Bowel Cancer Australia is a major beneficiary for the 2024 Dry July campaign.
Sign up to the Dry July challenge and go alcohol-free for 31 days to help us raise funds for people affected by cancer.
The good news is Dry July proceeds will benefit Bowel Cancer Australia and support our mission to have an everlasting impact where no Australian dies from bowel cancer and all those diagnosed receive the support they need.
We’d love you to sign up to the challenge and raise vital funds for people affected by bowel cancer, who need us now, more than ever.
We’d love you to sign up to the challenge and raise vital funds for people affected by bowel cancer, who need us now, more than ever.
How it works:
- Sign up here and select Bowel Cancer Australia as your charity beneficiary.
- Go alcohol free in July.
- Ask family, friends and workmates to sponsor you.
- Help people affected by bowel cancer.
What we’re raising funds for:
Funds raised this Dry July will help Bowel Cancer Australia expand the charity's specialist Bowel Care Nurse program, enabling more patients to receive dedicated support from an in-person Bowel Care Nurse.
A Bowel Care Nurse is a registered nurse who has specialist knowledge and experience caring for patients with bowel cancer. Serving as a patient’s main point of contact during and beyond cancer treatment, supporting and communicating with the patient and their loved ones.
These dedicated Bowel Care Nurses help to improve bowel cancer outcomes in their communities by enabling patients to take a more active role in their bowel care treatment.
Making sure patients and their families understand their options and receive the critical support they need – from that initial point of diagnosis all the way through their treatment pathway.
Despite being the third most diagnosed cancer, bowel cancer patients don’t receive the same level of support as other common cancers.
Every bowel cancer patient deserves to have access to a dedicated Bowel Care Nurse.
Please note funds raised will be remitted to Bowel Cancer Australia through the 2024 Dry July grants program.
Once you've signed up, you will get your very own unique profile page to share with friends and family to receive donations.
Sign up support people affected by bowel cancer today!
Once you've signed up, you will get your very own unique profile page to share with friends and family to receive donations.
Sign up support people affected by bowel cancer today!
Bowel cancer risk increases significantly when two or more alcoholic drinks are consumed per day. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount. Almost 1 in 5 Australian adults (18%) consume more than 2 standard drinks per day.
Please Note: Dry July is a fundraising campaign aimed at challenging social drinkers to change their habits for a month and make some healthy lifestyle changes. We would encourage people to drink responsibly and stick to the recommended daily guidelines for the rest of the year. We advise heavy drinkers or people dependent on alcohol to speak with their GP before signing up to Dry July.
More than eight in ten patients have identified access to a specialist nurse in-person or by phone as one of the most important aspects of their care coordination.
A new collaboration between Bowel Cancer Australia and Icon Cancer Centre is helping to close the care gap through an expansion of the charity’s in-person specialist Bowel Care Nurse program in select Icon Cancer Centres across Australia. Including Hobart (TAS), Windsor Gardens (SA), Revesby (NSW), Rockingham (WA) and Mackay (QLD).
The new specialist Bowel Care Nurses will help to provide more bowel cancer patients with the care they deserve, as close to home as possible, so they can live their best lives. With funding for the roles made possible thanks to the Dry July Foundation and the efforts of Dry July fundraisers and donors around the country.
“Bowel cancer patients are often faced with unique challenges and their journey can vary greatly from other cancers,” explains Fiona, Bowel Care Nurse at Bowel Cancer Australia.
“Bowel Care Nurses provide care coordination, direct patient care, emotional support as well as assist patients in navigating a sometimes-complex health system, enabling them to take a more active role in their treatment and care,” she added.
Made possible through the support of Dry July fundraisers and donations, Bowel Cancer Australia’s free, online nurse-moderated community - The Movement - Wellness Beyond Diagnosis - continues to grow.
Developed by bowel cancer patients for bowel cancer patients, The Movement provides equitable access to care and offers peer support, community connection, and expert resources to help patients better understand their condition and treatment side effects.
“I have fantastic supportive friend and family. But they don’t know what this feels like. This group does. I feel truly seen.” ~ Member of The Movement.
Grampians Health was delighted to welcome a new dedicated Bowel Care Nurse at Ballarat Base Hospital and St John of God Hospital Ballarat to support bowel cancer patients across the region and assist them in their treatment journey.
Providing care coordination, while identifying and bridging gaps in the patient journey, which has the potential to change outcomes within the region.
“During their treatment, local patients often meet with several different teams along the way, and navigating the information and appointments can be overwhelming at times. Having a centralised point of contact to provide clarity and reassurance has been warmly welcomed here at the service,” said Jaymee, specialist Bowel Care Nurse.
The funding for the Grampians region's dedicated Bowel Care Nurse position was made possible through Bowel Cancer Australia with the generous support of the Dry July Foundation.
The funding for the Grampians region's dedicated Bowel Care Nurse position was made possible through Bowel Cancer Australia with the generous support of the Dry July Foundation.
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 and telenutrition services are addressing this gap, enabling equity of access to personalised care and tailored support nationwide.
Since 2010, Bowel Cancer Australia’s Bowel Care Nurses and Nutritionists have been offering support for patients and loved ones through the charity’s Helpline and Peer-to-Peer Support Network.
Thanks to the continued support of the Dry July Foundation, Bowel Cancer Australia has been able to further expand our Bowel Care Nurse and Nutritionist Programs. Increasing the capacity of our Patient Services team, to meet the growing demand for these vital services.
Described as a 'lifeline' by patients and their loved ones, Bowel Cancer Australia’s telenursing and telenutrition services are addressing this gap, enabling equity of access to personalised care and tailored support nationwide.
