Helping people affected by cancer

Nguyen 'Thai' Dang's Story

The care shown to Nguyen Thai Dang since he first came to the oncology ward of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 2018 for chemotherapy to treat leukemia, ended in him nicknaming the PA ‘The Hilton of Hospitals’ and becoming not only a survivor but a champion of the hospital and its staff.

Thai, as he is known to his friends, checked into the PA’s Oncology ward at the request of haematologists on October 22, due to his white blood cell count sliding downward for a matter of months.

“There was a trial treatment organized by PA Hospital and Norvatis Pharmaceutical that would allow me to have a path to treatment that would be less of a burden to Australian taxpayers. Looking at the results of my last blood test, I decided to get on the...

A busy working mother of three, Meredith Holmes was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer

Running along a beach in Queensland with her sister, 42 year-old Meredith had to slow down because of the pain she was feeling from a lump in her breast. She had noticed the lump previously but hadn’t for a moment thought it might be breast cancer.

“There was no history of breast cancer in my family,” she says. “I had a scan in Queensland and it suggested I have more follow up tests when I got back to Melbourne, where I was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of breast cancer.”

A recent separation meant she was facing diagnosis and treatment as a single mother. Treatment was immediate and urgent, with surgery to remove the tumor followed by a course of chemotherapy four weeks later once Meredith had recovered from the surgery....

Yoga creates balance for cancer patients

Anne Stroud became a patient at the ONJ Cancer Centre when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March 2018. The Gentle Yoga program at the ONJ Centre uses gentle movement and breathing practices to help you reduce stress and tension, increase energy and foster a positive relationship with your body.

Wellness programs helped Anne cope with the stress of her diagnosis and treatment. With her home being the mountains of East Gippsland, Anne decided to stay close to the hospital while undergoing treatment, giving her the opportunity and the time to immerse herself in the many nurturing and self-care wellness activities held every day. Gentle yoga was a highlight for Anne.

“Gentle yoga was just amazing. It gave me contact with other people...

Care Package recipient shares her story

Going through cancer treatment is scary, and extremely stressful, so to have an organisation like Mummy's Wish think of me and my children, and want to help us, touched my heart more than words can say.

I received a Mummy's wish care package full of lovely items that made me smile and feel special. The most cherished item was a beautiful teddy bear that I was able to record a message with my voice for my daughter to help her when she misses me through the long hospital stays, the teddy has been really helpful.

Mummy's Wish even kindly gave us food vouchers to help ease the stress on those weeks when everyone is only just barely keeping it together and has no energy to think about preparing meals. These were a godsend because they fed us...

Chris O'Brien Lifehouse uses Dry July funds to help support people like Pamela

Pamela's Story

"This photo was taken early last December after struggling through my second chemotherapy treatment and miserably obvious hair loss.

Our time for non-medical appointments was limited as we live in Orange and had only two nights accommodation near the Lifehouse so we hoped to see about a wig before returning home.

The Lifehouse Living Room has a delightful encouraging atmosphere and when I requested a wig library visit within our limited time we learnt that it was closed and undergoing renovations (with funds from Dry July) and appointments were not being made for several weeks. However, the wonderful staff in the Lifehouse were most considerate and dear Karen, the wig specialist, arranged for us to visit before we drove...

BRICC is using Dry July funds for their Wellness Centre, helping to support people like Helen.

Helen was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, undergoing chemotherapy in 2016 at Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC). At a later stage, Helen became a volunteer with Ballarat Health Services in BRICC. Helen has just commenced chemotherapy again in 2020 after a return of her cancer and is back utilising the services of the centre. She is extremely enthusiastic about her commitment to be an Ambassador and to help raise funds for the BRICC Wellness Centre.

Helen believes the Wellness Centre is like a second home for patients, a welcoming place that provides comfort for people. This is the reason Helen volunteered at the Wellness Centre, she wants others to be able to access the services that she found extremely...

By supporting Bendigo Health this Dry July, you're helping people like Kate.

Kate Walsh’s breast cancer diagnosis came 16 years ago in 2004, when she was just 29. Following intensive treatment, Kate describes herself as “free and clear” of the disease. That changed 11 years later when she was devastatingly re-diagnosed in 2015. This time her breast cancer has metastasized.

Together with her husband, Darren and two young children – Lexie, a nine year old daughter and seven year old Archie – Kate has been navigating COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic has on their daily lives.

Her breast cancer continues to be treated through regular oncology appointments and chemotherapy treatments at Bendigo Health, and Darren takes care of the shopping and other errands so that Kate can avoid public places and the increased...

Our cancer nurses were the only support for Grant and Branka

For Grant and his wife Branka, our 13 11 20 support services were instrumental in helping them through a double cancer diagnosis.

The parents of two daughters had only been in Australia for a few years after moving from overseas and had no family around and little support when they received the devastating news.

“I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on Friday 15 February 2013. Just three days earlier, on the Tuesday, my wife Branka was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. We really relied on Cancer Council for support.”

Grant had begun radiation and chemotherapy straight away and someone had suggested he call us on 13 11 20.

“At this point, I was still feeling pretty lost and confused, I was shell-shocked and just wanted to know what was...

Dry July Foundation funds an upgrade to the patient courtyard at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre (NSCC)

With the funding provided by Dry July we have been able to perform upgrade works to our patient courtyard within the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre (NSCC). Given the current situation with COVID-19, social distancing and the need to protect our patients as they are particularly vulnerable during this time we haven’t had the chance to fully enjoy it but are proud to announce that we have almost completed upgrade works on the NSCC Courtyard.

The Northern Sydney Cancer Centre based at Royal North Shore Hospital treats people from across all of NSW and is focused on providing the best care possible to patients and their family. Providing a good patient experience is at the heart of everything we do, and often this goes beyond just medical...