Flinders Foundation

When Tiana’s dear friend and colleague Kylie, who is currently undergoing treatment at Flinders for metastatic breast cancer, shared her involvement in the Flinders Foundation Dry July campaign, Tiana felt inspired to join in. With Kylie’s encouragement, Tiana signed up for the challenge that very afternoon.

Later that day, Tiana discovered a deeper personal connection to the cause during a conversation with her Mum.

“While chatting with Mum about it, she shared a memory of hers where Uncle Harry had a nickname for the only nurse who could find his vein with minimal discomfort. Making the decision to raise funds for the ultrasound device feel closer to home and extra special,” Tiana shared.

“I am so proud to be raising funds for Flinders Foundation in support of Kylie and in memory of Uncle Harry, who sadly lost his battle to leukemia in July 1996. I am completely overwhelmed by the generosity and support I have received so far and hope to raise a little more before the end of July.”

Cancer touches lives in countless ways, but with friends and family like Tiana, who rally behind their loved ones, making a difference becomes a shared mission.

Marrack's journey began unexpectedly with a fishing injury. While fishing 25km east of Kangaroo Island, Marrack had a fall that injured his rib. A CT scan revealed not only an intact rib but also a thickening at the base of his oesophagus, leading to a diagnosis of oesophageal cancer.

Despite the initial prognosis of a 20% survival rate to 5 years, further tests showed the cancer was localised, increasing his chances to 60%. After chemotherapy and radiation, Marrack is now preparing for major surgery, thanks to the expert care at Flinders.

Marrack faces the challenges of treatment with courage, even overcoming his fear of needles. He finds inspiration in the positive atmosphere at the Flinders Infusion Suite, where staff and fellow patients uplift one another.

Marrack praises the dedicated team at Flinders, highlighting their caring, friendly, and efficient approach. For patients with difficult vein access, the new ultrasound machine will make fitting cannulas easier and safer, reducing the risk of complications.

Joining Dry July was an easy decision for Marrack: "I’m not drinking for medical reasons, and I can squeeze my mates for a few bucks. It has since become a bit of a quest."

Let’s support Marrack and others like him by joining or donating to Dry July, helping to provide the best care for cancer patients. Together, we can make a difference!

Dry July isn't just about giving up alcohol for a month, it’s about making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by cancer. This year, Flinders Foundation is asking Dry July participants to help contribute to enhancing the care and comfort of cancer patients in the Flinders Infusion Suite.

Imagine undergoing chemotherapy and facing the added stress of multiple attempts at vein access. This is where your support comes in. By going dry this July, you can help fund an essential handheld ultrasound machine, specifically designed to assist with difficult venous access.

“This technology will make the vein location process much smoother, reducing patient anxiety, discomfort, and the need for multiple cannulation attempts,” says Joan Schumacher, Nurse Unit Manager of the Flinders Infusion Suite and Noarlunga Infusion Centre.

Kylie, who is being treated for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, knows firsthand the challenges of accessing veins during chemotherapy sessions.

"Even before I had cancer and started chemotherapy, my veins were awful," Kylie shares. "I’m a person with very tricky veins."

"The nurses are highly skilled but with veins like mine it can still be difficult…it makes you nervous each time you come for treatment."

When Kylie first began chemotherapy, some eight years ago, it was administered by cannula, but her veins were so tricky to access she soon moved to a PICC line, and later a port, which she continues to have today.

Kylie emphasises the importance of the ultrasound machine - which she’s had the benefit of trialling elsewhere during CT scans with great success.

"With the ultrasound, it’s so much easier, quicker, and less painful and really one less thing to worry about,” she says.

“I’m so pleased people who have tricky veins like me will be able to use this kind of technology to make chemotherapy that bit more comfortable."

The benefits of this ultrasound machine extend beyond vein location. It reduces patient anxiety, lowers infection risks, and saves time for both patients and staff. With over 11,000 episodes of care per year, the Flinders Infusion Suite serves a significant number of patients, representing various cancers and conditions.

