Lifestyle medicine and supportive care consultations with a medical oncologist, for adults who have finished treatment for early cancer and want to build their health from here.
Consultations
Consultations add to the care you already have. Your cancer follow-up, including any checks and scans, stays with your GP or usual cancer specialist.
Every consultation is by video telehealth, so you can join from home or anywhere private, wherever you are in Australia. No travel, no parking and no waiting room.
Who it suits
A consultation may suit you if
you've finished all planned surgery, radiotherapy and intravenous chemotherapy aimed at cure
it’s been at least six weeks, and generally no more than five years, since that treatment ended
you want a structured approach to recovery and longer-term health, or side effects of treatment are getting in the way
you have a GP, and your cancer follow-up continues with your GP or usual cancer specialist
You can still be on ongoing treatment to lower the risk of cancer coming back, such as hormone therapy for breast or prostate cancer, HER2-targeted therapy or a CDK4/6 inhibitor for breast cancer, immunotherapy or bone-strengthening treatment. Your oncologist continues to manage that treatment.
Who it isn’t for
A consultation isn't the right fit if you
are currently having intravenous chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, or still have surgery or radiotherapy to come
finished curative-intent treatment less than six weeks ago
need urgent care for a side effect of treatment
need urgent assessment for a possible recurrence
have metastatic cancer or a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
want a second opinion about diagnosis or cancer treatment
want to be seen in person or have a physical examination
If you're not sure, ask when you request an appointment, or ask your GP.
You might come with several things in mind, such as parts of your lifestyle you’d like to work on and effects of treatment that are making it harder. A consultation focuses on what matters most to you and helps you decide where to start.
What’s covered
LIFESTYLE AFTER TREATMENT
Physical activity and exercise, including what to do when fatigue or joint pain limits you
Nutrition and body composition
Sleep
Stress
Alcohol, smoking and other harmful exposures
Meaning, purpose and social connection
EFFECTS OF TREATMENT
Fatigue and reduced stamina
Hot flushes and other effects of hormone therapy
Joint and muscle aches
Bone health
Concentration and memory
Worry about cancer coming back
Medication
Every consultation includes a review of your medicines. Where a medicine would help with an effect of treatment, I’ll prescribe it or recommend it to your GP.
Lifestyle and the risk of cancer coming back
Research links physical activity, nutrition, alcohol and other parts of lifestyle with the risk of some cancers coming back, and the strength of that evidence varies by cancer and by area. In a consultation, I’ll explain what the research does and doesn’t show and help you decide which areas to focus on first.
What this service doesn't do
Make decisions about chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy for your cancer
Arrange surveillance scans, manage your follow-up schedule or investigate new symptoms (your GP or usual cancer specialist does this)
Prescribe opioids, benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets, stimulants or GLP-1 medicines
Provide individual meal plans, therapeutic diets or supplement regimens
Provide formal psychological therapy
Provide medical certificates or reports for work, insurance or legal purposes
Provide urgent or emergency care
Your GP and usual cancer specialist stay responsible for your cancer follow-up, including any checks and scans. The consultation looks at what else is worth doing, what to start with and how to fit it into your life.
1
Request an appointment
Complete the online request form, and the practice will contact you to schedule a time. Consultations are for people located in Australia at the time of the appointment.
2
Complete the questionnaire
Before your appointment, you'll receive a secure online questionnaire. It asks about your treatment, medications and symptoms, and gives you space to set out your priorities and goals. It also records your consent to the practice terms and privacy policy.
3
Your consultation
The initial consultation is about 50 minutes by video telehealth. Join from home or anywhere private where you won’t be interrupted. The link arrives by email. There’s no app to install and no account to create. A laptop or tablet in a quiet room works best.
4
Your plan
After the consultation, you receive a written summary of your plan and the recommended next steps. Your GP and relevant specialists receive a letter, so everyone works from the same information. Follow-up consultations (usually 25 minutes) are often recommended to review progress and help changes become part of everyday life. Once things are on track, your GP can support you with the plan from there.
How it works
Fees and Medicare
Consultations are privately billed, and there's an out-of-pocket cost. A Medicare rebate applies for eligible patients with a valid referral and a video consultation. The practice confirms the fee and your expected rebate in writing before your appointment.
Rebates apply for eligible patients with a valid referral and a video consultation. Phone consultations aren't eligible.
A higher rebate may apply if you've reached the Medicare Safety Net threshold.
Consultations are privately billed. A secure payment link is emailed one week before your appointment. Any applicable rebate is paid to your nominated bank account after the consultation.
If you don't have a valid referral or aren't eligible for Medicare, you're welcome to book a consultation, but no rebate applies.
Cancellations
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice may incur up to 50% of the fee, and non-attendance incurs the full fee. Fees may be waived for medical emergencies. Medicare rebates don't apply to cancellation fees. If the practice needs to cancel, for example because of technical problems or because telehealth isn't clinically suitable, you receive a full refund to your original payment method.
Getting a referral
You can book without a referral, but you'll need one to claim a Medicare rebate.
Talk to your GP or cancer specialist. They know your history and can help you decide whether a consultation would be useful and, if so, provide a referral. A GP referral usually suits best, as it lasts 12 months rather than three.
Who to address it to. Ask for the referral to be addressed to Dr Ben Forster, medical oncologist, at Overstory Medical. Your doctor can send it securely using the details on the For health professionals page.
Timing. Referrals can't be backdated. You can book first and get your referral afterwards, as long as it's dated on or before the day of your appointment.
If you've finished treatment and would like specialist advice on which parts of your lifestyle to focus on first, or help with something that's getting in the way, you can request a telehealth consultation and ask your GP or treating specialist for a referral.