Barwon Health's Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong

Your fundraising for Dry July has enabled the Andrew Love Cancer Centre to fund wellness programs including oncology massage, exercise therapy, yoga and art therapy.

Wellness programs are an integral part of a patients care alongside their treatment. Therapies such as oncology massage and yoga provide relaxation and through research has proven to reduce stress, anxiety, pain, nausea and depression.

Art therapy provides both inpatient and day stay patients a distraction from their treatment and allows them an outlet of expression which reduces stress and anxiety.

On behalf of all the patients and Cancer Centre staff at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre we would like to thank you for your support and contribution to making a positive difference in the lives of people living with cancer.

Steve Morgan woke from an 11 hour surgery to remove his oesophageal cancer to discover his wife Sophie had given birth to their newborn daughter just down the hallway.

In the maternity wing of University Hospital Geelong arrived Georgie, two weeks early and a ray of sunshine during a challenging time. 

“The nurses from the maternity ward arranged for Sophie and Georgie to visit me in ICU at about 11.30pm and we were able to have a cuddle and photos,” says Steve. “Apparently having a newborn visit their dad in ICU was a hospital first.”

The Highton dad’s cancer journey began with severe stomach pains in August 2019.

The discomfort came out of nowhere, persisted for a few days and steadily got worse. 

He went to emergency twice and eventually had an exploratory gastroscopy.

The following afternoon he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. 

“As a healthy 38 year old non-smoker and limited drinker with previous good health this was obviously a big shock,” he says. 

“Interestingly the doctor could not find a link between my stomach pain and the cancer. It seems it was an incidental finding which likely saved my life - a good lesson to always get checked out by a doctor when you are sick, and keep going back if you don’t get better.”

Thankfully, Steve’s cancer was in the early stages but he still required a major surgery to remove the cancerous area along with a large portion of his oesophagus and some of his stomach which was scheduled for two weeks later. 

An infection and subsequent complications saw an expected two week hospital stay extend to two months followed by Hospital in the Home care. 

Now, he is cancer free, back at work, exercising well, managing fatigue and food better each month.

“Most importantly, I’m playing with Georgie and Emilia just like a normal dad,” he says. 

Steve is under no illusions that the care he received at Barwon Health gave him that gift which is why this year, he has signed on as a Dry July ambassador.

“The fact that I could have major surgery, access to quality intensive care and the availability of the Andrew Love Cancer Centre just 10 minutes from home can’t be underestimated,” he says. 

“Cancer touches everyone in some way so being involved or donating to Dry July will have a positive impact on everyone at some stage of their lives, whether it be themselves or a loved one. 

“I can’t think of anything more important than improving local care for those experiencing serious health issues and would encourage everyone to fundraise or donate their time or money in any way they can.”

Sign up at dryjuly.com and select Andrew Love Cancer Centre to ensure funds raised support your local health service. Head here to read Steve's full story: https://www.dryjuly.com/2021/steves-story 

Thanks to the Dry July Foundation and participants of Dry July in 2019 and 2020, the Ba-Lee Lodge have had a refurbishment, including garden and accommodation rooms.

The majority of the project has been completed with just a few finishing touches like artwork and custom seating yet to be installed, although that hasn't stopped patients who are back enjoying the refurbished space.

The Ba-Lee lodges have been a valued and much loved part of the Andrew Love Cancer Centre for over 15 years. This very important facility provides vital accommodation to Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre patients during their treatment. The impact of a cancer diagnosis is significant in the lives of these patients and their families and units provide a home away from home for regional patients who otherwise would face expensive travel and accommodation costs to attend the Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

The units provide the comforts of home with fully self-contained facilities and Barwon Health’s accommodation and domestic teams work with the patients to ensure their stay is as trouble free as possible.

After many nights of occupancy over the years, the units have benefited greatly from this update and will provide comfort to many more future patients.

Your fundraising for Dry July has enabled the Andrew Love Cancer Centre to purchase items and run Wellness Programs and activities such as exercise therapy, art therapy, oncology massage, and yoga.

They are especially excited to be able to upgrade the Ba-Lee Lodge garden area within the accommodation facility for cancer patients. This will provide a calming, outdoor space for patients and their families who have travelled to Geelong, usually from afar, for cancer treatment.

“The Ba-Lee lodges have been a valued and much loved part of the Andrew Love Cancer Centre for over 15 years. We are extremely lucky to have such a facility to support our patients during their treatment. The impact of a cancer diagnosis is significant in the lives of our patients. These units allow us to provide a home away from home for regional patients who otherwise would face expensive travel and accommodation costs to attend ALCC for their treatment. The units provide the comforts of home with fully self-contained facilities and our accommodation and domestic teams work with the patients to ensure their stay is as trouble free as possible. After many nights of occupancy over the years, the units will benefit greatly from an update both internally and outside in the garden.

We are very grateful for the support from the Dry July participants and Dry July Foundation to help us achieve this and we look forward to proudly launching the Ba-Lee Lodge with a modern and fresh garden for our patients to enjoy. Further to this, having the wellness programs continue will also have a huge impact on improving the wellbeing of our patients during treatment”.

– Michele Shields, Operations Manager, Andrew Love Cancer Centre.

My name is Katie, and I am a clinical nurse specialist at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre. I live In Ocean Grove with my husband and 3 boys. Life is busy but love life near the beach. I have worked at the centre for 16 years and I am a small part of a fantastic dedicated team. My role is to provide patients with not only their chemotherapy but ongoing support and education to patients and their families during this challenging and stressful time.

The best part of my job is getting to know patients and their families and share stories. You really become part of their lives and they do in ours. We support patients from diagnosis and treatment and help them work through side effects and uncertainties caused by their cancer. We are very lucky to have a beautifully new renovated Day ward supported by Dry July and the Barwon Health Foundation that provides a calm environment and we strive to make a very difficult time that little bit easier. Our patients are amazing the way they just get on with their treatment, while juggling work, family life and life’s general busy-ness.

I have signed up to do Dry July. I have been involved with dry July for 8 years. The reason I support and sign up for Dry July every year is I see every day the fantastic benefits that it provides to improve patients experience in the Andrew love Centre.

Dry July has supported so many programs in the wellness lounge such as the massage therapy , yoga & art program, the patient entertainment systems. These programs couldn’t run without the funding from Dry July and they are so important to help support our patients. So if you can jump on board and sign up today!

I love catching up my friends over a wine or too but just not in July. My family and friends are great supporters of my dry July camping and they know it’s coming. So thank you for all your support and I am proud to be a dry July ambassador.