Your commitment to Dry July directly supports the efforts to bring an ultrasound machine to the Flinders Infusion Suite to help people like Kylie. Whether you give up alcohol, swap out other indulgences, or simply spread the word, every contribution matters.

"Knowing the nurse will be able to find the vein is a huge stress relief for patients,” adds Joan.

“They're going through so much already; they don't need multiple attempts to put a cannula in – this will be one less stress in their day."

Every donation, large or small, brings us closer to our goal of enhancing patient care and comfort in the Flinders Infusion Suite. Together, let's make this Dry July one to remember by supporting people in need.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to making a difference.

Sign up at https://www.dryjuly.com/flinders

Thank you for supporting Flinders Foundation this Dry July.

Together we raised over $18,000 which will purchase a SOZO machine for the Breast and Endocrine Clinic at Flinders so many of the 7,500 patients who visit the clinic each year - with either a new breast cancer diagnosis or for ongoing check-ups - can be monitored for developing breast cancer-related lymphoedema. This will give patients affected by breast cancer the best chance of detecting lymphoedema early, so treatment can start as soon as possible to stop the condition from progressing.

“The thing about cancer is that it just keeps on giving. You’re never really free of it. I know I’ve done the hard stuff. I’ve ticked off surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, more surgeries, losing my hair, feeling unwell and the mental exhaustion. I’m in remission now and believe me, I’m so grateful to be here... but there’s always going to be more.  You’re always on alert, there’s always surveillance and check-ups... and for me there’s also lymphedema. It just means I can’t ever completely move on.”

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, Joanne endured multiple surgeries, including double mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes, as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

While pleasingly she’s now in remission, Joanne is one of an unfortunate number of patients who go on to develop breast cancer-related lymphoedema, which occurs when lymph nodes are removed or damaged during cancer surgery or radiotherapy.

The condition causes swelling and discomfort in the arm, breast or hand, and can be painful and have wide ranging impacts on quality of life.

“It can be a strange feeling because if feels like my arm isn’t strong enough,” Joanne explains. “I often get pins and needles in my hands and when there’s lots of fluid in my arm it blows up and it’s so heavy it hurts.“I have to be really mindful of my environment and to not do too much. “If I have a shower that’s a bit too hot, or the weather is hot, if really flares up; I can’t do too much housework or bear too much weight; and I can’t wear rings or tight clothes.”

To help ease her lymphoedema symptoms, Joanne has lymphatic massage to help drain fluid build-up and wears a compression garment. But she says it can make her feel self-conscious and serves as another reminder of her cancer. “I’m grateful to be here and I know lymphoedema isn’t the worst thing out of all that I've been through,” Joanne says. “But I refer to it as that final slap in the face because it will always be there...and you just have to live with it.”

Sadly, there is no known cure for lymphoedema. But early diagnosis and treatment make it easier to manage.  To help with this, it is recommended that patients have ‘baseline’ measurements of their arm taken before surgery and treatment, and regularly afterwards to detect any changes.  This can be done using a SOZO machine which gives a precise snapshot of tissue composition and fluid build-up in the limb.

You can help bring a SOZO machine to the Breast and Endocrine Clinic at Flinders, so many of the 7,500 patients who visit the clinic each year - with either a new breast cancer diagnosis or for ongoing check-ups - can be monitored for developing breast cancer-related lymphoedema.

This will give patients affected by breast cancer the best chance of detecting lymphoedema early, so treatment can start as soon as possible to stop the condition progressing.

“Lymphoedema can occur any time after surgery, and it may even begin several years after surgery,” explains Amanda Jones, Advanced Nurse Consultant in Flinders Medical Centre’s Breast and Endocrine Clinic. “Often lymphoedema presents right at a time when people are trying to move on from their acute cancer treatment and regain their quality of life, and this can have a huge impact on their emotional wellbeing as well as their physical wellbeing. “This early detection using the SOZO machine allows treatment to begin proactively to potentially slow progression and help reduce long-term physical and functional impacts, including reducing swelling and preventing infections.”