CANCER Council are encouraging people to harness their flower power on Friday, 27 August for this year\u2019s Daffodil Day.<\/p>\n
Cancer Council Victoria is hoping to raise $690,000, and CEO Todd Harper said the organisation didn\u2019t want to let the pandemic get in the way of their research investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made such good progress over the last 30 years in cancer, in improving survival, getting better treatments, diagnosing cancer early,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last thing that we want to do is slow that momentum because of the effects of COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Harper said the past two years were especially challenging for those with cancer as they were also \u201cdisproportionately\u201d affected by COVID-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason I say that is that during last year particularly and also this year, our healthcare system was disrupted and also we\u2019ve seen cancer patients often separated from loved ones because of COVID rules that are in place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s made it a really difficult time for cancer patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take thousands of calls every year through our Cancer Council 13 11 20 service which is run by cancer nurses and we\u2019re seeing longer calls, more complex calls as we help people affected by cancer through their experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n