Helping people affected by cancer

Diana's Story

“My sister Sarah was 34 and a new mum when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and 35 when it took her life. She experienced three weeks of stomach pains before she was given a terminal diagnosis and 18 months to live. She started treatment immediately and lost her battle 10.5 months later.

Sadly, her story is not unique. The rates of bowel cancer in adults under 50 have been rising, and young-onset patients are more likely to be diagnosed in Stage 3 or 4 when the disease is harder to treat.

My family has always been very close and losing Sarah to bowel cancer was absolutely devastating for us. It had a huge impact on my life. At 29 I gave up a job, ended a relationship, and moved states to help care for Sarah and her daughter, Eliza,...

Thanks to the Dry July Foundation’s support, BCA can put more people affected by bowel cancer in touch with a Bowel Care Nurse

“The Bowel Cancer Australia team have been an integral part of my journey and have had such a positive impact on my treatment pathway.” ~ Makala (diagnosed at 32).

Bowel Cancer Australia is committed to supporting individuals and their families through all stages of their journey. Working hard to ensure ongoing awareness and support following a bowel cancer diagnosis.

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 service is addressing this gap, enabling equity of access to personalised care and tailored support nationwide.

Since 2010, Bowel Cancer Australia...

Thanks to Dry July funding, Bowel Cancer Australia is able to extend their Bowel Cancer Stories, providing much needed support for individuals and families affected by bowel cancer

Bowel Cancer Australia is committed to supporting individuals and their families through all stages of their journey, working hard to ensure every bowel cancer patient receives the support they need.

Talking to and reading about the experiences of another person who has been through bowel cancer, or who is going through a similar situation, can be enormously valuable and reassuring.

A key element of Bowel Cancer Australia’s Peer-to-Peer Support Network and dynamic awareness campaigns is the writing and sharing of one’s personal story.

Not only are there proven benefits to emotional wellbeing in taking the time to write about your experiences, reading about the experience of others can also be incredibly beneficial. Assisting patients...

Upgrades to patient amenities in the Shoalhaven Cancer Care made possible thanks to Dry July fundraising

Basic items in our patient accommodation had some real wear and tear. Dry July funding has allowed us to purchase quality practical items such as fancy Sheridan towels for our patients, modern linen for beds, replace the broken toaster and old kettle in the community kitchen, provide a Nespresso Coffee Machine, purchase matching dining sets, replace cutlery, provide comfortable cushions and as requested by patients place an alarm clock in every patient room!

These improvements have really lifted spirits and genuinely created a home away from home feel for patients and families who travel from within our rural region to Nowra for treatment. Thanks to our Accommodation Manager Jarrod for identifying the needs of our patients and...

Garden makeovers in Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre made possible thanks to our Dry July fundraising

Our tired looking garden (dirt patch :)) at the entrance to the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Accommodation Centre has had a makeover with fertilised soil, new plants, weed matting, mulch and the addition of pebbles.

Our staff and patients have noticed a HUGE difference with our Accommodation Manager, Jarrod, reporting that ‘everyone has noticed’ and he has had such positive feedback about the improvement. It really is so much more welcoming. Great work team and we are proud to have collaborated with a local landscaper to deliver this project for our patients!

Fundraising for OCA will help people like Josie access support when they need it most

Josie Davoren, 51, initially thought the early signs of her ovarian cancer was menopause. The mother of two increased her exercise regime and reduced her calorie intake but still could not reduce the bloating. Josie then put the bloating down to irritable bowel syndrome. Soon after, she discovered a hard large mass on the right side of her pelvic area.

After having scans followed by investigative surgery, surgeons found she had stage two ovarian cancer and an ovary the size of a rockmelon. In July 2018, Josie had surgery to remove the tumours; this included a full hysterectomy (removal of her ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus) and also her appendix.

Having six rounds of chemotherapy, Josie felt confident she was over the worst. Follow...

Raising funds for McGrath Foundation will help support people like Luise

There's never a good time to be diagnosed with metastatic cancer, which is incurable, but when that diagnosis comes in your 30's it's especially hard.

Luise Gordon, 38, hasn't had it easy but she believes that the diagnosis has helped heal her. While she has to undergo treatment for the rest of her life, she's determined to make the most of it. By the time a patient is diagnosed as metastatic, they can have seen up to 80 medical professionals, which is why having the constant support of her McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Sam, has helped create a sense of stability in Luise's life.

COVID-19 has thrown additional challenges in to the mix, with border closures preventing Luise from spending time with her family from Queensland for much of the...

Fundraising for Cancer Council will help support people like Marnie

Marnie could never have predicted what 2020 had in store for her. At the beginning of the year, she was studying to become a nurse, taking classes with her dance company, and hanging out with friends.

“When I was diagnosed, it was a time in my life when I was just starting to find my feet and discover where I belonged in the world. Then it all came crashing down,” said Marnie.

In March, not only did she have to endure the shock of a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis, she had to complete treatment through all the uncertainty and disruption of COVID-19.

“No one could come in [to the hospital] with me – I think mum came to my first treatment and from there I was on my own,” said Marnie.

“It’s pretty scary because you’re going into hospital not...

Fundraising for Redkite will help people like Teah access support when they need it most

Teah spent two years away from her home undergoing treatment for her acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

At 17, Teah is now in remission and starting her life all over again - returning from hospital and getting back on her feet hasn't been easy. Teah was introduced to her Redkite social worker, Lis to help her take practical steps to rebuild her life, including setting up a bank account and working out Teah's future career path.

“If I didn’t have Lis right now, I would not know where to start. I would be staying home, not doing anything. I wouldn’t know where to start my life again, or even have that motivation to be excited to go out and try.”

Read Teah's full story here: https://www.dryjuly.com/2021/teahs-story