I went for my pre op assessment on 14th September it was mentioned to me by one of the nurses I saw who thought it might be beneficial but is completely optional. She was surprised that it hadn’t been mentioned to me at the time of diagnosis and that I hadn’t been told who my key worker was. She said she would find out for me and send me the details and an access code to apply for the HNA. I had forgotten about it until two weeks ago when I received a MacMillan booklet about in the post with the name of my key worker, the web address to go on and the access code written on the front. I have spent the last couple of weeks deliberating about whether to do it or not. The access code expires on 3rd November so I need to decide by then. My problem is that although on the whole I am coping quite well I think I probably do need a bit of support but don’t think the named key worker is the person to supply it but the HN assessment has to be done with her. I met her briefly at my first two appointments and didn’t like her very much. I was relieved when I saw two other breast care nurses at all the appointments after that I felt they were much more sympathetic and answered my questions rather than avoiding them by changing the subject as I felt she had.

Not sure what to do, any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks x

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Hi Neesie

This is something that I’ve never been offered in my 4 years in Cancerworld. It sounds just what most of us need. It would be a pity if you lost a useful opportunity because you didn’t warm to the nurse. On the day, you might well find she has to be somewhere else and you do it with another nurse! I remember I had a superb BCN initially and then, once I’d moved into adjuvant therapies, I was told by the very brusque nurse there than I was working with her now and wouldn’t need the BCN. I never warmed to her but (although it turned out she was wrong about the BCN) she did have my best interests at heart. Completing the assessment will surely just identify your needs - it doesn’t mean she will be your provider.

You have the right to request a change of BCN but they do tend to work as a team. You might also find that, in a different context, this nurse is helpful. Who knows? You certainly stand to gain a lot - or lose out if you let the chance go. I have MTNBC and, even at Stage 4, none of us has a dedicated BCN as the service is stretched beyond its limits! Yet an HNA is just what we have been requesting over the past year.

Hope you arrive at a decision soon x