Helping people affected by cancer

Calvary Mater Newcastle are grateful for the opportunity to purchase much needed pressure relieving equipment

What a relief

The surgical ward supports patients both pre and post operatively in their cancer journey. Providing patients with equipment to facilitate a timely discharge home without complications is important. One of these preventable complications is pressure injuries. Pressure injuries are not only costly for the hospital, but can cause unnecessary pain and extend a patients stay in hospital, keeping them away from loved ones.

Lara Riley, Nurse Unit Manager, Ward 4B, said, “With the generous support of Dry July, we were able to purchase four ROHO cushions, in two different sizes.

“Surgery and treatment may prevent our patients from moving around as they would normally do, and can increase the risk of impaired skin integrity. This may...

By participating in Dry July this year, you are continuing to bring the joy of music therapy to the Alfred’s HOC department

For the past 5 years Jacquie, now aged 70, has been sailing around the world on her boat. First Jacquie travelled up to Darwin, then across the Indian Ocean to South Africa, before heading over to South America and up to the Caribbean. Then it was through the Panama Canal and on to the islands of the Pacific before heading back to Australia again. Jacquie has known many adventures along the way as a solo sailor and in that time, she also wrote and published her own book “Just Me at Sea”. Her boat’s name is Shanti, which means peace, tranquility, bliss & the ability to rise above stress and adversity. As Jacquie says “kind of sums up my circumnavigation as well as my current journey.”

Both luckily and unluckily, it was in the time...

Dry July's 2020 funding provided four new chemotherapy chairs for Calvery Mater Newcastle Day Treatment Centre

Built for comfort

Marissa Ledlin, Nurse Unit Manager of the Day Treatment Centre, comments, “With long hours spent receiving chemotherapy, it is important that our patients remain comfortable during this time. The new chemotherapy chairs are so comfortable, sometimes we need to wake the patients up when their treatment is complete. The chairs have silica upholstery which will reduce the risk of pressure injury to patients. A multimedia platform provides a place for personal equipment to prevent boredom and a USB port to charge their personal devices. All these features will increase patient comfort and improve their treatment experience.

“These chairs have not only proved popular with our patients, but with nurses as well. It is very...

Calvary Mater Newcastle are very appreciative for two new ultrasound machines purchased for the Day Treatment Centre

Patients attending the Day Treatment Centre have regular cannulations for their chemotherapy treatment and for some patients this can be a long and uncomfortable experience.

Day Treatment Centre Nurse Unit Manager, Marissa Ledlin, comments, “Overtime, because of frequent cannulations and treatment, patients’ veins can become more problematic to cannulate. These new ultrasound machines can significantly cut back the number of attempts when staff are faced with a difficult cannulation, relieving unnecessary stress and time for our patients.”

Breast cancer patient, Tamie Geosits, has been receiving chemotherapy for almost a year. In the past, there have been occasions where cannulations have been difficult, Tamie has endured long attempts...

If there is one thing that 202O showed us it is that we all crave connection, and that music is such a strong vehicle for that connection.

We are so grateful to the Dry July Foundation for their support to help us create mini portable recording set ups, for us to expand on our therapeutic songwriting session with people living with cancer and their families- and literally help us ‘bring the studio session’ to them.

If there is one thing that 202O showed us it is that we all crave connection, and that music is such a strong vehicle for that connection. During our lockdowns we see the impact of how hard it is to be alone for everyone and this is magnified for all our patients. Often people living with cancer are isolated in their treatment without the pandemic, so add one in, and things are really, really, tough. Music therapy has been in high demand and we had to find ways...

A HUGE thank you to our Dry July fundraisers of 2019 for providing two portable Lumify Ultrasound systems

This equipment provides our wonderful Oncology nurses the chance to cannulate those patients having treatment in the very busy Cancer Day Unit with difficult venous access the first time and make this the best attempt! This causes less distress to patients.

We purchased 4 tablets that work in conjunction with these machines and support staff training. The cost of the bundles included training from the supplier to "super users" clinical nurses who have developed a program to train all required staff on the use of this equipment.

Oncology and Haematology patients receive long term treatments which can involve multiple cannulations with difficult peripheral access. Their veins can be compromised by chemotherapy, surgical procedures...

In 2020, the staff of St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne fundraised an incredible $5,000

The power of a united effort

Staff from St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne 6th Floor created a team for Dry July 2020. Together, the nine team members raised over $5,000. These funds will go towards purchasing much needed items and even a few extra comforts for patients receiving treatment for cancer at St Vincent’s.

2020 was the first year the 6th Floor created a team for Dry July. Leader of the team and Registered Nurse, Kate Gore, gave us an insight into her team’s experiences.

What inspired you to get a team together for Dry July?

Our patients inspired us to get involved. We are a specialised Oncology, Haematology and Palliative Care ward, so our patients benefit greatly from the Dry July campaign. They go through a tough journey during...

Flinders Foundation purchase a new FibroScan machine for the Flinders Medical Centre Hepatology and Liver Unit

Patients at Flinders Medical Centre, and across regional and remote South Australia, are now receiving the monitoring they need to help detect liver cancer before it’s too late…thanks to Dry July!

This state-of-the art equipment provides a non-invasive way of assessing the amount of fibrosis or scarring in a liver, without the need for an invasive liver biopsy.

The amount of fibrosis is a critical risk factor for liver cancer, and by detecting liver issues earlier through a FibroScan, more treatments and enrolment in a cancer surveillance program can be initiated to give patients the best chance of a good outcome.

Professor Alan Wigg, Head of Flinders’ Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Medicine Unit, said in the few short months since...

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