Volunteer Rose Graham beats cancer while dedicated to helping others at Mater Hospital

When Mater Hospital volunteer Rose Graham found out her pancreatic cancer had returned her workplace turned into her lifeline. Now she is helping hundreds of others.

Mater Hospital volunteer Rose Graham is helping out for National Volunteer Week after surviving pancreatic cancer. Picture: Renae Droop/RDW Photography

Two-time Brisbane pancreatic cancer survivor Rose Graham never thought she would find herself receiving lifesaving care at her own workplace.

The 73-year-old Mater volunteer had been at the South Brisbane Mater Cancer Care Centre when she received the shock news she had a lemon-sized tumour in her pancreas.

Mrs Graham began volunteering at Mater 15 years ago, providing hand and foot massages to oncology patients.

Now, she has been inspired by the patients she had helped previously to win her own battle against cancer.

Under the care of Mater Private Hospital Brisbane oncologist Dr Vikram Jain, Mrs Graham underwent several rounds of intensive chemotherapy at the Mater Cancer Care Centre in 2019.

Her chemotherapy was followed by major surgery, known as a Whipple procedure, to remove the cancerous tumour from her pancreas, performed by Mater Private Hospital Brisbane surgeon Dr Mehan Siriwardhane.

Mater Hospital has a team of dedicated volunteers who have helped thousands of cancer sufferers. Picture: Mater Hospital

The cancer battler wanted to highlight the good work of volunteers ahead of next week’s National Volunteer Week.

She said volunteering at the Mater was a very fulfilling way to support other patients.

“I don’t often tell patients what I have been through. I focus on supporting and helping them to take their minds off their treatment,” she said.

“There’s something special about giving someone a massage. It’s an energy from one person to another and it feels good.

“A lot of cancer patients get neuropathy, which is numbness and tingling in their feet, and the perfect time for a massage is while they have treatment.”

Last year, routine scans revealed Mrs Graham’s cancer had returned but she was still as determined to survive.

“Doctors had told me pancreatic cancer was one of the worst types of cancers you could get and this cancer can spread like a seed of a flower,” the Alderley resident said.

Mrs Graham underwent three weeks of radiation. Earlier this year doctors told her she had defied the odds and now had no signs of cancer.

According to Cancer Council, more than 4500 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023.

National Volunteer Week is from May 20 to May 26. Picture: Contributed

Pancreatic cancer is the eighth most common cancer in Australia and it was estimated one in 70 people would be diagnosed by the age of 85.

Mrs Graham said her cancer diagnosis had been “quite a journey”.

But having volunteered at the Cancer Care Centre gave her peace of mind while getting treatment.

“When I was well enough and ready to return to volunteering, at first I wasn’t sure if I could handle it,’’ she said.

“But when I walked through the doors, I just knew in my heart this is exactly where I should be.’’

Mater Volunteers Senior Manager Judy Johnson said Mrs Graham had a deep empathy for cancer patients after surviving cancer herself.

“As a hand and feet massage volunteer, she provides companionship and comfort,” Ms Johnson said.

“Patients say the massage makes the long hours easier to bear and helps with stress and anxiety.

“Rose arrives with a smile and leaves with an even bigger one.”

■ National Volunteer Week May 20-26

Originally published as Volunteer Rose Graham beats cancer while dedicated to helping others at Mater Hospital