After going through the overwhelming disruption and stress of a cancer diagnosis, many cancer patients understandably look forward to life getting back to “normal”.

But what happens what it doesn’t?

For some survivors, it can be difficult to manage every day when it feels like nobody understands what they’ve been through.

This is exactly the scenario that was the focus of Cancer Council NSW’s virtual webinar, Life changes after cancer – When it all falls apart. The webinar was the first in a series of three, which were generously funded by the Dry July Foundation.

Held on Thursday 28 May 2020, the webinar featured consumer panelists Kate Lyons and Alan King, a married couple whose lives were changed in December 2018 when Alan was diagnosed with cancer. Alan recounted his experiencing being diagnosed with cancer and discussed some of challenges of cancer treatment, including adjusting to going back to work and the cognitive impact of post-chemotherapy.

For Kate, Alan’s diagnosis “rocked” her and she found herself suddenly in a carer’s role, in addition to working full-time and being mum of three kids who, according to Kate, “just wanted to keep things as normal as possible”.

When reflecting on the difficulties of the past year, Kate struggled to remember how she got through each day, but she now reminds herself to “take each day as it comes, and just keep going”.

Alan and Kate’s story resonated with many viewers, with one viewer saying the webinar helped them to feel less alone with their thoughts and feelings. “It normalises much of the experience and resonates at a deep level,” the viewer said.

Another viewer also said that they could “not understand why I was so irritable at times to my husband” post-diagnosis, but “just listening to the webinar tonight has really resonated with me.”

The webinar featured counsellor Maxine Rosenfield. Maxine said that physical sensations of shock, emotional outburst and a racing mind, will often accompany changes to friendships, intimacy and work relationships.

When asked what advice she had for people who received a cancer diagnosis, Maxine said it was important to build a strong support network.

 “Call on your support system as soon as you can – gather your crew to help you navigate the next steps…and seek formal support such as counselling to help you through tests and treatment and beyond,” she said.

Information and support is available to anyone affect by cancer though Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support. To watch the webinar, visit the Cancer Council NSW website and to sign up for Dry July and raise funds for Cancer Council NSW, click here.

Australian Survivor reality TV star and undisputed quintessential Aussie bloke, Johnny Eastoe, will ditch the booze next month for Dry July 2020, revealing his struggles since leaving the show combined with years of constant and heavy drinking, had taken its toll on him mentally and physically.

Mr Eastoe, an underground mine shift worker in the Goldfields, said he was thrilled to be asked by Cancer Council WA to be a regional Dry July champion, and urged anyone who may be concerned about their drinking, particularly following the COVID-19 lock-down, to sign up or donate. 

"Over the past 12 months I have done two seasons of Survivor but coming back to work and reality has been a real struggle," Mr Eastoe said. 

"Like a lot of people who appear on reality TV shows, I struggled with adapting back. 

"It's so overwhelming - it sweeps you up - and then you go back to work and you're dealing with people day to day coming up to you. My escape from it was definitely turning to the bottle a bit more." 

Mr Eastoe said he had been a regular drinker for years, but things were getting out of control. 

"I have been drinking on a daily basis pretty much for the past 15 years," he said. 

"However following Survivor, I would finish my mining shift then down about six to eight drinks every night. Then on my week off, I would pretty much just sit around and drink all day. 

"I was fulfilling my responsibilities at work but not my personal responsibilities; I stopped doing things around the house and my communication with family was really lacking. 

"I approached my good friends from the show and said I am at a point now where if I don't make a change I'm going to go down that track and basically said I had a problem. 

"A mate suggested a pact to give up the booze for 30 days and give each other the support we needed. 

"I ended up doing 45 days but then had a few beers the other week and was a bit disappointed in myself. The next day I was so hung-over and don't really want to feel like that again. 

"Having someone backing you up goes a long way and a pledge to a mate is a good answer to external pressures. People constantly pressure you to change your bad habits, but a bet is something no one wants to renege on. 

"The 45 days I had off the booze are probably the best days I have had. The first week was hard but after that I just felt better and better every day. I was able to go to the gym more and train. When I was struggling and wanted to drink I would go for a walk instead which was so much more rewarding. 

"I'm really looking forward to getting on the wagon again and doing another month off the booze. I urge anyone who wants to give their liver a break to sign up to Dry July 2020 and raise much needed funds for Cancer Council WA."

Johnny has recorded a personal message to encourage others to sign up to Dry July that you can see HERE.

For Grant and his wife Branka, our 13 11 20 support services were instrumental in helping them through a double cancer diagnosis.

The parents of two daughters had only been in Australia for a few years after moving from overseas and had no family around and little support when they received the devastating news.

“I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on Friday 15 February 2013. Just three days earlier, on the Tuesday, my wife Branka was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. We really relied on Cancer Council for support.”

Grant had begun radiation and chemotherapy straight away and someone had suggested he call us on 13 11 20.

“At this point, I was still feeling pretty lost and confused, I was shell-shocked and just wanted to know what was going to happen.

