Helping people affected by cancer

Dry July Foundation funds help Chris O'Brien Lifehouse You Can Centre come to life

For a long time the space on Level 7 at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse has remained an empty shell.

Now it is home to our You Can Centre - a dedicated space for adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients to socialise, relax, wait for appointments, find some distraction and connect with others.

The You Can Centre was built in partnership with the Sony Foundation and the Sydney Local Health District, and with contributions also from the Dry July Foundation.

Funds raised from the 2021 Dry July campaign helped furnish the movie and games room, a music room, and a leafy outdoor balcony.

“I can use the space as somewhere else to go. I’m not spending all day in a hospital bed, I come down and hangout down here ….and some days just come down and nap in...

Calvary Mater Newcastle Oncology Loan Pool gets a boost

Thanks to Dry July funding the Calvary Mater Newcastle Oncology Loan Pool continues to go from strength to strength as worn equipment is replaced and an additional range of equipment brought in.

The Oncology Loan Pool provides free short term loan of equipment to assist patients when they are discharged home or supports them to remain at home while receiving cancer treatment. Undergoing treatment and recovery from cancer can be a financially challenging time, and having access to the free Oncology Loan Pool assists in alleviating some of this burden.

A range of equipment is available to assist patients with activities of daily living like showering, toileting, transferring and mobility, as well as providing comfort measures to reduce...

Bendigo Health's Gobbe’ Wellness Centre increases its opening hours from 3 days in 2021 to 5 days per week in 2022

The calendar of activities that the Gobbe’ Wellness Centre is able to offer has increased 100% in 2022.

We now offer 2 yoga classes per week (previously only 1) and have added a new Tai Chi class each week, along with the existing Mindfulness class.

This has resulted in 16 more cancer participants being able to participate in classes each week. We have also added a weekly walking group and added an extra day of specialised oncology massage per month. Reflexology and Aromatherapy is also available.

The Gobbe’ Wellness Centre increased its opening hours from 3 days in 2021 to 5 days per week in 2022.

It is now open for participants to access classes and services Monday to Friday 9-4 pm. The increased opening hours allows us to offer more...

Bowel Cancer Australia can further expand their Bowel Care Nurse and Nutritionist Programs

Despite being the third most diagnosed cancer, bowel cancer patients don’t receive the same level of support as other common cancers.

Described as a 'lifeline' by patients and their loved ones, Bowel Cancer Australia’s telenursing and telenutrition services are addressing this gap, enabling equity of access to personalised care and tailored support nationwide.

Since 2010, Bowel Cancer Australia’s Bowel Care Nurses and Nutritionists have been offering support for patients and loved ones through the charity’s Helpline and Peer-to-Peer Support Network.

Thanks to the continued support of the Dry July Foundation, Bowel Cancer Australia has been able to further expand our Bowel Care Nurse and Nutritionist Programs. Increasing the capacity of...

Madeline's Story

“They say there are a few defining moments that change your life forever – getting a call from my dad telling me he had prostate cancer was one of them.”

Madeline’s dad, Steven, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2020, at age 53.

“I remember feeling numb when I got the call from my dad,” she says. “I never expected this to happen to my father and especially at 53 years old. It makes me wonder how many other fathers, husbands, brothers and men in our lives are walking around with this disease, just like my dad was. It scares me to think it crept up on my family as it did, and it could happen to anyone. My dad wasn’t diagnosed until it had already spread – but hopefully other men can catch it earlier."

While her Dad is doing...

Nelly's Story

Nelly has always been a career woman. She started her first job when she was 14 and “hasn’t stopped since”. Her career in chemical and environmental management has spanned decades and seen her go from graduating from multiple diplomas to managing multi-million-dollar projects for global corporations – she thought there was nothing that could slow her down.

On top of this, her passion has always been her family, looking after her 3 children, husband and parents.

That was until October 2021, when Nelly was at the height of her career, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“I’d been experiencing symptoms for over a year. I had a lot of trouble with my back; it felt like something was pushing against my back. The feeling then moved from my...

2021 Dry July funding is helping OCA provide psychosocial support to women when it’s needed most

Your Dry July fundraising in 2021 is supporting our Helpline and expanding our Psychosocial Support Team which provides psychological, practical and emotional support to people diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The newly recruited specialist positions have been filled by Amy (Genetics Counsellor), Anna (Allied Health Assistant) and Margie (Psychologist).

Below is some feedback we’ve received from people who access our Psychosocial Support Services:

• ‘The compassionate, empathetic, knowledgeable team went above and beyond to help me in my darkest period of this journey.’

• ‘I think it is important to talk and it helps to talk to someone who is not family or a friend.’

• ‘Your team were there for me when no else was. I am grateful.’

• ‘I...

Kathleen's Story

Since watching her sister go through breast cancer eight years ago, Kathleen has been scrupulous about having her breasts checked every year, never missing a mammogram or ultrasound.

However, two years ago her right breast blew up in size and Kathleen went straight back to her GP, having had her mammogram only a few months before, where nothing had been detected. Sadly, upon that next visit, triple negative breast cancer in her right breast was diagnosed.

Unfortunately for Kathleen, cancer is a common thread in her family, with her sister, cousins and aunt all being diagnosed with breast cancer before her. At the time, they all tested negative during genetic testing, which left the family baffled. However, new testing has revealed that...

Francesca's Story

I was diagnosed with Stage III bowel cancer at the age of 38.

I honestly didn’t know anything about bowel cancer before I was diagnosed. I’ve since been told it’s ‘an old man’s disease’ which I now know not to be the case with about 1400 people under 50 diagnosed with bowel cancer in Australia every year. The individual circumstances of each person’s diagnosis also mean everyone has a very different experience of how they are treated.

When I contacted Bowel Cancer Australia’s free Helpline, I had an instant connection with the Bowel Care Nurses and Nutritionists.

They’ve been a constant source of strength and encouragement ever since – helping me manage nutritional challenges, nerve damage, and an emotional roller coaster.

Cancer turned...