When Werrimull’s Joanne Harmer was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer with no indication of where it started, she expected treatment to be tough.
What the 51-year-old didn't anticipate was to miss out on financial support for accommodation despite the long trips required to access that treatment.
Joanne needed radiation treatment five days a week for just over seven weeks but was deemed ineligible for accommodation support through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS). This was due to living about 70 km from her treatment at Mildura Health Icon Cancer Centre (MHICC), falling just 30 km short of the scheme's 100-kilometre eligibility threshold.
“I thought it was really disappointing, especially considering people in places like Robinvale can access it, and Werrimull is still a long way to travel,” Joanne said.
At the time, Joanne was unable to work, while ongoing drought conditions were placing additional pressure on the family's grain and cropping farm.
“I haven't been able to work and we've been impacted by drought, so I was panicking thinking how are we going to be able to afford this.”
Without financial assistance for accommodation in Mildura, Joanne faced the prospect of travelling from the Millewa to Mildura and back five days a week while coping with the physical effects of treatment.
“I would have had to rely on someone to drive me for the return trip each day. The treatment makes me really tired and I was also on strong painkillers caused by the radiation I had to have on my back.”
Recognising the challenges Joanne was facing, staff at MHICC looked for a solution.
Together, Icon Cancer Foundation, Sunraysia Cancer Resources and the Young Women's Cancer Support Group raised $2,500 to help cover Joanne's accommodation at Mildura Health Foundation’s Dr. Julie Zrna Centre throughout her treatment.
MHICC Site Manager Anita Erlandsen said Joanne's situation was exactly the kind of circumstance the support funds were established to address.
“We have had several people donate money to Icon which has been directed to our Foundation,” Anita said.
“Donors requested their money be used to assist local patients and we felt that this situation was just what the donors had in mind.”
“For Joanne, the drive every day would have been extremely difficult. She and her husband are farmers and he could not get away every day. The nature and location of her tumour also makes wearing a seatbelt difficult and driving on their unsealed driveway very painful for her.”
Anita believes Joanne's experience highlights a broader issue for some regional cancer patients.
“The arbitrary distance that VPTAS has for patients (to be eligible for accommodation support) does not take into account individual circumstances of patients; but we do,” she said.
For Joanne, the generosity of the three organisations removed a major source of stress at a time when her focus needed to remain on her health.
“When Anita found out about my situation, she went out of her way to help me and took care of it all,” Joanne said.
“I am so grateful and feel very lucky that these groups chose to help me. I sit here and think about everything they’ve done for me and I cry at how absolutely amazing and generous they are.”
Joanne's cancer journey however is far from over.
Just weeks after completing radiation and chemotherapy, Joanne returned to MHICC after doctors discovered the aggressive cancer had spread to her bones.
Once again facing the need for ongoing treatment and accommodation in Mildura, Joanne has received further support from the local Icon team. To help ensure she can continue accessing care close to her treatment, funds are currently being raised to cover her stay at the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre during this next stage of treatment.
Mildura Health Foundation is also seeking donations to help support people who may require financial assistance to stay at the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre during cancer treatment.
For some patients travelling to Mildura for consecutive days of treatment, assistance through VPTAS is not available. The Foundation has already encountered a number of local people in this situation and hopes community support can help ease the financial burden of accommodation when it is needed most.
To donate, visit: www.mhfoundation.com.au
What the 51-year-old didn't anticipate was to miss out on financial support for accommodation despite the long trips required to access that treatment.
Joanne needed radiation treatment five days a week for just over seven weeks but was deemed ineligible for accommodation support through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS). This was due to living about 70 km from her treatment at Mildura Health Icon Cancer Centre (MHICC), falling just 30 km short of the scheme's 100-kilometre eligibility threshold.
“I thought it was really disappointing, especially considering people in places like Robinvale can access it, and Werrimull is still a long way to travel,” Joanne said.
At the time, Joanne was unable to work, while ongoing drought conditions were placing additional pressure on the family's grain and cropping farm.
“I haven't been able to work and we've been impacted by drought, so I was panicking thinking how are we going to be able to afford this.”
Without financial assistance for accommodation in Mildura, Joanne faced the prospect of travelling from the Millewa to Mildura and back five days a week while coping with the physical effects of treatment.
“I would have had to rely on someone to drive me for the return trip each day. The treatment makes me really tired and I was also on strong painkillers caused by the radiation I had to have on my back.”
Recognising the challenges Joanne was facing, staff at MHICC looked for a solution.
Together, Icon Cancer Foundation, Sunraysia Cancer Resources and the Young Women's Cancer Support Group raised $2,500 to help cover Joanne's accommodation at Mildura Health Foundation’s Dr. Julie Zrna Centre throughout her treatment.
MHICC Site Manager Anita Erlandsen said Joanne's situation was exactly the kind of circumstance the support funds were established to address.
“We have had several people donate money to Icon which has been directed to our Foundation,” Anita said.
“Donors requested their money be used to assist local patients and we felt that this situation was just what the donors had in mind.”
“For Joanne, the drive every day would have been extremely difficult. She and her husband are farmers and he could not get away every day. The nature and location of her tumour also makes wearing a seatbelt difficult and driving on their unsealed driveway very painful for her.”
Anita believes Joanne's experience highlights a broader issue for some regional cancer patients.
“The arbitrary distance that VPTAS has for patients (to be eligible for accommodation support) does not take into account individual circumstances of patients; but we do,” she said.
For Joanne, the generosity of the three organisations removed a major source of stress at a time when her focus needed to remain on her health.
“When Anita found out about my situation, she went out of her way to help me and took care of it all,” Joanne said.
“I am so grateful and feel very lucky that these groups chose to help me. I sit here and think about everything they’ve done for me and I cry at how absolutely amazing and generous they are.”
Joanne's cancer journey however is far from over.
Just weeks after completing radiation and chemotherapy, Joanne returned to MHICC after doctors discovered the aggressive cancer had spread to her bones.
Once again facing the need for ongoing treatment and accommodation in Mildura, Joanne has received further support from the local Icon team. To help ensure she can continue accessing care close to her treatment, funds are currently being raised to cover her stay at the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre during this next stage of treatment.
Mildura Health Foundation is also seeking donations to help support people who may require financial assistance to stay at the Dr. Julie Zrna Centre during cancer treatment.
For some patients travelling to Mildura for consecutive days of treatment, assistance through VPTAS is not available. The Foundation has already encountered a number of local people in this situation and hopes community support can help ease the financial burden of accommodation when it is needed most.
To donate, visit: www.mhfoundation.com.au
