Cancer Wellness Support

When Mousa was diagnosed with cancer in early 2025, life quickly became a cycle of appointments, scans, and an intensive treatment plan. By April, he had begun a 7-week demanding schedule with five days a week of radiation alongside weekly chemotherapy.

It was during this time that he was introduced to Cancer Wellness Support through a trusted practitioner. “Many companies spend a fortune on advertising, but Cancer Wellness Support is so well known locally through word of mouth. It’s a real credit to the work they do”, he says.

Walking into the Robyn Yates Centre was a turning point, both for its convenient location and the sense of calm it offered. A place he had passed many times on the street suddenly became a vital part of his support network.

From day one, Mousa’s experience was grounded in care and professionalism. Welcomed by intake nurse Liz, he was guided through a comprehensive and compassionate introduction in a private, comfortable setting. Together, they discussed his diagnosis and treatment plan. With clarity and empathy, Liz introduced the range of therapies available, tailored to support Mousa through what would be an intense period.

Mousa had always been open to complementary therapies, and he quickly found a rhythm that worked for him. Starting with naturopathy, he then incorporated acupuncture and lymphatic drainage massage into his routine. The impact was immediate. Side effects from treatment were eased, and symptoms became more manageable.

A buildup of lymphatic fluid had caused a painful lump in his neck, making swallowing difficult. Through regular lymphatic drainage massage, this discomfort was significantly reduced. Acupuncture sessions focused on the head, nose and back helped relieve side-effects including persistent mouth sores/ulcers, dry mouth and mucus build-up caused by treatment.

More recently, Mousa has begun attending sound bath sessions, something he had experienced elsewhere but now enjoys within the familiar and supportive environment of Cancer Wellness Support. As he transitions into the next phase of his recovery, he is exploring additional therapies such as Bowen therapy to support his strength and posture post treatment, along with group art therapy to nurture his emotional wellbeing.

“The entire experience at Cancer Wellness Support, from the professionalism and knowledge of the therapists to the serene environment, makes you feel supported. It’s calm, welcoming, and you’re always greeted with a smile by all of the friendly staff. It really makes a difference when you’re going through something like this.”

Mousa shares about how the warmth of the team, the thoughtful spaces, and the simple comforts like a cup of tea, fresh fruit, and a quiet place to sit all contribute to a sense of belonging. Being close to home has also made it easier to stay consistent with his care.

Importantly, Mousa highlights the accessibility of Cancer Wellness Support. With many complementary therapies often costing upwards of $100 per session, the subsidised service delivery model ensures that more people can access the care they need during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

Mousa’s hope is simple: that more people, everywhere, can access this kind of care when they need it most.

Your support through Dry July helps Cancer Wellness Support respond to a growing need in our community — ensuring more people living with cancer can access the support they need when they need it most.

Funds raised will directly expand access to supportive care services, including:

Subsidised complementary therapies such as lymphoedema management, oncology massage, acupuncture, and counselling — helping individuals manage treatment side effects including pain, swelling, fatigue, and emotional distress

Wellbeing and movement programs including yoga, meditation, art therapy, and group sessions — supporting emotional wellbeing, strength, and recovery beyond the clinical environment

Support groups and connection opportunities that reduce isolation and create a sense of belonging for people living with cancer

Access to specialised resources and therapy equipment, including professional therapy tables, lymphoedema bandaging, and client support materials — ensuring therapies are delivered safely, comfortably, and effectively

At Cancer Wellness Support, we recognise that cancer affects more than the individual diagnosis. Many of our services are also available to carers and loved ones, ensuring families feel supported throughout the experience.

Every $35 raised can help provide one subsidised therapy session — offering comfort, relief, and support during one of life’s most challenging times

Thanks to funds from Dry July 2025, Cancer Wellness Support can continue to provide access to affordable and person-centred cancer care for their clients and carers.

"To all our Dry July participants, your generosity has touched lives in ways you may never see, but families in our community will feel every day.

