Helping people affected by cancer

Meet Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Elizabeth!

“The best part of my job is the patients, they are so resilient, so amazing. Having the opportunity to support these men and their families is such an honour.

I would like to thank all of those people who choose to go Dry in July."

Rick's Story

Meet Rick. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer at just 47 and had a radical prostatectomy last year.

“I’m one of the lucky ones,” he says, “I had a proactive GP who started testing me at 40.

“When my PSA started rising, I didn’t hesitate in seeing a urologist - an MRI and biopsy found a Gleason Grade 6 prostate cancer.

“My specialist at the time recommended Active Surveillance with yearly biopsies and PSA monitoring, and earlier this year my PSA hit the high sixes and they found a nodule, suggesting it was growing.

“I went in for surgery 10 days later I got the phone call I was hoping for – they got all of it, with no trace of the cancer in surrounding tissue or lymph nodes.

“Sharing that news with my wife Linda and sons Mitchel and...

Erin's Story

At 29 years old, Erin was busy raising the kids with her husband, working full time and enjoying everything life had to offer in Northern NSW. When Erin received a shock breast cancer diagnosis, her whole life changed as she underwent intensive treatment for aggressive stage 3 breast cancer. Erin was supported through her experience by Grafton McGrath Breast Care Nurse Cathy.

In September 2021, Erin was lying in bed when she felt a solid pea sized lump in her left breast. Over the next few weeks, she kept an eye on it, checking on it every night but never thinking it could really be something concerning. Life was busy, working full time and spending time with her close-knit family, and GP appointments were often hard to come by. When...

Tahlia's Story

"Life with blood cancer and after cancer is tumultuous, filled with ups and downs," says 21-year-old, blood cancer survivor Tahlia. "But the support of the Leukaemia Foundation makes each step in this difficult journey easier."

Sixteen years ago, Tahlia's mum Sandra felt her world unravel when her four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with blood cancer. When Tahlia seemed tired and "out of sorts", Sandra didn't think much of it. But the doctor at Royal Children's Hospital in Herston called with shocking news.

"Her body and her marrow and her bones are packed with leukaemic cells. You need to come to Brisbane now."

What followed was a gruelling period of childhood blood cancer treatment, far away from home. Critically, Tahlia's family was...

Darren's Story

Every cancer story’s different. Every experience varied. This is just one of many, but this time it’s mine and I’d like to share it. A routine men’s health check followed by a colonoscopy chaser triggered a whirlwind that changed our lives forever. In a post-anaesthetic haze I woke to the poker face of my gastroenterologist. “That was quick” I thought. Momentarily forgetting I had been unconscious. But before I had time for the thought to become verbal his poker face lips began to move. “All went well with the procedure, but we did discover a lesion”. Right ... the fog of haze messing with my understanding I asked, “What does that mean”? ‘Cancer’ His one word reply swiftly clearing the anaesthetic haze... Right.

Shock, disbelief,...

The Movement - Wellness Beyond Diagnosis

Funds raised through Dry July 2022 have supported the continuation of The Movement - Wellness Beyond Diagnosis, Bowel Cancer Australia’s nurse moderated and supportive online community for patients, loved ones and carers.

With close to 700 members and counting, the closed Facebook Group features monthly presentations by healthcare professionals from across the care continuum, access to resources, as well as facilitated live chats for members to connect with one another. Moderated by Clinical Nurse Consultant Sally, who also has a lived bowel cancer experience.

What patients are saying:

“I can't believe how amazingly supportive this group has been to me. After my initial diagnosis I wasoverwhelmed and so incredibly scared. I then found this...

Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker

Bowel Cancer Australia is pleased to welcome Australia's first dedicated Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker to our Patient Services team, offering further cancer-focused support to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of people with living with and beyond bowel cancer.

This fantastic new service is made possible thanks to a grant from the Dry July Foundation, and all the much-appreciated Dry July fundraisers and donations received.

“Your psychological and emotional health can have a significant impact on your physical health and ability. Social work therefore looks to holistically address your overall health and wellbeing. I am here to provide another part of the scaffold of support around you, helping to uphold you through your bowel cancer...

Thanks to you, Dry July Foundation funds projects and services across 49 different organisations

We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of Dry July Foundation funding from the 2022 October Grant Round.

With $3.266,000 available, we have been able to fund projects across 49 organisations. These projects and programs benefit cancer patients, their families and carers; aiming to make a difficult time, a little easier for those affected by cancer.

Here are some of the successful applicants and the projects they will be delivering. Keep your eye on this post as more appear…

Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC)

• Ultrasound Vascular Access Device - Purchase of a new vascular access system to help health care professionals visualise vessels, needle trajectory and final needle tip location significantly reducing the impact...

Canteen raise $184k thanks to our incredible 2022 Dry Julyers!

As a supporter of Canteen, we are delighted to announce that with your help we raised an astounding $184,472, and have also received additional funding from our grants round!

These funds have helped Canteen continue to help young cancer patients stay connected to study or work, both during and after their cancer treatment through Canteen’s Education and Career Support Service (ECS).

Young people can use the service at the point ofdiagnosis, during treatment as well as after treatment as they transition back into work or study.How amazing is that!