Aidan Curtis
MOUNT GAMBIER’S Breast Cancer Awareness Group has needed to put together more Helping Hand Bags to support women going through breast cancer treatment.
The bags, which contain $1000 worth of vouchers, help women pay for basics like petrol, food, and even underwear, as they travel for appointments and treatments.
Normally the group gets 20 to 40 bags together each year, but has needed to add an extra 40 bags to their stocks since October last year.
Breast Cancer Awareness Group chair Jill Gilmore said they normally require extra bags after a visit from the Breast Screen mobile testing unit, which happens every two years.
She said the $1000 worth of vouchers may not seem like a lot, but the Group still wants to do its bit to support people going through a tough time.
“Obviously, a lot of people have to go to Adelaide for some of their treatment, or all of it, and the cost of petrol is hideous so $1000 isn’t a lot, but it’s amazing how much it’s appreciated,“ she said.
“We do sometimes get a thank you letter, but that’s not why we do it.
“It’s purely to try and help out and ease the financial burden a little bit.“
Ms Gilmore said the bags get sent to Mount Gambier McGrath Foundation breast care nurse, Dana Mulraney, who then gives them out to patients.
According to Ms Mulraney, patients are generally blown away when they get one of the bags.
She said while it may seem daunting to have so many women diagnosed with breast cancer by Breast Screen, there is actually a positive spin to it.
“We’re picking up a lot of breast cancers, but that’s the positive side of Breast Screen,“ Ms Mulraney said.
“Usually, if they are picked up earlier, they’re not as aggressive and we see better outcomes for our patients.“
