The Prince of Wales Hospital

Dry July 2023 funds have helped the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation fund a pilot study to help cancer patients manage fatigue.

Fatigue is a common long-term symptom of cancer affecting up to two-thirds of survivors, and can persist for months to years after treatment. Fatigue can result in poor quality of life and emotional instability, affecting cancer survivors’ participation in society, vocation and avocational activities.

The group-based program will consist of 8 weeks, comprising graded physical activity and strength training, in combination with education interventions. The program will be conducted by a qualified exercise physiologist or physiotherapist and a clinical nurse will provide the combined education sessions on nutrition, pain management, and mindfulness.

When Martine was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29, she felt like her world was falling apart.

Today Martine has completed active treatment which consisted of a mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, preserving her eggs, chemotherapy, radiation and a medically 5-year induced menopause. Her strength and courage has been an inspiration to all of us. Martine shared with us what she has been up to and what life has been like since her last active treatment session of radiation in May 2022.

“I am fantastic, I am back to full training in the gym, ocean swimming and yoga.  I am currently training for my second half marathon which is happening in NYC in March. I completed my first ever half marathon in September last year in Sydney. I also had my prophylactic left side mastectomy and reconstruction in October which will conclude my planned surgery for a few years. I will have my ovaries removed when I am 40 years old (31 years old now).

I visit the hospital every month as part of my ongoing hormone therapy where I have a huge needle administered in the chemotherapy ward in the Bright Alliance centre on level 2. This monthly injection is part of a five-year treatment plan along with a daily pill that keeps my body in a medically induced menopause. I also see my oncologist in the same centre every 3 months, my physio every 3 months in the Royal Hospital for Women and will soon have a follow up with my breast surgeon. I will also attend annual screens at the Breast Centre.

I have recently quit my corporate job after seven years with my amazing employer. After my cancer diagnoses, my perspective on life changed massively and I no longer want to climb the corporate ladder. I have a new love for life and do not take anything for granted. I am hoping to set up my own business in the next few months so watch this space.”

Martine moved to Sydney in 2014 and in May 2021, her life change drastically for the worse. Martine and her fiancé, Sean were in Hamilton Island, celebrating what was supposed to be her second wedding date which was cancelled due to covid 19. At the young age of 29, Martine discovered two lumps in her breast. She was diagnosed with breast cancer upon her return to Sydney and felt like her world was falling apart. Incredibly lost without her family from Ireland, Martine and her fiancé Sean both were shocked but needed to prepare for what was ahead of them.

 “I wanted nothing more than to feel my parents’ arms around me and to hold me. I have never been as vulnerable and fragile in my life and telling my family I had cancer was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I immediately felt every mile that stood between us. I questioned my reasons for living in Australia but the care and treatment available here allowed me to make the easy decision to stay and be treated at Prince of Wales Hospital.”

Going from a healthy, fit, and active life to spending more time in hospital than at home, Martine can speak to the importance of a friendly and comfortable treatment environment made possible through Dry July funds.

“I feel like I have spent more time at the hospital over the last 10 months than I have in my own apartment. It makes such a difference when the hospital is bright, modern, and comfortable. The artwork on the walls is a great distraction when you are waiting for appointments and put you at ease. The chairs in the chemo ward are very comfortable and the tea/coffee facilities are well needed and used often.”

In addition to a comfortable environment Martine appreciates the compassionate Hospital staff becoming her second family during one of the most difficult times.

“The breast cancer nurses; Gill and Jenny have been absolutely outstanding. I would be very lost without their constant support, reassurance, and ability to be available to me for whenever I needed them.

Now focusing on the future, Martine – just like other young females undergoing cancer treatment - had to think about the impact of chemotherapy on her fertility.

“I have undergone fertility treatment to harvest my eggs prior to my chemotherapy so that I can hopefully have a family in the future so this topic is very close to my heart. Fertility services are extremely important to anyone that struggle to have a family however personally I feel like this service is essential for those who have also had to undergo cancer treatment. After the treatment, we seek to resume a normal life and fertility/reproduction is most effected due to the treatment. Allowing cancer survivors to continue life like they had intended is extremely important.

To address the unique challenges of fertility post cancer, funds raised through Dry July 2021 are used to provide reproductive survivorship care for adolescents and young adults, as well as adult cancer patients.

One in 10 adolescent cancer survivors are affected by medical and psychosocial reproductive concerns which evolve through the survivorship period. Infertility is one of the most distressing adverse consequences of successful cancer treatment in cancer survivors of all ages. It affects the future quality of life of patients and leads to psychological distress, as well as being a predictor of stress in relationships. Various studies demonstrate that the opportunity to discuss reproductive concerns lowers psychological distress.

Oncofertility care in the survivorship period is not well integrated into standard care even though cancer survivors need reproductive care in many ways leading to a significant number of cancer patients not having fertility preservation at diagnosis or in survivorship. An effective solution to address this unmet need is a nurse-led reproductive clinic. The funds raised during Dry July 2021 will support a Clinical Nurse Consultant for the reproductive clinic providing patients of reproductive age with reliable information about the risk of reproductive harm and the potential options for fertility preservation.

Thanks to the fantastic efforts of Dry July 2020 participants, The Prince of Wales Hospital will be using funds to improve the wellbeing of people affected by cancer. 

This year, funds will be helping The Prince of Wales Hospital provide reproductive survivorship care for adolescents and young adults, as well as adult cancer patients. 

This wouldn't be possible without you Dry Julyers - you should be incredibly proud of your efforts.