Since 2010, Bowel Cancer Australia’s Bowel Care Nurses and Nutritionists have been offering support for patients and loved ones through the charity’s Helpline and Peer-to-Peer Support Network.
Thanks to the continued support of the Dry July Foundation, Bowel Cancer Australia has been able to further expand our Bowel Care Nurse and Nutritionist Programs. Increasing the capacity of our Patient Services team, to meet the growing demand for these vital services.
Serving as a constant, dedicated point of contact for the many bowel cancer patients who utilise the charity’s telenursing service nationwide, Bowel Cancer Australia’s Bowel Care Nurses offer support during and after treatment. As well as assisting patients, family, friends, and concerned members of the community by answering questions about bowel symptoms, treatment options, or how to support a loved one affected by the disease.
“Bowel cancer patients are often faced with unique challenges and their journey can vary greatly from other cancers. Leading many to believe they have ‘the wrong cancer’,” says Bowel Care Nurse Tammy.
People affected by bowel cancer face multiple nutritional challenges, including being unsure about what to eat, diarrhoea, appetite loss, and changes to taste and smell.
“Bowel cancer patients are often faced with unique challenges and their journey can vary greatly from other cancers. Leading many to believe they have ‘the wrong cancer’,” says Bowel Care Nurse Tammy.
People affected by bowel cancer face multiple nutritional challenges, including being unsure about what to eat, diarrhoea, appetite loss, and changes to taste and smell.
Yet they receive little or no nutritional information following diagnosis and treatment.
Bowel Cancer Australia’s uniquely qualified Bowel Care Nutritionists, help to address that need by providing guidance that’s practical, sustainable and evidence based.
“A diagnosis of bowel cancer will involve a change to diet and lifestyle and your new bowel habit might be hard to come to terms with,” says Bowel Care Nutritionist Janet.
"Families, friends and carers also require support and practical advice to assist in meal preparation when caring for a bowel cancer patient," Janet adds.
So as to provide further cancer-focused support to the growing number of Australians affected by bowel cancer, Bowel Cancer Australia welcomed Australia’s first dedicated Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker to our patient services team.
This unique new role will help to reduce anxiety and distress, and increase feelings of hope and empowerment, by assisting bowel cancer patients in learning new ways of coping, providing practical information about available resources in their community, and improving communication with their medical team and loved ones.
“Your psychological and emotional health can have a significant impact on your physical health and ability. Social work therefore looks to holistically address your overall health and wellbeing. I am here to provide another part of the scaffold of support around you, helping to uphold you through your bowel cancer experience.” ~ Victoria, Bowel Care Oncology Social Worker.
Bowel Cancer Australia’s integrated Bowel Care Nursing program continues to expand, supporting the employment of dedicated part-time Bowel Care Nurses in regional communities across the country. Acting as a key point of contact for bowel cancer patients and their families as they navigate the health system in their local area – providing advice, education, support and direct patient care.
“Bowel cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer, but when detected early 99 per cent of cases can be successfully treated. We need to be at the forefront of that treatment, helping ensure clients get the best possible care,” says Sunshine Coast Bowel Care Nurse Kirsty.
Thanks to the Dry July Foundation’s support Bowel Cancer Australia can put more bowel cancer patients and loved ones in touch with a Bowel Care Nurse, Nutritionist or Oncology Social Worker, where they can receive specialist support from a member of our team.
No one need go through bowel cancer alone.
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’s Bowel Care Nurses and Nutritionists have been offering telenursing and telenutrition support for patients and loved ones through the charity’s Helpline and Peer-to-Peer Support Network.
Thanks to a grant from the Dry July Foundation, Bowel Cancer Australia has been able to expand our Bowel Care Nurse Program through the addition of another part-time Bowel Care Nurse to join our nationwide telenursing service to assist in the rollout and implementation of our patient-reported outcomes online tool.
A registered nurse with specialist knowledge and experience caring for patients with bowel cancer, and having recently returned from a period nursing in a regional hospital, Bowel Cancer Australia is pleased Tammy was able to re-join our Bowel Care Nursing team.
Tammy will serve as a constant, dedicated point of contact for the many bowel cancer patients who utilise the charity’s telenursing service, offering support during and after treatment. As well as assisting patients, family, friends, and concerned members of the community by answering questions about bowel symptoms, treatment options, or how to support a loved one affected by the disease.
“Bowel cancer patients are often faced with unique challenges and their journey can vary greatly from other cancers. Leading many to believe they have ‘the wrong cancer’,” says Tammy.
Thanks to the Dry July Foundation’s support we can put more bowel cancer patients and loved one in touch with a Bowel Care Nurse, where they can receive specialist support from Tammy or one of the team.
“No one need go through bowel cancer alone,” Tammy said.
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 with making difficult decisions during their treatment, offering hope and solace.
We call these ‘Lived Experience Stories’.
Thanks to a grant from the Dry July Foundation in 2019-20, Bowel Cancer Australia has been able to expand upon our Bowel Cancer Stories and create a series of seven Lived-Experience booklets.
The booklets have been designed specifically for people who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer, their family and friends. Offering insight into how bowel cancer can affect your body, emotions, relationships and daily life, through the personal experiences of others diagnosed with the disease and their loved ones.
A very warm thank you to the Dry July Foundation and all the passionate Bowel Cancer Awareness Advocates who have shared their empowering lived experiences for these unique booklets - helping to raise much needed awareness, support people living with or beyond bowel cancer and their loved ones, and to encourage others to share their personal stories too.
Click here to view the Lived Experiences booklets.
