Deb’s Story
It was not long after Deb had retired that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Deb was suddenly faced with the costs of treatment that she had not budgeted for, at a time when she was still adjusting to having a lower income.
Deb had to make frequent trips to Nepean hospital for chemotherapy to reduce the lump (140km round trip by car or a 2+hour trip by train and bus/train), and for her surgery. The trip home from chemo was difficult sometimes because if you missed the first train, it could be a long wait for the next train, at a time when you are exhausted. But for her radiation therapy Deb stayed at Hope Cottage at Nepean Hospital. At a time when Deb was going through a stressful treatment (her tumour had been very close to her heart so she had to be very still during her radiation “so they wouldn’t zap my heart”), she faced the additional costs of paying for accommodation.
It was through a friend taking Deb to trivia fundraising nights that she learnt about Can Assist. Deb knew from her work at Centrelink not to leave seeking help until it is too late – “don’t be afraid to be told no”. So she reached out to Can Assist, who paid for her accommodation at Hope Cottage and “gave her peace of mind to know that at least I didn’t have to worry about my utility bills… (this assistance) just lets you focus on getting well again rather than the stress of worrying about money”. Deb says that she could probably have managed without Can Assist, but not without going into debt.
Once Deb was well again, she decided to give regular donations to Can Assist – “I really appreciate the help that they gave me, and I would like to pass that on to other people. It’s regular. It’s not a great deal every month, but it adds up and over several years it definitely adds up.”
Based on the way that Can Assist gives bespoke “practical one-on-one” assistance to people with cancer who need it today, “it’s a way I can personally help people without having to actually know a person”.
Deb now enjoys doing dragon boat racing with ‘Dragons Abreast’, enjoying wellness on the water of Wentworth Falls Lake and supporting other breast cancer survivors. “It gets me out of bed on a Saturday morning”.
