Helping people affected by cancer

Australian Survivor, Johnny Eastoe, has a personal message for Dry July-ers!

Australian Survivor reality TV star and undisputed quintessential Aussie bloke, Johnny Eastoe, will ditch the booze next month for Dry July 2020, revealing his struggles since leaving the show combined with years of constant and heavy drinking, had taken its toll on him mentally and physically.

Mr Eastoe, an underground mine shift worker in the Goldfields, said he was thrilled to be asked by Cancer Council WA to be a regional Dry July champion, and urged anyone who may be concerned about their drinking, particularly following the COVID-19 lock-down, to sign up or donate.

"Over the past 12 months I have done two seasons of Survivor but coming back to work and reality has been a real struggle," Mr Eastoe said.

"Like a lot of people who...

Dry July fundraising has helped Nepean Cancer Care develop a specialised 8 week exercise program.

Dry July funds have been put to good use in a number of ways, most recently through a new exercise program that sees patients complete a specialised 8-week Exercise program run by an accredited Exercise Physiologist in Emu Plains.

Cancer Care Physio Glyndon Wakeman says that they hope to continue to fund the program through the support of Dry July.

“The most important thing is to have the support of people driving donations through the Dry July”, says Glyndon.

Peter from Erskine Park is a patient of the Nepean Cancer Care Centre who is seeing the benefits of being involved in the program.

“I’ve got more energy for a start”, says Peter. “It improves my day-to-day lifestyle and is helping to slow down the progression of my cancer.”

BRICC welcomes Michael as a Dry July Ambassador

We welcome Michael as one of our Ambassadors for this year’s Ballarat Health Services Foundation Dry July campaign. Michael can’t speak highly enough of the BRICC Wellness Centre and the numerous services that are offered to people along their cancer treatment journey. Mike’s journey commenced in Melbourne, later being transferred to utilise the services of Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC). Not only does Michael praise the work of the Wellness Centre, but also the helpful people he has met along the way, providing relevant information and tips that were of great benefit to him. Mike is now able to share his knowledge and first-hand experience with fellow patients when he meets them in the Wellness Centre or comes across...

Brendan, a patient of St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, shares his story

Your Dry July fundraising helps St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne provide optimal comfort and support to their patients undergoing treatment; people like Brendan.

You can watch Brendan's story here: www.dryjuly.com/2020/brendans-story

Sign up to Dry July and support St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne to help more people like Brendan here

David knows the importance of early detection of Liver Cancer

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...

Family rallies for brave grandmother

Moama resident Robyn Graham beat breast cancer in 2017. Receiving a clean bill of health meant she was able to go back to enjoying spending time with her family and ten grandchildren.

In January 2020 Robyn started experiencing overwhelming fatigue. She recalls visiting Funfields Waterpark with her daughter and grandkids and feeling so exhausted that she could barely even make it up the path to the front entrance. Just a few days later Robyn collapsed at a nail salon. She underwent a series of blood tests that revealed she had a blood cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia.

Robyn started having chemotherapy on the ward at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne in early February 2020 and has only been home for twelve days over the past 4 months....

Clinical Nurse Specialist, Katie, shares her story.

My name is Katie, and I am a clinical nurse specialist at the Andrew Love Cancer Centre. I live In Ocean Grove with my husband and 3 boys. Life is busy but love life near the beach. I have worked at the centre for 16 years and I am a small part of a fantastic dedicated team. My role is to provide patients with not only their chemotherapy but ongoing support and education to patients and their families during this challenging and stressful time.

The best part of my job is getting to know patients and their families and share stories. You really become part of their lives and they do in ours. We support patients from diagnosis and treatment and help them work through side effects and uncertainties caused by their cancer. We are very lucky...

My Story – All that is

It was October 11, 2018...life was good, I was a week into being 32, I’d been nominated for top 6 beer reps in WA, I was planning my next big holiday and I was just so happy, I literally proclaimed on my birthday that this was going to be my year....finally!!!

And that’s when it happened, I found a lump while checking my handy work at applying a fake tan. Safe to say I got a little more than a summer glow from this tanning session. So, if someone ever says to you that a fake tan may save your life, it’s a thing!

I go to the GP that same day, I’m examined then get referred to go for an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy. The next couple of days are awkward and painful. But then the waiting game for the results begins...which in some ways...

By going Dry this July, you’re helping people like Maddison

I’m a 32 year old Travel Agent and have lived in Geelong my whole life. I’m the youngest of 5 children (2 brothers and 2 sisters) and could not live without my legend of a mum! I’m currently living with mum, who has been my absolute rock throughout everything, running around after me with my appointments and treatment.

My 2 main passions in life are Dance and P!nk. I’ve been dancing for more than 20 years now and love everything about it. It’s such a great release and an escape from everything else going on in the world. I’ve performed most styles including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, Latin and commercial and taught all ages from 3 year olds through to 60 year olds.

In March this year I was diagnosed with Acute T-cell Lymphoblastic...