Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation launches fundraising campaign for Cancer Hub
Rex Cashion was diagnosed with bowel cancer after an in-the-mail poo test. He was told he had two years to live, but eight years later he has lent his voice to an ambitious campaign to fundraise $1.5m for a massive upgrade to cancer care in FNQ.
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Rex Cashion was diagnosed with bowel cancer after an in-the-mail poo test.
He was told he may only have two years to live, but eight years later he is setting his sights on watching the Brisbane Olympics.
His dream could well become a reality as the community rolls up its sleeves to take cancer care to the next level.
The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has launched an ambitious but achievable $1.5m fundraising campaign to help move cancer and haematology services towards tertiary status.
The Cancer Care Hub being developed by the Hospital Foundation in conjunction with the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service will mean more patients can access more treatments closer to home and ultimately have better outcomes.
The expansion of capabilities will mean less cancer patients have to travel south for treatment, more will live longer with cancer as new treatments are discovered, more can be treated each day, chemotherapy manufacturing will be expanded on site, and inpatients will have a more peaceful treatment experience.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said there had been a 40 per cent increase in cancer activity at the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre in the past five years.
“This is primarily because of the vast array of cancer treatments now available – people are living longer with cancer, rather than dying prematurely,” Ms Hogan said.
“The overall cost of the work is $3.4m and we’re delighted to partner with the health service as we did with the Cardiac Catheter Laboratory, to bring this project to fruition.”
Rex Cashion has been undergoing treatment for bowel cancer for eight years including chemotherapy and said the cheery attitude of his support team and family has helped him tremendously.
“I am met with a positive attitude everyday and I can say that I have friends here in the oncology department,” Mr Cashion said.
“It’s fantastic to be able to get care here in Cairns, I had to travel to Brisbane for an operation and now that looks like that could happen here.
“My goal is to watch the Brisbane Olympics and that’s 10 years away and I’ll be a grumpy old man by then.
“If I had a million dollars I would donate it but I don’t, so anyone who can should give some money.
“It could be anyone you know, your child, your mother, your father or brother, it doesn’t discriminate, I’m afraid.”
CHHHS acting chief executive Jeremy Wellwood was excited for the development of the hub.
“We are delighted that this joint funding arrangement with $1.9m from Queensland Health and $1.5m via donations to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, will enable us to bring forward the development of the Cancer Care Hub at Cairns Hospital,” Dr Wellwood said.
“We know cancer is the greatest cause of premature death in our region.
“We also know local demand for cancer services is outstripping population growth and this
development will help us meet the needs of patients into the future.”
The expansion within the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre will include providing more chemotherapy treatment chairs, and expand the number of clinical treatment rooms to enable more patients to be seen.
Ms Hogan called on the community to dig as deep as they could to bring the extra services to fruition.
“Cancer is a disease that will affect a third of us directly and all of us indirectly in one way or another,” she said.
“This is a powerful way that people can make a real, tangible difference to help the
outcomes of their loved ones or even themselves.
“Because of our cafes, carpark, ATM and vending machines, all our administrative costs are covered which means every cent we receive towards this campaign will go exactly where it’s intended.”
She urged the community to donate via www.fnqhf.org.au or contact the
Foundation’s fundraising team to talk about how to bring the campaign to fruition.
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Originally published as Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation launches fundraising campaign for Cancer Hub
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