Anne was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May 2012 while her brother was also going through treatment for multiple myeloma.

“I had to go home and tell my children and family that I needed surgery in Sydney. It was an incredibly difficult conversation to have.” Following six months of chemotherapy, she was given the all clear in October that year.

Being a regional patient meant that when Anne was told she was clear in October, she would have one follow up in Dubbo and then alternating with one in Sydney which of course, was hard financially.

Anne called Cancer Council’s Information and Support Service who were able to help her with some of the costs, “The 13 11 20 Cancer Council number was amazing. They were incredibly kind, provided understanding and were able to cover a couple of bills for me. This small gesture meant so much and helped me continue to get to appointments.”

However, just over six years later, in June 2018, Anne’s cancer returned. After an urgent MRI Anne was rushed to Sydney and had more tests, “It showed the ovarian cancer had come back and metastasized to the brain stem and a few other areas.”

After her treatment finished in January 2019, Anne began to have numbness in her back where the cancer was which meant she needed to have two more weeks in hospital while the doctors tried to figure out why.

During her time in the hospital, Anne reached out to Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 again for support, “They have been amazing with their support. They are beautiful people who understand and provide all kinds of assistance.” Anne not only received financial support from 13 11 20 but also the emotional support she needed, “For me they were able to help financially, but more importantly with counselling through their telephone support service.”

She received six sessions with a professional counsellor through Cancer Council before deciding to have ongoing counselling, “It was a life-changing six sessions, that soon became 12 with an incredibly kind and understanding counsellor.”

Anne has since had one tumour in January this year but was not derailed by it or the treatment, “It’s amazing how different my capacity to deal with life now looks. I am very grateful.

“I am so grateful to my Cancer Council counsellor – sometimes I talk to them multiple times a week or just once a fortnight. It’s helped me to navigate the really dark places of this.”

Your Dry July fundraising in 2021 helped Cancer Council continue to support people affected by cancer across Australia through their 13 11 20 Information and Support Line – an incredible feat that would have been impossible without you.

“As a healthcare professional working on 13 11 20, I know how important the information and support we provide to our callers are. Generous funding from Dry July enables our service to continue its vital work.” – Jan Priaulx 13 11 20 Healthcare Professional

13 11 20 is there for all Australians, with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals answering calls from hundreds of Australians every single day. Over $3million was raised in 2021 which was directed to 13 11 20 across Australia, the money you have raised stays in your territory – ensuring that there is local support available for those who need it most.

“Thank you for the information and links. I’m so grateful for all the support you and everyone has provided these past few months.” – Anonymous 13 11 20 caller

On behalf of Cancer Council and all the people that will access 13 11 20 in 2022, thank you for helping us be there to take the call and ensure no one has to face cancer alone.

Your Dry July fundraising this year has helped Cancer Council Australia continue running their 13 11 20 Information and Support Line across every Australian state and territory – an incredible feat that would have been impossible without you.

13 11 20 is there for all Australians, with dedicated teams of health professionals with cancer care experience answering calls from hundreds of Australians every single day. The money you have raised will stay in your state or territory – ensuring that there is local support available for those who need it most.

On behalf of Cancer Council – and all the people that will access 13 11 20 in the year ahead – thank you for helping us be there to take the call and ensure that no one has to face cancer alone.

Marnie could never have predicted what 2020 had in store for her. At the beginning of the year, she was studying to become a nurse, taking classes with her dance company, and hanging out with friends.

“When I was diagnosed, it was a time in my life when I was just starting to find my feet and discover where I belonged in the world. Then it all came crashing down,” said Marnie.

In March, not only did she have to endure the shock of a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis, she had to complete treatment through all the uncertainty and disruption of COVID-19.

“No one could come in [to the hospital] with me – I think mum came to my first treatment and from there I was on my own,” said Marnie.

“It’s pretty scary because you’re going into hospital not knowing what’s really going on and all by yourself, but I guess that’s how it had to be.”

When Marnie was first diagnosed, it was completely unexpected. It was purely by chance that her cancer – already at stage 3 – was discovered.

Read Marnie's full story here: https://www.dryjuly.com/2021/marnies-story 

Your Dry July fundraising helps us support Cancer Council Australia's 13 11 20 Information and Support Line.

The national service provides cancer-specific information, as well as emotional and practical support to more than 37,000 callers across Australia each year.

The 13 11 20 line operates from Monday-Friday, 9-5pm. ☎️

To find out more visit: www.cancer.org.au/support-and-servi…/cancer-council-13-11-20