Patients showing visible and enthusiastic relief thanks to your 2022 Dry July funds
The Occupational Therapy (OT) Department continues to provide a valuable and free Oncology Loan Pool service to all patients receiving oncology or haematology treatment at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
In 2022, the Oncology Loan Pool was able to assist 332 people living with cancer thanks to the generous support of Dry July funding.
The department’s extensive loan pool includes nearly 900 items and has expanded its range to include over 90 different styles.Having these items gives OT staff the opportunity to trial equipment to find the most comfortable and appropriate way to support patients’ independence, avoiding delays and costly home modifications.
Donna Waldron, Occupational Therapy Technical Assistant, says, “Our patients are...
Sheryl's Story
Inspirational Dreamer Sheryl wears her kilt or her “warrior outfit” for every chemotherapy and oncology appointment - she calls herself ‘Shezza Braveheart’.
“My cancer journey commenced in 2018 when I ‘accidentally’ discovered a large tumour under my right breast. Fast-forward to 2021, and the cancer had metastasized and I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” said Sheryl.
Sheryl had always dreamt of visiting the Outback and decided she needed something to get through the challenging months ahead, something to aim for, something to live for.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found out about Dreams2Live4. I applied online and received a phone call from Louise, one of the Dream Makers,” explained Sheryl.
“It was the best phone call I could have...
Karen's Story
I’m Karen - Mum of two adult daughters, wife of more than 30 years, and a career woman.
I’ve spent decades working to support regional and remote Australia along with the most disadvantaged members of our community, particularly our First Nations people. I was 54 in early 2021 when diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
I’ve now completed 12 months of active treatment with “the red devil” (AC chemo) along with Paclitaxel chemo, had a double mastectomy, complete hysterectomy, radiotherapy, and a couple of extra surgeries to deal with other side effects I experienced.
I was never a girly girl, not much into makeup, rarely blow drying or straightening my hair (unless there was a special occasion) and always felt more comfortable in...
Your 2022 Dry July funds are supporting the continuation of the ECS program at Canteen
Cancer and its treatment detrimentally disadvantage young people’s education and career development, leading to poor educational attainment and under and unemployment compared to their peers.
Those diagnosed with cancer need evidence-based support to achieve education and employment outcomes, yet there is limited research in this area and few available interventions. By developing an Education Career Support program (ECS) for young people (YP) diagnosed with cancer, this project aims to improve outcomes for individuals with the potential for long-term flow-on effects for community and society.
ECS helps all cancer patients, aged 15-25 (during or post treatment) ECS consultants are trained career counsellors and provide different...
Michelle's Story
Michelle was enjoying life! A happy, healthy, busy life as a wife, mother of two, loving daughter, friend to many and a dedicated nurse.
She had a headache one morning before heading to a stressful day at the hospital during Covid in 2020. She thought little of it until the words on the patient's chart she was reading became completely unrecognisable. Michelle’s life was forever changed from that moment on.
2020 was a year like no other for me. This is the time when the whole world seemed to turn upside down and nothing would ever be the same again. This is where my story begins. July 2020. Also the year of the nurse.
There was nothing good for nurses in 2020 or for me personally. My name is Michelle, and up until this point in my life I...
Dry July 2022 funds are making a big difference for Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre
2022 was another busy year for the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre.
Through the ongoing generosity of our community and support from the Dry July Foundation, we are able to provide Wellness Centre services and improved medical treatment to our cancer patients.
Our Ballarat Cancer Centre Day Oncology Centre conducted over 6,500 sessions, including chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies and education sessions. Demand for its services is has grown at 5% p.a. since 2016/17.
Our Wellness Centre relies 100% on community fundraising to offer its support and education services, free of charge, to all cancer patients in our region. Dry July is our biggest single fundraising event of the year.
This year, the Wellness Centre was able to...
Jo's Story
In 2021, Jo was a healthy 42-year-old living an active lifestyle in Noosa, Queensland.
She had recently moved from Sydney, where she had been working as a video and digital producer across several big-name brands.
During a routine cervical cancer screening test (which does not screen for ovarian cancer), Jo’s doctor spotted an abnormality.
“My GP assured me that while it was likely nothing serious, she recommended I go for further testing, just as a precautionary measure. I was thinking my worst-case scenario could be a diagnosis of endometriosis,” said Jo.
After undergoing an ultrasound, Jo’s results showed a mass on each ovary. To her shock, further testing revealed elevated levels of a protein in Jo’s blood that indicated a possible...
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...