ALMOST seventy-thousand dollars was raised during Dry July and now it\u2019s enabling Bendigo Health\u2019s Gobb\u00e9 Wellness Centre and cancer wellness program to keep running.<\/p>\n
The centre, which opened earlier this year, houses the program and offers activities such as yoga, massage, mindfulness sessions and other complimentary therapies.<\/p>\n
Jodie Stirling was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and a second primary cancer in 2019.<\/p>\n
She undertook chemotherapy and radiation treatment for nine months after her first diagnosis, and a further five months of more intensive treatment after her second.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty full on considering I\u2019d only just finished the chemo and radiation six months earlier and then to put the body through it again was a tough time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Bendigo Health\u2019s cancer wellness program, which receives no government funding, has played a crucial role in her recovery, which has included issues with nerve damage to her feet as a result of treatments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe yoga was really beneficial for me to begin to find feeling in my feet and trying different exercises, it\u2019s been amazing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve also done the mindfulness sessions which is something I would never have got involved with until I was diagnosed a second time, then you really need to work on getting your head into the present. Not thinking about the past or future, but living for today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Stirling said she is grateful for her treatment being so close to home, as the only alternative would be travelling into Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer 25 years ago, and at that stage she had to travel to Melbourne for treatment,\u201d Ms Stirling said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember how taxing that was for her to be driven to Melbourne and to come back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cancer centre here in Bendigo is amazing because I can go there and have my PET scans, CT scans and those results are available straight away for my oncologist to look at, it\u2019s all in that one facility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oncology nurse Jenna Sing has overseen the program since February 2020, a position made possible by Dry July fundraising.<\/p>\n
Bendigo Health Oncology Unit Clinical Director Dr Rob Blum said Ms Sing has an exceptional ability to cater to all patients\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has great connectedness and energy and her compassion to people allows her to appreciate what they might need,\u201d he said. This is a place of safety and that\u2019s really important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Stirling said it\u2019s clear how going dry for July can make a real difference to people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re continually inundated with requests fordonations for lots of worthy causes, but the Dry July funds that are raised, they\u2019re used locally to provide support for people dealing with cancer diagnosis,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ALMOST seventy-thousand dollars was raised during Dry July and now it\u2019s enabling Bendigo Health\u2019s Gobb\u00e9 Wellness Centre and cancer wellness program to keep running. The centre, which opened earlier this year, houses the program and offers activities such as yoga, massage, mindfulness sessions and other complimentary therapies. Jodie Stirling was diagnosed with breast cancer in […]<\/p>\n