News

Daffodil Day blooms at Mildura Base Hospital

Aug 05, 2016

The wards at Mildura Base Hospital were full of color with the cheerful sight of daffodils today, to mark the 30th annual Cancer Council Daffodil Day.

The bright, yellow blooms were chosen as a symbol of hope for a brighter, cancer-free future, in the annual Cancer Council awareness and fundraising drive.

Each year, Mildura Base Hospital marks the event with staff from the MBH Oncology Unit delivering fresh daffodils throughout the hospital.

“It brightens up everyone’s day and it reminds people of how important it is for us to keep moving forward with research and treatment,” said MBH Nurse Unit Manager of Chemotherapy Narelle Wadsworth.

Every day in Australia, around 350 people are told they have a life threatening cancer. The survival rate for many common cancers has increased by 30 percent in the past two decades, but Ms Wadsworth said there was still a long way to go.

“The Cancer Council funds research into the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer, as well as providing information and support services,” she said.

“Here at the hospital we are linking our patients into Cancer Council information and support resources on a daily basis.”

Oncology patient at MBH Carol Brandrick was diagnosed with breast cancer in September last year, and has undergone both radiation and chemotherapy before her current targeted therapy treatment.

“It’s a challenging journey, but having such supportive and encouraging staff here in the Oncology Department makes all the difference,” Carol said.

“You go through so much together and they go to such effort to support you and make the process more comfortable that they really do become special friends,” she said.

Donations to Daffodil Day can be made at daffodilday.cancer.org.au The Cancer Council helpline number is 13 11 20.