You can make sure no one faces cancer alone!
Every year, over 25,000 New Zealanders will receive the devastating news: “You’ve got cancer.” When cancer feels overwhelming, you can provide the practical and emotional support that patients and their families need. Please make your donation today.
Karen’s Story
Just after Christmas last year, Karen was diagnosed with a stage two squamous cell carcinoma on her tongue. After an invasive surgery, Karen was given more devastating news – the cancer had spread to two lymph nodes, and she would need to undergo a gruelling 30 days of radiation treatment.
But for Karen, getting to the hospital every day for radiation seemed impossible. Karen’s family had already used up their annual leave caring for her during the 4-week recovery from surgery, and she couldn’t afford the daily taxi journey to and from the hospital. When her lifesaving treatment was looking uncertain, your support stepped in and made it possible.
“The support I have gotten from the Cancer Society has been immense. During my radiation treatment, every day a [Cancer Society] volunteer driver would come and pick me up and bring me to treatment.
It costs a lot of money to pay for a taxi or get others to drive you. If it weren’t for the Cancer Society, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to go in [for my treatments]. So, I’m really grateful to the Cancer Society, just so grateful.”
For Karen, receiving volunteer driving support wasn’t just a free ride to treatment. It was also an opportunity to share what she was going through with someone who could listen and understand.
“Honestly, I felt alone sometimes even though I lived with my whānau. It can be hard to talk about cancer with them…
…But when you are in the car with a volunteer driver they understand, because often they have been through it with their family members, so you are not alone in the car with them.”
When you donate to the Cancer Society, you’re ensuring cancer patients like Karen aren’t forced to miss out on lifesaving treatment. You're also ensuring cancer patients can access nursing support, counselling, accommodation, and more.
We can't do it alone. Please, make a donation today.
Thank you for supporting Kiwis facing cancer. Because of you, no one has to face the toughest days of their life alone.
