Central Coast LHD - CoastCanCare

Thank you for participating in the 2021 Dry July Appeal and choosing to support our CoastCanCare Wellness Program.

The last two years have been challenging for many people and for those with cancer in our community having CoastCanCare available to them – either face to face or virtually - has helped “coasties” living with cancer and their families to navigate their treatment and care.

CoastCanCare also empowers, skills and connects people to take control of their own health, wellbeing, happiness and life away from the hospital system – to engage and connect with each other and their community.

Your support makes a positive and tangible difference to the lives of people living with cancer.

Breast cancer survivor Carol, of Umina Beach says CoastCanCare has helped her through one of the hardest times of her life.

“I started doing one of their exercise classes with the goal to just regain my fitness as quickly as possible after treatment and from there I met some lovely people and got into tai chi and meditation and art therapy,” she said.

“CoastCanCare has got me back to work, it’s got me motivated and thinking positively.”

Carol said the emotional support provided by CoastCanCare was invaluable to her.

“It’s been essential for me as I went through my diagnosis and treatment alone as I didn’t have family close by so CoastCanCare offered that support,” she said.

“You have a medical team to take care of your body but CoastCanCare takes care of your mind.”

Carol said she has made some great companions through CoastCanCare.

“Everybody there knows the horror of diagnosis, the horror of treatment and difficulty thinking about the future – but we don’t talk about that. We are all there for each other and have an unspoken support for each other,” she said.

“It sounds like a miserable group of people being a support program for people living with cancer – but it is quite the opposite. Nobody is miserable. We are out getting along and having a good time.

“Cancer isn’t fun but CoastCanCare is about coming together and having fun. I truly would have been lost without it.”

Thanks to the incredible efforts of Dry July participants, CoastCanCare’s Wellness Program will be supported.

The Wellness Programs held at Central Coast LHD aim to improve patient's and carer's wellbeing by providing information, education, and support services. The development of these vital skills can assist in developing skills for coping with a cancer diagnosis, treatments, and treatment side effects, such as fatigue, pain, and anxiety.

“I lost my life partner of over 50 years to cancer two years ago. Keeping in contact with the CoastCanCare walking group in the months immediately following my wife’s death allowed me to successfully transition from carer and husband to being on my own for the first time in 50 years.

“The inspiration drawn from other participants in the various CoastCanCare programs has enabled me to move from a world of potential darkness towards the light. The two art programs I attended, one pre and one post my wife’s death, were the two most personally beneficial programs I have ever attended. We met people with all types of cancers, at different stages, of different ages, and in different life circumstances. What came out of people’s art was astounding. The examples of personal courage were truly inspiring. Art really does help people release what may be suppressed; it helps to get it out. 

“The programs are an extremely important part of allowing patients and their carers to take charge of very challenging circumstances. It’s not going to cure anyone, but it definitely makes that period of treatment so much easier.” 

- Dr Andrew Kerr, participant in the CoastCanCare wellness program, talks live on ABC Central Coast on Monday, June 29. 

We're pleased to announce that Central Coast Local Health District (LHD) has received an additional grant from the Dry July Foundation October grant round.

This grant will enable the continuation of the CoastCanCare Wellness Program.

CoastCanCare provides information, education and support programs for patients and carers to develop skills for coping with a cancer diagnosis, treatments and treatment side effects, such as fatigue, pain and anxiety.