"Doctors have a habit of being informal and a little distant – they have to, they can’t make promised or give you false hope. I just wanted to speak to someone who is human.”

By signing up to Dry July, you’ll be helping people like Grant and Branka who need the support of our compassionate and experienced cancer nurses through our 13 11 20 service.

Our nurses can talk through questions about treatment, provide information on different cancer types and link people to other support services like counselling, free wigs and financial assistance.

“The last time I used 13 11 20 was about seven months after I finished treatment. Someone had told me that it was common, once you start recovering, to experience unbelievable anger about why this had all happened to me," says Grant.

"When I was experiencing this, I called the number again and they organised, when I was ready, a couple of counselling sessions for me. It was fantastic."

Help people like Grant and Branka get support during diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

By signing up to Dry July, you’ll be helping people like Grant and Branka who need the support of our compassionate and experienced cancer nurses through our 13 11 20 service. Sign up today. 

We're pleased to announce that all Cancer Council States and territories have received an additional grant from the Dry July Foundation October grant round.

Thanks to the grants, the following projects will be funded:

Cancer Council NSW

• Refurbishment of 5 Cancer Council Information Services (CCIS). These are located without hospitals and treatment centres, and provide cancer patients, carers, their friends, and families with access to free, evidence-based information and support.

• Survivorship Webinars for Cancer Survivors, Carers, and their Families: Cancer Council NSW webinars provide evidence-based information and support to cancer patients, carers, and their families. The webinars are easily accessible and available across a variety of physical, online, digital, and social media channels

Cancer Council Victoria

• The Living with Cancer Education Program (LWCEP): an exercise and education program for cancer patients undergoing treatment

Cancer Council ACT

• Design and publication of all cancer information booklets for one year. These Cancer Information Booklets provide information about specific cancers, diagnosis, treatment, side effects of treatment, life after cancer, and more

Cancer Council Queensland

• 13 11 20 Information and Support Line: The 13 11 20 Cancer Information and Support Line is our primary connection with the community, providing a comprehensive service that is free and confidential to support cancer patients, as well as family members, carers or friends that are impacted by a cancer diagnosis

Cancer Council Western Australia

• 13 11 20 Information and Support Line: The 13 11 20 Cancer Information and Support Line is our primary connection with the community, providing a comprehensive service that is free and confidential to support cancer patients, as well as family members, carers or friends that are impacted by a cancer diagnosis

Cancer Council Tasmania

• 13 11 20 Information and Support Line: The 13 11 20 Cancer Information and Support Line is our primary connection with the community, providing a comprehensive service that is free and confidential to support cancer patients, as well as family members, carers or friends that are impacted by a cancer diagnosis

Cancer Council SA

• 13 11 20 Information and Support Line: The 13 11 20 Cancer Information and Support Line is our primary connection with the community, providing a comprehensive service that is free and confidential to support cancer patients, as well as family members, carers or friends that are impacted by a cancer diagnosis

Cancer Council Northern Territory

• Life Now - Beyond Cancer: the Northern Territory’s first cancer survivorship program.

Workshops facilitated by trained professionals will provide information and practical support as well as the opportunity to discuss things such as emotional changes, returning to work & how to build a healthier lifestyle. There will also be practical sessions such as exercise and or yoga and nutritional information

Thanks to funds raised through Dry July 2019, the Dry July Foundation is proud to be funding Cancer Council's vital 13 11 20 Information and Support Line. 

About Cancer Council 13 11 20 Information and Support Line 

We know that coping with cancer is challenging, which is why we deliver a comprehensive range of support services for all people, affected by all cancers, across every state and territory. 

In 2018, we helped thousands of Australians get the support they need by answering over 41,000 calls through our 13 11 20 Information and Support Line.

Our 13 11 20 Information and Support Line is a confidential service, run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory, where you can speak to a specialist cancer professional about anything to do with cancer, including:

• Emotional support if you or someone you care about has cancer

• How to reduce your cancer risk

• Questions about early detection

• Dealing with a cancer diagnosis

• How to cope with treatment and its side effects

• Practical support that is available to anyone affected by cancer

• End of life issues.

Anyone can contact 13 11 20 – from cancer patients and people living with cancer to their families, carers and friends, social workers, healthcare professionals and the general public.  

In the last financial year, our 13 11 20 cancer specialists answered more than 41,000 calls nationally. The service was pivotal in connecting cancer patients to our support services including transport to treatment, legal and financial assistance, our free wig service and various support groups.

We rely on community donations to fund our vital 13 11 20 service for the community.

In the last year, across Australia :

* There were 41,000 connections via phone, email, online or in person.

* More than 71% of all connections involved cancer patients and their family / friends

* There were 29,461 connections (with cancer patients and their family / friends) for 131,452 persons diagnosed with cancer in Australia.

* More than 38% of connections with cancer patients and their family / friends were made at the point of first diagnosis.

* More than 24% of connections came from repeat users of the service.