How Cancer Hub is helping families through the challenges of cancer

The free service providing practical and emotional support to families when they need it most.

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, the immense challenges can be overwhelming and take a significant toll on the mental health and wellbeing of every family member. Families are often having to make treatment decisions while navigating issues such as financial pressures, accommodation and parenting arrangements.

Finding the support your family needs shouldn’t be yet another challenge on the list. That’s why Canteen, Camp Quality and Redkite joined forces to provide Cancer Hub to help families impacted by cancer.

Cancer Hub makes it easier to access the practical and emotional support that families need, when they need it. With one phone call, families can access dedicated cancer navigators who can organise financial support, accommodation or other services when a child or young person has cancer. Specialist counsellors are also on hand to help manage the parenting challenges cancer brings, and professional and peer support is available for children and young people aged 0-25.

When Ally Tanner was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2022, the whole family – including Ally’s partner Janet and their son, 9-year-old Oscar – were impacted by the challenging treatment experience, which included severe complications.

Ally has spent so much time in the hospital with ongoing health concerns, which has been especially difficult for Oscar, who is nonverbal and lives with Cerebral Palsy. The family were desperate to connect with other families facing a diagnosis and to connect with each other.

“We felt lost and googled ‘cancer support’ and the Cancer Hub came up. It was easy to read, explaining multiple options of cancer support including counselling, and it ticked many boxes for us for our needs,” says Ally.

“We registered and the navigator called and helped identify our needs, and referred us to Camp Quality, who have supported us with a retreat break, and other day opportunities.”

After being referred to Camp Quality through Cancer Hub, the Tanner family was sent away to a Family Retreat in Salamander Bay.

“We had an absolutely amazing time, beautiful weather and lots of kind, considerate and generous people came into our lives. We are so grateful for our time together there, just to be able to relax and enjoy each other’s company before the next round of treatment,” says Ally.

If your family is dealing with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis, you can access Cancer Hub online: www.cancerhub.org.au or by calling 1800 945 215. This service is free and confidential.