Flinders Foundation

Dry July’s 2018 campaign funds will be applied to develop the new Wellness Centre at Flinders Foundation. Here is the Wellness Centre space before refurbishment - watch this space for updates! 

Thanks to funds raised by Dry July participants in 2017, and a generous grant from the Dry July Foundation, a dedicated Cancer Wellness Centre in the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) is closer to becoming a reality.

But more funding is needed to help raise $500,000 and ensure Flinders Foundation can create this flagship centre to provide comprehensive support for people and their families living with the effects of cancer.

Over one million Australians have been diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their life.

While it’s great news that improved cancer detection and treatments have led to improved survival rates for people diagnosed with cancer, this has also contributed to an increased need to provide support and services to those with cancer.

The FCIC provides clinical care and research under the one roof and has a track record of supporting people who are living with cancer throughout their cancer journey. Their needs include not just supportive care during cancer treatment, but also addressing other needs including physical, emotional and practical concerns that are often not easily managed in the cancer clinic.

To better focus on these needs, a unique space is required.

Establishing a new Cancer Wellness Centre within the FCIC will provide support to help patients and their families to cope with a range of cancer effects and concerns, including fatigue, anxiety, financial and employment concerns, while also helping them to transition to life with cancer, and life after cancer.

The new Cancer Wellness Centre will connect people with a range of services to help them overcome the effects of cancer and meet their needs. It will also provide an important focal point within the FCIC for patients and their loved ones to receive support and connect with others.

The range of services available within the Wellness Centre will be developed collaboratively by clinicians, researchers, patients and their families. The services at the Wellness Centre will be closely integrated with research, undertaken by the Flinders University, to ensure that evidence informs care and that patients’ needs inform future research.

By supporting Flinders Foundation this Dry July, you’ll be helping people and their families affected by cancer by raising funds to establish a Cancer Wellness Centre in the FCIC.

Doctors have told Monique Bareham that she is cancer-free. But she’ll never really be free of cancer.

Like so many cancer survivors, the effects of the disease and the years of treatment continue to impact her each day – physically, mentally, financially and on employment and relationships. 

At 36, Monique led a busy life, was dedicated to her career, and had plans for a family. 

But Monique says it all came to a “grinding halt” when she found a lump in her breast. 

“The days went from being normal to being aboard the cancer train,” Monique, now 45, says. 

There were multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and courses of hormone and other drug therapies. 

She also developed breast cancer related lymphoedema which has permanently left her with constant, heavy and painful swelling in her right arm, and a susceptible immune system.

The intensity of the treatment meant she wasn’t able to work for some time – when she did, it was for short periods before she was forced to retire due to ill health. 

“Fortunately I was cured of cancer,” Monique says. 

“But I remember getting to the five-year mark of being cancer free - which is generally a milestone to be celebrated – and to be honest it was probably the lowest point of my life because I looked at my life and it had just turned completely upside down.” 

“There was the end of my career which had huge financial implications, there were the physical and emotional aspects, I also lost my fertility and wasn’t able to have children, and on a personal level my relationship also failed.” 

Effectively it was every single aspect of my life.”

“I’d completely lost my sense of self and purpose, and went through a period of grief, mourning, depression and anxiety.”

“There also weren’t really any referral pathways for lymphoedema here in South Australia and in a way I was left to deal with it.”

To her credit, Monique has turned her experience into a new purpose, dedicating her life to helping other survivors.

She is the president of the Lymphoedema Support Group of South Australia and a consumer adviser for the Australasian Lymphology Association. She’s also participated in Cancer Voices projects, and frequently presents a consumer perspective on cancer survivorship.

“I now work to raise awareness of cancer related lymphoedema, fertility issues, and returning to work to try and lessen the trauma for the people who have come after me,” she says.”

“It’s taken time but I’ve built the strength and this has become my new purpose.”

Maggie Wittchen was among the first patients to be treated to a relaxing massage thanks to an expanded oncology massage service at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC).

Maggie, who was recently admitted to hospital for five days of continuous chemotherapy treatment for Lymphoma, said massage provided extra comfort to her and other cancer patients.

“Massage is a lovely idea – it’s definitely soothing and helps me to relax,” Maggie said.

In a state-first, patients admitted to FMC’s cancer ward (Ward 5G) are able to receive hand, foot, neck and body massages from an oncology qualified remedial massage therapist to help ease some of the symptoms associated with their disease.

Oncology Massage Therapist Andrea Cornish visits the ward twice a week to provide massage for patients who are unwell or receiving inpatient treatment.

“This very light touch therapy can really improve the quality of life for people with a history of cancer,” Andrea said.

“Research has shown that gentle massage may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy treatment, including pain, nausea, depression, anxiety, fatigue and neuropathy - sometimes by up to 60 per cent.

“There’s also evidence that it can help with shortness of breath, memory problems and disturbed sleep.”

The oncology massage service has been provided to patients receiving chemotherapy in the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer Infusion Suite since 2014, but this is the first time massage is available at a patient’s bedside.

The expansion of this service has been made possible thanks Flinders Foundation and a $32,000 grant from the Dry July Foundation – a campaign which encourages people to give up alcohol for the month of July and raise funds for cancer patients and their families and carers.

Cancer Ward Clinical Services Coordinator Avis Glenn said the massage service would greatly improve patients’ wellbeing:

“We often have patients here for days, sometimes weeks, so massage not only helps with alleviating some pain but also provides a good distraction and someone else to talk to,” she said.

“It’s also really valuable that Andrea can now visit our patients in their beds for massage, without them having to venture far.”

Flinders Foundation will use Dry July 2016 funding to extend the Flinders Infusion Suite (FIS) in-chair Oncology Massage Program to run for the entire year of 2017.

The program currently operates two hours a day, five days per week.

Flinders Foundation started this program in 2013 within the Flinders Infusion Suite in the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) and it has proven to be extremely popular with patients and staff. Since its inception there has been a growing evidence-base for the role of oncology massage for effectively managing physical and psychological symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment.

An experienced Oncology Massage Therapist attends the FCIC Infusion Suite to offer free 20 minute hand and foot relaxation massages to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments.