During the Christmas period, our hearts are filled with a desire to give back and support others, especially families facing the challenges of childhood cancer. We can all agree that nobody should have to face cancer alone, and there’s no doubt we can all empathise with and want to support families experiencing childhood cancer this Christmas. However, sometimes our fear of overstepping, offending or adding to their emotional load can stop us from showing our support. We’ve spoken to three anonymous oncology parents to find out what’s on their Christmas wish list so you can get some ideas of how you can support them and their families this Christmas.

“The gestures that are given without you having to ask or tell them what to do are the best.”

“In the hospital I didn’t know how to feed myself. There was only one café, and it wasn’t open very late. I couldn’t leave my son alone and most of the rooms didn’t have facilities to cook either. So, when someone gifted me an UberEats voucher, it was incredibly helpful. I could meet the driver downstairs while the nurse watched him for a few minutes. Even when we weren’t in hospital for treatment, we would focus on the kids all day, then we would get them to bed finally then we’d collapse in a heap. It was nice to have that option – I wouldn’t normally do it if I didn’t have the voucher. It made us do something for ourselves.” 

Cost: From $25

“Research the different kinds of cancer, so you know what their kids have and what the side effects of their treatment are. It meant a lot to me when my friends had an idea of what my child is going through without me having to explain every little thing.”

Cost: FREE

“Research into new therapies like the one my child received is the only reason he’s alive and has both of his arms. Kids are dying from the toxicity of the therapy. The only way we can save their lives is through childhood cancer research.” 

Cost: From $2

“Breast cancer survival has increased so much part of that is due to awareness and the funding that is able to be directed to research because of that awareness. Share our posts on social media with the worldwide hashtag #GoGoldForChildhoodCancer. We appreciate the acknowledgement.”

Cost: FREE

“That’s the easiest way to help, because our kids have multiple blood, plasma, and platelet transfusions throughout treatment. Your donations literally save lives. It’s meaningful, it’s free, and once you’re in the system it doesn’t take much time.”

Cost: FREE

“We know money is not something everyone has at the moment, but volunteering with a cancer charity is a big one too. A lot of charities have Christmas events you can help out with. So, finding those volunteering opportunities is always helpful.”

Cost: FREE

“A lot of cancer charities don’t do much fundraising throughout the year but do Christmas wrapping services in exchange for a donation at shopping centers. By either donating your time to wrap presents at the booth or asking them to wrap your gifts for a donation, you can support the services they provide, which supports us.”

Cost: From $2

“I really appreciated the ones that would say, ‘I am going to drop by a care package,’ and they don’t come in, they just leave it on your doorstep. You don’t always want visitors to have to present yourself or put on a brave face. It isn’t about what is in the package, it could be food or toys for the kids. You just feel really good that you’ve got this amazing community, and you don’t have to ask them for anything. That’s golden.”

Cost: From $15

“If you know a family that’s going through active treatment and they are in the hospital over Christmas, the child who is in hospital tends to get a lot of stuff. But the kids at home have had their lives completely pulled apart as well, so it’s nice to make them feel special too. It is incredibly helpful to take my kids out and give them a fun night.”

Cost: FREE (+ petrol)

Learn about the research we are doing in childhood cancer

Finding good schools for her kids, enjoying the beachside lifestyle, and looking for new career opportunities – these were the things at the front of Wendy’s mind when she moved her family of five from Adelaide to Mooloolaba 15 years ago. Just six months later, Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

August 2008 was the first time I got diagnosed with stage three triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. It was one of those moments when times appears to stand still. Your brain tries to comprehend what is going on. At first, it goes blank, and you feel numb. And then you think, “Oh my god, this is really happening to me.”

At that moment, our hopes and plans for a new lifestyle were taken away. I had only read about those stories, and now I was about to enter one. How would we manage up here, in this new town? What would we do without family nearby to support us? How would my kids and husband cope?

I didn’t know who to talk to, where to go, or what to do first. I just told myself, “We can do this.”

Once you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you have to get treatment quickly. I had to pause and remind myself how lucky we were to be in Mooloolaba, because everything I would need for treatment was at our doorstep and we didn’t have to travel far. First, I had a lumpectomy. Then, I was back in again to have 23 lymph nodes taken out of my left arm. After that, I had another big lump taken out. And then I started six months of chemo, followed by six weeks of radiation. It was during this time that I rang Cancer Council Queensland. They were good listeners. They understood what I was going through and gave me tools to help me cope. They introduced me to the My Journey diary, and I did the Look Good Feel Good day program where they taught me how to put a wig on and apply makeup for my eyebrows. It was comforting to know they were always only a phone call away, ready to give advice and answer my questions.

Once my initial treatment was over, I made a goal to just get to the five-year mark cancer-free. When, at my five-year mammogram and ultrasound, they found another lump, we were gutted.

It was then and there that I made the life-changing decision to have a double mastectomy, followed by more chemotherapy.

As strange as it may sound, it was the best decision I ever made. I never even wanted a reconstruction. I am 48 years old; I have three children and an amazing husband who is my rock, we have been married for 32 years! I don’t need to have boobs to fulfill my life!

Cancer has changed me for the better in so many ways. Too many take life for granted. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. That’s why I am paying it forward and helping others in the same situation. Five years ago, I signed up to become a Cancer Council Queensland volunteer, offering peer support over the phone to ladies who are going through a mastectomy. It is always so powerful to just listen to others who are going through the same journey I went on, to give them hope and strength. I want to share my story and do motivational speaking to not just cancer survivors, but all people who don’t know there is life after cance

It has taught me to remain positive. It has taught me the true value of family and friendship. But most importantly, it has taught me that life is so precious, to live your life now, as you never know how long we have.

This is my third chance at life, and I am not holding back. I’m living life and it feels good!

By donating monthly, you can make a difference to the lives of people like Wendy on an ongoing basis. By giving on a regular basis to Cancer Council Queensland, you’ll be joining a community of local heroes supercharging progress towards a healthier, happier future. It’s a powerful way to support local cancer research, patient support services, and cancer prevention programs.

Become a Regular Giver

When Jenaya walked into the obstetrician’s office to chat about her birth plan, she didn’t know she’d taken the first step towards the darkest days of her life. But, throughout her journey, she would find the type of faith, endurance, and tenacity that only the most unimaginable hardships can lead to.inding good schools for her kids, enjoying the beachside lifestyle, and looking for new career opportunities – these were the things at the front of Wendy’s mind when she moved her family of five from Adelaide to Mooloolaba 15 years ago. Just six months later, Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

That visit to the Maternal Fetal Medicine clinic was the first time the word “sarcoma” was mentioned to Jenaya and her husband, Joshua. A scan she’d had a few days earlier showed an anomaly on her son Toby’s arm. Her doctor said although he hadn’t seen anything like Toby’s arm, throughout his 20-year career, the anomaly was likely a vascular birthmark. While he assured Jenaya a cancer diagnosis was rare, the doctor cautioned “we do have to say it”.

Two months later, her son Toby was born with significant abnormalities covering his left arm and shoulder. Despite having a category one referral, Toby was discharged as an outpatient with a telehealth checkup scheduled two months later.

“At this stage I was this anxious first-time mum. I thought I was worrying too much – that I needed to trust the system,” Jenaya says.

Two months was too long for the new mum to wait.

Her mother had found an American organization called the Vascular Birthmark Foundation (VBF). They emailed photos of Toby’s arm and shoulder, along with a summary of the scans that had been done and his initial diagnosis.

“We got an email back saying, ‘This is not a birthmark, this baby needs urgent testing,” Jenaya says.

After two unsuccessful visits to GPs, an emergency department visit where her son’s condition was labelled “not a medical emergency”, and unsuccessful phone calls to the hospital where she had given birth, Jenaya finally got in touch with a doctor interstate who understood the severity of Toby’s condition.

The VBF gave her the name of an interventional radiologist in The Children’s Hospital at Westmead who, despite not having a referral, agreed to look at the photographs. Within days of hitting send, Jenaya got a call from a private number.

“He said, ‘This baby needs to be tested immediately. Come straight to the emergency department for admission and we will do a biopsy and a develop a treatment plan.’”

Even though she was still recovering from her C-section, Jenaya used her Flybuys points to immediately buy a plane ticket to Sydney.

“I was so nervous. I was second guessing myself, which is really sad. I have learnt to become a lot more assertive. Nobody else is going to advocate for him, he can’t do it for himself yet. His life is in our hands.”

At the hospital, Jenaya prepared Toby for the biopsy she hoped would finally give her answers.

“Let me tell you, fasting a three-week-old who is exclusively breast fed for seven hours was really difficult. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t feed and he could smell the milk on me as I held him. He cried continuously, then fell asleep from exhaustion.”

“It was really hard. My new baby is crying not knowing what is going on. I don’t know what is going on. We are over 1,000km from home in the middle of a pandemic, trying to get answers.”

That afternoon, the medical team found Jenaya, and her husband Joshua who had driven to Sydney to be with her and Toby, in the ward. “They said ‘Hey let’s go have a chat, leave Toby with the nurses’ and he took us to another room. “I thought ‘Wow this is a really beautiful room, this is the type of room where you’d go to give bad news. I didn’t realise we were those people who would have the bad news broken to them. I still thought it was going to be a form of a vascular anomaly.” Jenaya says. “We sat down, and the doctor started by saying Toby had gotten through the procedure well. Then he said, ‘I’m sorry, it is malignant spindle cell neoplasm. We think it is something called infantile fibrosarcoma. The oncology department will be in to speak to you.’” “I went very still and just sort of stared at the doctor. I didn’t fall to the ground, scream or break down. I just went very still; my eyes just welled a bit and a single tear or two fell down my face.” Toby was only three weeks old.

After Toby’s diagnosis, the plan was to get scans to see if the cancer had spread to other parts of his small body, then the family would head back to Queensland for treatment. But just hours after they were discharged, Toby’s arm started oozing. They returned to the hospital where the oncologist told Jenaya the infection was a sign the cancer was progressing, and they needed to start treatment right away. The next day he had his first PET scan, then went into surgery to get his central line inserted – a semi-permanent IV inserted into his chest that could be used to give medications (like chemotherapy), antibiotics, nutrition, fluids, and to take blood tests quickly and easily. “He didn’t have a bath for his first year of life because he couldn’t get the central line, or the dressing, wet, so we sponge bathed him on the kitchen bench,” Jenaya says, remembering that time in her life. Not only was Toby’s cancer incredibly rare, but he also had a very unusual genetic change that caused the tumours to grow, which was different to most other cases of infantile fibrosarcoma. This meant he couldn’t access a targeted therapy had been developed. Because he had a different genetic mutation, he had to go through chemotherapy. A week later, Toby flew back to Brisbane to continue treatment. But it didn’t work. “The cancer was growing; we could see it getting bigger every week. It was the size of an adult fist on the back of a three-month old’s shoulder. That was quite scary to see. The skin around the tumour was so tight you could see the veins. He couldn’t lie on his back without being tilted to one side.”

At 3 months old, the scans confirmed what Jenaya already knew: The tumour had grown, exponentially. The medical team told Jenaya and Josh they had two options, but no right answer. Option one was to start Toby on stronger chemo, with no guarantee it would work or that his cancer wouldn’t spread through his body. Option two was to amputate Toby’s entire arm and shoulder. “It was really hard; it was a lot of weight and responsibility. The oncologists said if they had to give an answer, they would lean towards more chemotherapy, but because the situation was unprecedented, the medical teams would support whatever choice we, as his parents, made.” At first, Jenaya and Josh chose the amputation. Toby was booked in, they went through the consultations, speaking with the surgeons for hours on end about the procedure while their oncologist spent late nights researching possible outcomes. Then they discovered the risk of the cancer coming back at the site of the amputation was greater than the risk of it spreading during chemo. Plus, if it came back, there wouldn’t be much more they could surgically remove from Toby’s body. “We had to make the decision to keep the cancer in our baby so we could know whether the treatment was working. That was my first Mother’s Day.”

Jenaya and Josh cancelled the surgery, and Toby immediately began more intensive chemo.

The tumour stopped growing, but it wasn’t having the effect they hoped. When Toby reached six months of age, he was treated with even more aggressive chemotherapy, which was intended for adult use.

The short-term side effects baby Toby went through intensified. Hair loss, vomiting, febrile neutropenia, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, skin infections, viruses. The long-term side effects, such as organ damage or heart failure, can take several years to manifest.

Hospital admissions were par for the course.

“We were often admitted for several days at a time, because the treatment was so intense his body started to shut down and he experienced bone marrow failure, which meant he needed to receive multiple life-saving blood and platelet transfusions.”

“Chemo takes you to the brink of death and I remember an oncologist telling us, ‘We give the child chemo, and we hope the cancer dies before the child does.’ Because it is so toxic.”

In total, Toby had chemo almost every week for 11 months.

“We got to the point where he’s had the maximum of chemo possible, any more chemo and the risks would outweigh the benefits – but the cancer was still very much there.”

While the surgeons said the cancer may have shrunk enough to be removed, Jenaya was apprehensive. She faced yet another impossible choice: Amputate and Toby would grow up and learn to live with a limb difference or proceed with a limb-salvage surgery and commit to a childhood marked by multiple surgeries, limited mobility, and scar tissue.

In the end, the choice was made for her. The salvage surgery was cancelled because tests indicated that the surgeons wouldn’t be able to get clear margins around the cancer in Toby’s arm.

“I’d been pretty numb the whole way through. I think that survival mode – it’s unfathomable really, you never expect to face those choices as a new parent. But you do what you have to, because it is your child’s life.”

With amputation seemingly the last option left, Toby’s oncologist approached Jenaya and Joshua with a new, untested possibility. Toby was nearly 12 months old, and his medical team had agreed to try an off-label use of another cancer drug as a last resort. “She explained the drug theoretically inhibits the genetic fusion that is driving his cancer.” It had not been used for this purpose, and it had not been used for babies, but Jenaya and Joshua agreed, it was worth a shot. The pharmaceutical company approved the request to use the drug on compassionate grounds and sent it to the hospital. For the next 9 months, Toby was given liquid medication daily through a nasogastric tube, which was inserted into his nose and down to his stomach. It was not easy – his tube came out close to 40 times, either from vomiting, or he or someone else pulling it out. Every time that happened, he had to go back to hospital and Jenaya watched him scream and cry as he was held down to reinsert the tube. But the medicine worked. “The treatment has had, what many medical professionals are describing as, a miraculous effect. It has shrunk the tumour to a mere few centimetres.” “The targeted therapy gave us our life back. On chemo we were in hospital every week, Toby had next to no immune system, he couldn’t go back into the community, it was dangerous if caught a simple cold. This new form of precision medicine meant we could live at home most of the time, his hair grew back, and he could even begin going to daycare.” Toby’s central lines have been removed, and at 1 year old, he finally had his first real bath – he loves the water! His next step is scans, and surgery to remove the remaining tumour from his shoulder. “He’ll be keeping his arm, keeping his shoulder. They have to take some muscle, but they think he’ll be able to compensate for the loss of that muscle. It is unlikely his left arm will ever look similar to his right, there will always be evidence of the disease and how the arm formed in utero around the tumours.”

Toby’s team can’t say for sure if there is any active cancer still in his arm, so Jenaya and her family will just have to wait and see whether anything will grow back after stopping treatment.

“A lot of people think cancer stops when treatment is over, or their hair has grown back. Our kids get follow up for years. They are at risk of heart failure, medical trauma, secondary cancers… the fear is always there. Every bruise, every small symptom makes you wonder if it is back.”

“I have learned to be present to live in the moment and to embrace joy in every space. I have not been so present in all my life than I am now. Today is really all that we have.”

In the face of immeasurable uncertainty, Jenaya says her faith and the support of her community have made her a stronger, more empathetic person.

“I’m grateful for the people who have just appeared, offered meals, sent messages of encouragement, helped financially.”

“We haven’t really asked ‘why me’ it’s like, well ‘why not’? There’s nothing we did or could have done to cause or prevent this. This is simply one of those things that just happen.

“I hope our story can show that even in the darkest most horrific circumstances where there’s life, there’s joy – even when it looks different to what we first imagined.”

“There are too many children we have met along the way who haven’t had a long life because of cancer and the toxic treatments used to fight it. We need better, safer options for our kids and that can only come through research.

Just because a life is little, doesn’t mean it’s not worth fighting for. Our kids deserve the opportunity to live.”

Learn about the research we are doing in childhood cancer.

David Callister had only recently retired when he received a prostate cancer diagnosis in March 2021 – the day before his 74th birthday.

Back in 2017, a regular blood test showed a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) reading of 7, which was at the upper-acceptable level for his age of 70, and he knew that a high PSA level can be an indicator of prostate enlargement and cancer.

‘At the time, my doctor wasn’t overly concerned because I was in good health and didn’t have any significant prostate symptoms,’ said David.   

Then in early 2020, David began experiencing significant prostate symptoms including frequent urination and incontinence.  A blood test showed his PSA reading had increased from 7 up to 13 – which was regarded as high and often indicates prostate problems. 
 

‘Initially an MRI scan didn’t confirm any cancer, but the urologist said I need to focus on getting my PSA level down to 6, so I needed to take action. I believed I could do this; I was up for the challenge and feeling optimistic.’  

To reduce his symptoms and get his PSA level down, David took supplements and focused on a mostly vegetarian diet which included fish, high grain cereals and fruits and cut back on wine. However, in January 2021, a blood test showed his PSA reading was now up from 13 to 15. ‘I was hoping that my dietary changes and supplements would reduce my symptoms and get my PSA level down but didn’t have any luck. I was a bit shocked and disappointed at this result after the effort I had put into my diet. Obviously, the abnormal prostate cells were on a growth path to tumours anyway.’

In February 2021, a biopsy and MRI scan, the pathology test showed a grey area in the prostate, but still couldn’t confirm any cancer. Then a few weeks later a PET scan then a second biopsy confirmed it was cancer (one year after he started to have significant symptoms). It was classed as intermediate growth cancer. ‘I was shocked to some extent and naturally disappointed to be diagnosed with cancer because I believed that I had always had a healthy lifestyle as a non-smoker with a mainly “Mediterranean diet”, and exercise… I had always associated cancer with physical illness, but I realised that if the cancer is early stage and if you don’t need chemotherapy, it may not affect your physical health significantly.’ ‘Lucky for the modern PET scan which then motivated me to take timely action. I wanted to act on it quickly, knowing that early treatment has a great chance of success, but that the process would still take many months.’ ‘I confided in my family and a few friends, but I didn’t want to talk about it all the time and I didn’t want too much sympathy. I just wanted to get the treatment finished and have everyone forget about it.’

After consultation with the urologist and radiation oncologist, David chose ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) followed by 20 sessions of external beam radiation sessions over four weeks. Prior to treatment, David benefited from using Cancer Council Queensland’s booklets about understanding prostate cancer and radiation therapy. To educate himself about his cancer and the process of radiation therapy. ‘I had the 1st ADT injection in May 2021, a year after my significant physical symptoms started. In July, my PSA reading was down from 15 to 8. In August, I had the 2nd injection and by the commencement of the radiation treatment in October, my PSA reading was down to 2 which indicated that the tumours may have shrunk enhancing the effectiveness of radiation. I was pleasantly surprised that the ADT injections worked quickly, greatly reducing testosterone feeding the cancer.’ ‘Two weeks before the radiation treatments, I also had a small operation to insert gold markers onto the prostate in order to accurately target the cancer cells.’ Throughout October 2021, David had 20 radiation sessions, Monday to Friday, each lasting approximately 20 minutes including preparation. ‘The sessions were well organised and not at all painful. I did have some side effects from the treatment such as tiredness, warm flushes, some weight gain, and loss of strength as a result of greatly reduced testosterone. However, I was still able to carry out my usual activities and I kept on exercising which is highly recommended. I had some general anxiety but not mood swings or feelings of depression.’ By the end of December 2021, three months after radiation finished, David’s symptoms had improved, and his PSA reading was down to a very low level of 0.008! His oncologist was pleased with the result.

Since the radiation treatment, I have a blood test and I see the oncologist every 6 months. In June 2022, December 2022 and June 2023 my PSA levels have only increased very slightly and my testosterone levels are back to normal for my age. My cancer is in remission now and hopefully it won’t come back.’

‘I count myself lucky because having significant symptoms combined with increasing PSA levels, I knew that something was definitely wrong and I acted on it quickly, getting the cancer treated while it was early stage. I believe if I hadn’t had the PSA levels checked over the years and just accepted the physical symptoms as part of getting old, I probably would have had advanced cancer by now and spread outside the prostate.’

David says that his general health is great.

‘I still have some excess weight around the middle and my muscles and strength are still not quite as they were. I am walking a lot and going to the gym, so I feel like I am getting back to where I used to be before my diagnosis.’

‘It’s important for men, especially those over 50, to have regular check-ups because you could have prostate symptoms thinking it is normal part of ageing. If cancer is detected at an early stage, it can usually be successfully treated without disrupting your life too much.’

‘Although cancer is still at the back of my mind, I find it best to think positively and assume it’s not going to come back.’

Become a regular giver

After losing her beloved dad to cancer over five years ago, Hayley wanted to do something momentous to keep his memory alive and raise much needed funds to help others affected by cancer.

In order to make a big fundraising impact Hayley decided she would shave off her hair as part of Cancer Council Queensland’s Do It For Cancer.

She set up an online fundraising page and in honour of her dad, Phill, it was called: Phill The World With Hope. Hayley aimed to raise $5000 over eight months.  

Incredibly, her message was shared far and wide. Not only did she reach her fundraising goal, but she smashed it out of the water raising $21,590! Hayley will be forever grateful to her amazing supporters and donors which came in from all corners of world, including a generous $10,000 donation from Thiess – Phill had worked for them for 20 years.   

After eight months of successful fundraising, Hayley completed her Shave in December surrounded by her supportive family and friends.  

‘We started this fundraiser as a celebration of dad’s incredible life and living for five years without him. He was beyond amazing, and we wanted to share with the world just how unique and special he was by sharing his stories.  Also, we really wanted raise money and awareness for all those affected and connected to cancer.’  

‘On a Sunday morning, we all banded together as a family in a sea-side apartment to celebrate my eight-month long fundraising journey and the amazing result reached. Dad loved the ocean so much, so it was unquestionably the place to carry out the shave!’  

‘With deep emotion I grabbed the scissors and took the first chunk of hair.  Flowing on with smiles, tears and cheers, 14 members of our beautiful family each cut a piece of my hair until there was none left to snip. Even my three-year-old had a crack at the cut. It was my husband Jade’s honourable job to then smooth out the left-over strands and give me the best and very first ever number – two all over!’  

‘It was the most liberating, surreal and incredibly moving feeling to have all my family so involved in the process. An eight-month long investment of so many blended emotions it’s an experience I will forever hold deep in my heart and soul. I know for absolute certain that dad would be winking at me with incredible pride. All for you Dad. Always. I’ve never actually admitted it, but I’m damn proud of me too!’  

‘It has never been about me losing the wavey mane. I don’t need or care for the hair. It was all about helping those that who need the support, guidance, and protection in the most challenging and soul crushing time of their life. Cholangiocarcinoma did that to our Family. It fiercely took away the absolute heartbeat of our family. A feeling no one should ever have to experience alone.’  

P.S. Want to share your Do It For Cancer story with us and inspire others to get involved? Fill out the ‘Share your story’ form on our website.

Cancer survivor and fundraising marathon walker, Jennifer Rooks has raised over $10,000 for Do It For Cancer this year! She did this by walking over 1,000 kms over eight weeks trekking through the stunning scenery of the Italian countryside.

Walking solo, Jennifer began her adventure at the Grand Saint Bernard Pass and finished at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Over the last six years she has also completed annual fundraising walks across Ireland, UK, France, Portugal, Spain and Australia while raising funds for Cancer Council Queensland to help support others affected by cancer.

‘Everyone has been touched by Cancer. I have lost two brothers to cancer and have another brother and myself who have also battled the disease’, said Jennifer.

In 2019, Jennifer had been looking after her husband following prostate surgery when she developed a cold and chesty cough which wasn’t clearing. A series of tests confirmed a thyroid cancer diagnosis, and she was booked in for surgery straight away.

‘Apart from a cold, I wasn’t sick and had no indication something was wrong.  Thankfully, the doctors said that because it was detected early, I required no chemo or radiation. I now just live with medication and have regular blood tests. I have been one of the lucky people and already I am looking at life with a new set of glasses,’ she said.

‘Walking is good for the heart, health, mind and the soul. I will turn 68 years while walking in Italy, solo and carrying a backpack. My aim is to remain active in body and mind and keep walking as far and as long as possible.’

For my 70th birthday in 2024 I am considering walking the John Muir Way across Scotland and reverse across the UK on Hadrian’s Wall.

When Jennifer returns home, she will be publishing a book again about her adventures and donating a percentage from the book sales to her Do It For Cancer fundraising page.

When she isn’t trekking around the world fundraising, Jennifer lives in Ipswich with her family and is always busy volunteering, fundraising and helping others. She also spends a large amount of time on the Atherton Tablelands with her son and grandchildren.

‘My aim is to continue to walk, to continue publishing the walking diaries and to continue suggesting that people walk and talk about the walks they do. There is nothing better than being out in the fresh air either solo or with a friend.’

‘I have raised the money for Cancer Council Queensland with the help of many families and friends and people I have never met but now have a connection with them.’

P.S. Want to share your story with us and inspire others to get involved?

Share your story with us

Every once in a while, you come across an extraordinary person who is not only a joy to be around but has the ability to lift the spirts of others. Cooktown resident Margaret, who stayed at our Marylyn Mayo Lodge in Cairns, is one of those people.

Margaret stayed at the lodge for five months in 2021, after being diagnosed with omentum and peritoneal cancer and required surgery and chemotherapy treatments.

After Margaret’s initial feelings of ‘shocked and concern’ she quickly reached out to her family for support. The lodge is designed for carers to stay, so thankfully Margaret’s two sisters from NSW – Shirley and Patricia, were able to fly up and stay with her to provide all the support she needed.

Lodge residents can face an extremely challenging time during their stay, not only because they’re away from home but they also attend (and recover from) various medical treatments. Sometimes it can be difficult to keep the spirts high and the mood fun, but fun-loving Margaret managed to do just that!

Marylyn Mayo Lodge Coordinator Annick Dubois, said Margaret and her sisters really lifted the lodge with their help and positivity.

’Her sisters not only looked after Margaret, but all the other residents as well! Shirley cooked meals for everyone, which shows the positive impact carers can have on those going through cancer,’ said Annick.

’Almost every afternoon all the lodge residents gathered together in the recreation area. They had barbeques, [and] some of them were singing and playing guitars. Everyone’s spirits have been lifted and it’s been all worth it to see all the cancer patients having such a good time considering what they are going through.’

Margaret was impressed with the support they received from Cancer Council Queensland.

‘The staff have been outstanding! They guide people to talk about lots of different issues. They are helpful in many situations; nothing has been too much trouble,’ said Margaret.

‘The rooms are well equipped and always clean with a fridge, microwave, television, cookware, cutlery, air con, fans, parking, pool and laundry. It was always a relief to come back to the lodge after appointments and have somewhere safe and relaxing to stay.’

’I would not have managed without Cancer Council’s help and accommodation. The cost of staying for the many months and dealing with everything would not have been possible, even with my sisters’ help,’ she said.

Margaret’s sister Patricia told us they would not have managed without the help of everything Cancer Council Queensland has provided.

’We were always met with caring, kind and accommodating staff – from the admin officers, cleaners, drivers, and volunteers,’ Patricia said.

’Over the five months that she has spent there Margaret had the best experience she could have had from staff and volunteers who put in 110% effort all the time. That’s without mentioning the cost efficiency of staying at the lodge and the convenience of being located near the hospital.’

’The difference Marylyn Mayo Lodge made to Margaret’s life is almost indescribable,’ said Patricia.

We are happy to report that Margaret has been doing well since leaving the lodge. She has registered with Home to Treatment and doctors have been happy so far with her results.

At Cancer Council Queensland we all wish Margaret the very best for the future. Your positive energy and beaming smile have uplifted the spirits and hearts of so many.

Thank you, Margaret!

About Cancer Council Queensland’s accommodation lodges:

Cancer Council Queensland’s accommodation lodges support people who need to travel to access treatment.

The lodges offer comfortable self-contained units and studio-style apartments close to major hospitals and treatment facilities.

To find out more about Cancer Council Queensland’s lodge facilities click here.

Cancer Council Queensland has announced the next round of Accelerating Collaborating Cancer Research (ACCR) Grants. Two Queensland-based cancer research projects will be awarded $2 million each over the next four years.

Professor Amanda Ullman and Professor Kwun Fong, both from The University of Queensland were presented with the awards this month by Cancer Council Queensland’s CEO Ms Chris McMillan.

“The successful grant recipients Professor Amanda Ullman and Professor Kwun Fong are at the forefront of cancer research. Their teams’ research provides hope for the 30,000 Queenslanders diagnosed with cancer each year,” Ms McMillan said.   

Professor Kwun Fong said that he felt very humbled and grateful to receive the grant.  

“We are incredibly thankful to Cancer Council Queensland and the generous people who support them, which makes this award possible.”

“This vital support will help us accelerate our lung cancer screening and early detection research in order to save lives,” said Professor Fong.

The $4 million award consists of each project receiving $500,000 annually over four years, (comprising of $350,000 per annum from Cancer Council Queensland and a $150,000 per annum contribution from the Administering Institution of each recipient).

For an overview of the research projects receiving essential funding, see below.

Lead Investigator: Professor Kwun Fong

Administering Institution: The University of Queensland

Professor Fong’s team will undertake the first ever implementation research of feasibility and effectiveness of CT screening, in conjunction with smoking cessation, for detecting curable lung cancers in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“From this research, we will learn whether there is a place for mobile lung cancer screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities if the Government decides to introduce a national lung cancer CT screening program for at-risk people. The research will also tell us if and how mobile screening may be effectively delivered for these communities,” said Professor Fong.

Lead Investigator: Professor Amanda Ullman

Administering Institution: The University of Queensland

Professor Ullman and team will undertake the world’s first clinical trial of a central line lock (T-EDTA), that may prevent complications such as infections, blood clots and line blockage for children with cancer.

“Our clinical trial includes over 800 children from across Queensland, and is a collaboration involving clinicians, scientists from five hospitals and three universities. We will work together to identify if this new lock solution is effective, and if it is, we will implement it across healthcare,” said Professor Ullman.

Cancer Council Queensland looks forward to seeing the outcomes of Professors Fong and Ullmans’ work over the next four years. We would also like to extend a massive thank you to all our supporters, fundraisers and donors who have helped make the ACCR grant scheme possible. Together, we are all working towards a cancer free future for all Queenslanders.

Update: The Accelerating Collaborative Cancer Research (ACCR) grants scheme is no longer accepting new applications. Our Next Generation Cancer Research Fellowships mark a new era of cancer research at Cancer Council Queensland. Replacing the ACCR grants scheme, these fellowships fund early career cancer researchers who are on the front-line of clinical innovations in cancer detection and treatment.

Learn more about the latest cancer research projects conducted and funded by Cancer Council Queensland.

One in eight Queensland women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and one in 41 women will die from the disease.

When is the last time you checked your breasts?

Before you had children? Last month? Yesterday? For some of us, we can’t even recall the last time we took a few minutes to conduct a personal check for any changes. Yet, a simple breast check could save your life.

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and early detection remains one of the most important factors in improving survival rates for breast cancer.

More than 3,300 Queenslanders are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Queensland – of those diagnosed 3,321 are female – and around 550 die from the disease.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed in Queensland women.

It sounds simple and common sense, but not enough women are doing it– get to know your breasts, and if you notice any changes, make an appointment with your GP straight away.

The Queensland Government’s latest figures show that in 2015-2016, 56% of women aged 50-74 years participated in the BreastScreen Queensland program.

So, to the women of Queensland, we urge you to do all you can check you are up to date with your recommended screenings.

Women should consult their GP if they notice a persistent lump, lumpiness or thickening of their breast, changes to the nipple or discharge, any change to the shape, feel, size or colour of the breast, dimpling, puckering, or any unusual breast pain.

Our hope is that all women get to know their breasts better, become breast aware and participate in recommended screening.

Your personal health is too important to ignore.

Get to know your breasts and find what ‘your’ normal is when it comes to look and feel.

Don’t hesitate to seek health advice if you notice any changes. If there is a history of cancer in your family, talk to your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about your family history and establish if a mammogram is right for you. If you are aged between 40 to 49 you are eligible for free breast screening. You also need to know what is normal when it comes to look and feel, and don’t hesitate to seek health advice if you notice any changes.

You should be having a mammogram every two years. Call Breast Screen on 13 20 50 to book a free mammogram. Get to know your breasts and what is normal when it comes to the look and feel be sure to seek health advice if you notice any changes.

Talk to your doctor to ask if you should continue to have mammograms.

Some risk factors for breast cancer are not easy to change, like being female, family history and your age, but there are some things you can do, such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing your alcohol intake, that may help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Cancer Council Queensland recommends that to reduce your overall cancer risk you quit smoking, maintain a healthy body weight, eat a healthy diet, be physically active, stay SunSmart, limit alcohol, participate in cancer screening programs (if eligible) and report unusual changes to your doctor immediately.

If you, or a loved one, is affected by breast cancer, you don’t have to face it alone – we’re here to help

You can call our Cancer Council Information and Support line on 13 11 20.