Our peer support program is supporting families through their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Meaningful connections are being made to ensure families don’t have to face cancer alone.
For nearly 30 years, Kathy has lived with the ups and downs of skin cancer. Now, as a trained peer support volunteer, Kathy is using her own experience to provide peer support to people when they need it most.
“I feel privileged by the people that have reached out and shared with me their experience. It’s been deeply meaningful for me,” shared Kathy.
“Having a skin cancer diagnosis isn’t as simple as people think, because often it’s a complicated path that you’re embarking on, and it can affect your relationships because the people in your life might not get it.”
“I feel like I’m getting more out of this than the people I speak with. I think it's really lovely that they invite me into their lives and share their stories with me and I kind of really treasure it. I really, really do.”
The peer support program, made possible through generous donations, provides an opportunity to speak with someone who has been through a similar cancer experience in terms of cancer type, cancer treatment, age and family circumstances. Family and carers can also receive this valuable support.
“There’s a lady I’m speaking with from Queensland who... I feel like we could finish each other's sentences because of what we've been through. I love speaking with her.
“I would encourage other people that are in my position or feel like they've got the opportunity to share their experience of cancer to do that because it's just a wonderful thing to do.”