Go Dry this July and help more people like David

If it wasn’t for regular scans and monitoring, David would be “completely unaware” of the three tumours growing on his liver.

Despite feeling healthy and enjoying retirement and travel, a routine test by David’s GP nearly five years ago showed issues with his liver and he was referred to the Flinders Medical Centre Hepatology and Liver Unit for further tests.

A FibroScan test showed some scarring of David’s liver, often a precursor to liver cancer, so he was placed on a surveillance program to regularly monitor his condition.

“They’ve kept tabs on me, but unfortunately earlier this year a couple of shadows on the scans turned into something more sinister,” David says.

Those scans revealed three tumours on his liver.

With no other symptoms, David says he’d still be unaware of the tumours had they not been picked up during the scheduled checks.

“I wouldn’t know anything was wrong. I still feel fine, I walk lots, and I’ve got a good appetite,” David says.

“The doctor told me if they hadn’t been picked up, and without treatment, I’d have 18 months to two years to live. I’ve got two granddaughters so the possibility of not seeing them grow up hit me a bit.”

But thanks to this earlier detection, David has received chemotherapy treatment aimed at shrinking the tumours and stalling their growth. And in good news, last week he was told by doctors the chemotherapy is working

“I’m certainly grateful to find out earlier rather than later so I have some treatment options,” he says.

Now Flinders Foundation is encouraging the community to sign up to Dry July and help raise funds to buy a new FibroScan for Flinders, so more people like David can receive the monitoring they need and help detect liver cancer before it’s too late.

Sign up at www.dryjuly.com/flinders

Chris has been battling cancer for nine years. Thank you for supporting her, and thousands more patients at Flinders who are affected by cancer.

Chris was first diagnosed with a rare cancer form nine years ago. Since then she’s undergone eight different types of treatment – including surgery, different chemotherapies and clinical trials.

“The number of things that change as a result of a cancer diagnosis shouldn’t be underestimated,” Chris says.

“You have multiple medical appointments, treatment times, blood tests, scans, all of which you need to manage and follow through on."

“You may be working and must juggle work and treatment. You may not have access to leave or an understanding workplace."

“And it’s not just you who is affected by the cancer – your whole family, circle of friends and work colleagues are also affected and need support.”

But thanks to Dry July participants, patients like Chris will now receiving greater support through a new cancer wellness program at Flinders, which will provide all those affected by cancer with emotional, psychological and practical support, advice on exercise and nutrition, and access to support groups and wellbeing and art therapy programs.

Thanks to Dry July participants and the generosity of the Dry July Foundation, patients and their families affected by cancer are now receiving additional support with a new Cancer Wellness Centre opened at Flinders in February 2020.

The new centre is the focal point of a new cancer wellness program, designed to ease the burden of cancer and address many of the unmet needs of patients and their families during and after cancer treatment – many of which can be lifelong.

This extra support focuses on a range of physical, educational, emotional and practical impacts which cancer can often have, including fatigue, anxiety, dietary, financial and employment concerns, among others. The centre will also be a valuable conduit in connecting patients and carers with support groups and other services in the community.

It's only thanks to the generosity of organisations and fundraisers in the community - like Dry July - that this was made possible. Thank you!

Funds raised by 2019 Dry July participants provided vital funding for Arts in Health programs in the centre, including art and music therapy, and activities which promote wellness including meditation.

Clinical Director for Cancer Services Professor Chris Karapetis was grateful for the role Dry July participants and the Dry July Foundation have played in establishing this centre.

“For many, being diagnosed with cancer is the most traumatic life event they will experience. They can be overwhelmed with information, and at the same time often don’t know where to turn to for help in addressing the ‘knock-on’ effects of cancer,” Professor Karapetis said.

“In having a new and unique space like the Wellness Centre, we’ll be able to extend support beyond treating just cancer itself, and provide patients and their families with holistic support that encompasses all aspects that contribute to a healthier life so they can really thrive, during and after cancer.”

Thank you so much for participating in Dry July, and supporting people affected by cancer. Your efforts make an incredible impact.

We're pleased to announce that Flinders Foundation has received an additional grant from the Dry July Foundation October grant round.

This grant will enable funding for a Cancer Wellness Exercise and Physical Activity Service: bringing together physiotherapy and exercise physiology expertise, helping to optimise wellness for cancer patients, leading to improved quality of life and outcomes for cancer patients.

Funds from the Dry July 2019 campaign will enable the Dry July Foundation to introduce therapy-based and therapeutic art activities into the cancer wellness program via the Cancer Wellness Centre which is currently being developed and is due to open mid-October 2019. 

Arts in Health at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) was introduced at FMC in 1996. The program currently works across all clinical areas of the hospital and currently supports in-patients in the oncology ward. These services will be adapted to deliver an Arts in Health program through the cancer wellness centre at Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer. 

For a cancer patient, an engagement with a supported visual at activity can be used to: 

- improve mood and mobility

- provide an avenue for emotional or psychological expression

- create alternative methods of non-verbal communication for thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be difficult to communicate about

- be a relaxing distraction from the imperatives of clinical treatment

- provide opportunities for social and community engagement in supportive environments

- create opportunities to share something joyful with families and friends

- offer the chance to learn new skills and techniques to support recovery

- provide information and tools to promote physical wellness through education

- support gentle exercise regimes with physical activities, such as felting

Image: Illustration of section of the new Cancer Wellness Centre under construction at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer