Dry July spirit alive in the Blue Mountains
Not only are our fabulous volunteers and staff doing an amazing job every day running our two op-shops at Penrith and Katoomba, but they are really getting in the ‘spirit’ of Dry July!
From weekly raffles, plant stalls, a donation wishing well, round-up donations to, of course, their very popular cake stalls! They are madly baking fresh goods that are sold out within hours!
Money raised from all these fabulous activities is just another way our Cancer Wellness Team is helping to reach our goal of $42,500, to fund therapies and equipment for our clients living with cancer and their carers.
Keep up the good work!
JACK’S STORY
Jack Martin in one of the amazing Cancer Nurse Specialists you can meet at Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
He’s been a part of the incredible clinical team there for three years, after an 7 year career of caring for cancer patients.
What inspires Jack is working with the entire collaborative team at Andrew Love from nurses, doctors, admin staff and more.
Jack said, “My passion is caring for patients in their time of need. I love helping them on their survivorship journey, from treatment and beyond.”
“Cancer care is innovative and always changing, and financial support is everything in this space. This is why I’m going Dry this July.”
You can donate to support Jack and the amazing work he and his colleagues do here.
Help us bring patients the joy of music
This Dry July, we’re aiming to raise $40,000 to fund a music therapist for patients receiving treatment for cancer at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
Music is incredibly powerful. It can lift our mood by activating our brain's 'feel-good' endorphins. Studies have also shown that music therapy can improve anxiety, depression, and pain, enhance coping, and reduce physical and emotional stress for people with cancer.
Music therapy comes in many forms. There’s live music, where patients and families can listen, sing along, dance if they feel inspired, and even play music. Music improvisation involves using instruments anyone can play. There’s also songwriting and music relaxation. Music therapists also offer supportive listening and...
Stefi's story
Stefi Kerby is set to Dry July for the second consecutive year in support of her beloved Dad Stephen, who passed away in 2023 after a battle with Melanoma.
Stefi is the powerhouse behind popular lifestyle brand, Celia Loves.
After raising over $10,000 last year in support of Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre and cancer services, Stefi is aiming even higher this year with the backing of her community.
“I want to be able to give back and raise awareness, Barwon Health was amazing. Until you are in that situation, you don’t understand how much they do,” Stefi said.
“It was the worst time but they never took away Dad’s hope and that kept him going.
“The Andrew Love Cancer Centre tried until the very end and you think that’s just...
The ‘why’ behind Marrack’s Dry July
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...
Harnessing knowledge to tackle huge challenges
Kashi Thiris’s cancer journey started with a dream in which she heard the words, 'I am metastatic'. When she woke up, she thought it was strange that she had been dreaming about a word related to cancer.
A few days later, Kashi developed a rash on her breast. This wasn’t particularly unusual because she was breastfeeding her daughter at the time. “I just thought it was mastitis, an inflammation in the breast caused by an infection. I was in the bush doing work at my farm, so I didn’t see a doctor.”
The rash cleared up, and everything seemed fine until she noticed a large lump that had started to grow on her breast. “It grew really fast. Within days, I could see it in the mirror. It was at this point I thought I should see a doctor.”
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Comfort and support for breast cancer patients
With help from Dry July funding, the Surgical Outpatient Services McGrath Breast Care Nurses have been able to purchase post-operative surgical bras.
McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Rebecca Chenery, explained the bras are designed specifically for women undergoing surgery for breast cancer and breast reconstructive surgery.
“An important aspect of breast cancer survivorship for women is wearing a comfortable bra that provides comfort and support for their post-treatment bodies,” she said.
“There are many physical changes that occur with breast cancer treatment such as painful surgical scars, swelling and sensitivity after radiation therapy treatment. A correctly fitted post-surgical bra can help to reduce the incidence of complications as...
Experts stumped as head and neck cancer cases surge among Australian women
Head and neck cancer cases among Australian women have increased significantly over the past 30 years, affecting even those who have never smoked or consumed alcohol heavily.
Experts, like RMH Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Professor David Wiesenfeld, are stumped.
“Every week, women with mouth cancers come into the clinic looking for answers.” said Prof Wiesenfeld.
“It’s really tough to have to say, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know,’ because we don’t understand why this is happening.”
This alarming spike shows how important further research into the underlying causes is.
In response, David, along with the RMH head and neck staff members and female oral cancer patients, have joined forces to form the RMH Head and Neck's Dry July team.
“While the...
The power of rehabilitation
At The Wesley Hospital, we understand that the journey through cancer treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding. That's why we offer specialised physical rehabilitation programs tailored to the unique needs of cancer patients. Our dedicated team of experts works closely with individuals to restore strength, mobility, and overall wellbeing, empowering them to regain control and confidence in their bodies.
Beyond the physical benefits, our rehabilitation programs also play a crucial role in improving mental wellbeing. By addressing the physical challenges associated with cancer treatment, patients often experience a profound sense of accomplishment and resilience, as well as camaraderie through participation in group...