Helping people affected by cancer

Allie's Story

Allie is one of a kind.

A cancer survivor, a teacher and a solo traveller. At age 27, whilst working in London, they noticed a lump in their breast. Allie’s GP dismissed it as a cyst due to their age. A year later the lump had become painful, so they trusted their gut instinct and followed up. Allie was first diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2018. They advocated for and underwent a double mastectomy with the hope of preventing reoccurrence.

Allie lives for adventure and thru-hiked the Camino de Santiago trail following surgery, before moving to Australia. Once there, they swapped hiking boots for a push bike and cycled solo around Australia, including a stretch between Melbourne and Perth.

In early 2022 Allie was re-diagnosed with...

How Danica found support through the phone after being wrongly diagnosed just before Christmas

Mother of two, Danica Bunch, was told that she may only have two years to live only a couple of days before Christmas in 2022, “When the nurse came to see me and broke down in tears, I asked her why she was crying, and she said she was overwhelmed with feeling for me as the diagnosis was so bad,” she says. Danica was wrongly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

It wasn’t until early the following year that Danica was told that the nurse had mixed up her results with another patient’s and, while she still had breast cancer, her diagnosis was treatable.

Danica said that the timing of being (unknowingly) misdiagnosed was particularly challenging, “Any news at Christmas time is so hard, but over Christmas you also have services shutting...

Sarah's Story

I was 47 years old, working as a busy Psychiatrist, when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 sigmoid colon cancer out of the blue. My tumour was circumferential, so I didn’t experience any bowel symptoms. My eventual presentation was in fact due to liver capsule stretch from the extensive liver metastases.

It took a few weeks for me to be diagnosed as I was positive for Epstein Barr Virus, so my GP thought I had a viral hepatitis. This seemed to explain my deranged liver function tests, but over the weeks they deteriorated instead of improving. Liver ultrasound scan was normal, despite there being multiple liver metastases. It wasn’t until I had an MRI scan of my abdomen that the metastases were detected, along with a suspicious thickening in...

Canteen continues to support young cancer patients with the support of Dry July 2023 funds

The funds are helping Canteen continue to support young cancer patients stay connected to study or work, both during and after their cancer treatment through Canteen’s Education and Career Support Service (ECS). Cancer and its treatment significantly disadvantage young people’s education and career development, leading to poor educational attainment as well as underemployment and unemployment compared to their peers.

Young people can use the service at the point ofdiagnosis, during treatment as well as after treatment as they transition back into work or study.

Your Dry July funds are supporting over 400 Aussie’s access to Look Good Feel Better services

Funds raised from Dry July 2023 are helping to fund Look Good Feel Better workshops and Confidence Kits, which connect a community of people living a shared experience, empowering them to regain control, a sense of self, and confidence.

Thanks to you, over 400 Australians will now be able to benefit from the program over the coming 12 months.

Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital projects and equipment upgrades made possible by Dry July 2023 fundraising

The funds will help Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital purchase new chemotherapy treatment chairs, post-operative bras for women undergoing surgery for breast cancer, and enhanced and updated equipment for the Occupational Therapy Oncology Equipment Loan Program.

The upgrades and services directly benefit and assist in the comfort and care of the patients and their families.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia specialist nurses are supported by Dry July 2023 funds

Your fundraising for Dry July 2023 has supported Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia's hospital-based Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses and life-changing Prostate Cancer Specialist Telenursing Service.

Thank you for your support and contribution to making a positive difference in the lives of people living with prostate cancer.

Dry July 2023 funds are supporting Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 private and confidential Information and Support line

We’re excited to announce that Dry July funds are supporting the continuation of Cancer Council's 13 11 20 private and confidential Information and Support line.

Experienced healthcare professionals run the vital 13 11 20 Information and Support line and it is available to anyone who is affected by or concerned about cancer. The Information and Support line works to connect Australians with relevant cancer support, information, and resources.

Thank you Dry Julyers for supporting Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) and Wellness Centre

On behalf of everyone at the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) and Wellness Centre we wanted to thank you for participating in the Dry July challenge this year.

This year we raised an incredible $63,315! Over our 12-year history with the Dry July Foundation, this is our BEST YEAR YET!

We couldn’t not have achieved this result without your effort and dedication. Your participation in Dry July helps us to provide world-class cancer care and cancer support services, right here in Ballarat.

Your fundraising efforts ensures the ongoing provision of support and services offered by our Wellness Centre. The Wellness Centre is free for all patients in the Grampians region, regardless of where they are having treatment – ensuring...