2022 was another busy year for the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre.
Through the ongoing generosity of our community and support from the Dry July Foundation, we are able to provide Wellness Centre services and improved medical treatment to our cancer patients.
Our Ballarat Cancer Centre Day Oncology Centre conducted over 6,500 sessions, including chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies and education sessions. Demand for its services is has grown at 5% p.a. since 2016/17.
Our Wellness Centre relies 100% on community fundraising to offer its support and education services, free of charge, to all cancer patients in our region. Dry July is our biggest single fundraising event of the year.
This year, the Wellness Centre was able to increase the number of programs we offer to 21 – the highest number of programs offered by a wellness centre in Victoria.
This included, but is not limited to:
- 816 massage appointments
- 10 group meditation sessions
- 48 group yoga sessions
- 40 walking group sessions
- 77 bra and form fitting appointments
- 70 Look Good, feel better appointments
- 40 financial advice appointments
The Wellness Centre continues provide comfort, support, education and practical help for our patients.
The Why Wait for Wellness Program is currently part of an evaluation study to determine the effects of early access to health education and support for oncology patients. This evaluation is investigating both face-to-face and virtual delivery of the sessions.
“My words for the Wellness Centre are support, relief, caring, understanding and education. Knowing the Wellness Centre is readily available is a great support and knowing that other people care and understand what I’m experiencing both physically and mentally is beneficial.” - Jenny, patient
In addition to support for our Wellness Centre, Dry July has assisted in the purchase an ultrasound vascular access device for our Oncology Unit. This equipment uses ultrasound and imaging technologies to help health care professionals visualise vessels, needle trajectory and final needle tip location. Use of a vascular access system can greatly assist cancer patients by reducing trauma – both physical and emotional.
Scientific research has demonstrated that using a vascular access system can result in the preservation of peripheral veins, less nursing time spent trying to gain vascular access, reduced delays in therapy related to loss of vascular access, shorter hospital stays, fewer emergency room visits and decreased infusion therapy costs. Each of these advantages reduces both the physical trauma to a patient’s vascular system, and emotional trauma by reducing delays in receiving treatment and reducing hospital stay length and potential emergency room visits.
The Ballarat and Grampians regions continues to face growing health challenges, including cancer. Our region has an aging population with more social disadvantage and higher smoking and obesity rates than the Victorian average. Support from our community and the Dry July Foundation helps us provide the best possible care to our cancer patients.