Because of you, $78,902 will fund specialised lymphoedema care through our partnership with Mt Wilga and ensure individuals and families living with cancer can continue to access affordable, person-centred complementary therapies close to home. 

For someone facing treatment fatigue, financial stress or the fear of the unknown, your support becomes a moment of relief, dignity and hope.

Your generosity ensures no-one needs to face cancer on their own. 

Your kindness keeps care local, compassionate and accessible for the people who need it most. Thank you for being part of the power of community."

- Deborah Shepherd, CEO, Cancer Wellness Support

Cancer Wellness Support is looking to extend the subsidised complementary therapies it provides to the community, enabling more people in the Blue Mountains region to access these specialised services.

Sarah was just 34 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, just one day before her daughter’s fifth birthday. It was a moment she’ll never forget - unexpected, life-altering, and deeply frightening. With no family history and being young, fit, and healthy, cancer was the last thing she ever imagined facing.

In the blur of the first few weeks, Sarah found that most of the medical professionals she encountered were cold and detached. At a time when she was craving compassion, she was instead met with clinical indifference. That emotional disconnect made an already traumatic experience feel even more isolating.

Thankfully, Sarah’s breast care nurse referred her to Cancer Wellness Support. From the moment she made the call, she noticed a difference. The receptionist spoke gently and kindly, offering the warmth and humanity she had been missing. “It felt like a soft place to land,” Sarah recalls. “It felt like home.”

Before her surgery, Sarah was desperate to speak with someone, but other services she contacted were unavailable or too busy. When she asked Cancer Wellness Support if there was a counsellor she could talk to, they didn’t hesitate. Viv Maitland, the Client Services Manager, agreed to meet with her. That initial session, scheduled for 50 minutes, lasted three hours, as Viv sat with Sarah, allowing her to cry, talk, and process everything she was feeling. “I’ll never forget what she did for me,” Sarah says. “It really helped before the surgery.”

Since then, Sarah has engaged with many of the complementary therapies and services that Cancer Wellness Support offers, including art therapy and lymphatic massage to manage the lymphoedema she developed in her arm. She says she embraced everything on offer, finding each service to be a lifeline. “It’s been a godsend,” she shares.

Now 41 and six years cancer-free, Sarah remains grateful for the ongoing presence of Cancer Wellness Support in her life. “It’s amazing to know they’re still there if I ever need them again,” she says. “They treat you with the humanity you expect. If they can lighten the load of a new diagnosis, even a little by making you feel cared for and supported, that’s invaluable.”

Sarah encourages anyone in the region facing a cancer diagnosis to reach out to Cancer Wellness Support. “Don’t go through it alone,” she says. “They made all the difference in my journey.”

Our final 2024 fundraising result was a massive achievement – thank you!

We’re thrilled to share the impact of our annual Dry July campaign, with $43,029.96 raised.

Gratitude to the Dry July Foundation and our community who assisted us to raise funds that have contributed to supporting individuals and their families living with cancer.

Our focus has always been on providing affordable, accessible, and holistic cancer support– and this funding allowed us to continue doing just that. Here's how the funds have been allocated and the difference they’ve made:

💚 $38,500 was dedicated to subsidising therapies, including counselling, complementary therapies (like massage and reflexology), and group sessions such as yoga, meditation, qi gong, and expressive arts. These therapies are offered at a subsidised cost, and due to this level of funding and the generosity of our therapists we can continue to ensure financial constraints are not a barrier to receiving complementary therapies, access to support groups and workshops, and tapping into a sense of connection and community.

🪑 $2,000 was used to purchase chairs for our meditation and chair yoga sessions, allowing us to offer more inclusive, accessible movement options to clients of all abilities, in a safe and comfortable environment.

🌀 $2,000 contributed to our lymphoedema management program, supporting the purchase of essential supplies like specialised bandaging and therapeutic gels. These resources have been critical in helping clients manage physical symptoms with dignity and comfort.

This funding has allowed us to continue supporting the whole person – not just the diagnosis – and extends support to their carers and loved ones.

Thank you to the Dry July Foundation and to everyone who made this possible. Together, are demonstrating the power of community.