Robyn's Story
Robyn initially believed that she simply had a blocked ear and brushed it aside. “Unknown to everyone there was a tumour growing in my throat… It had spread to my lymph nodes… Stupidly I didn’t tell anyone about the lump in my neck,” Robyn recalls.
Once the cancer was finally discovered and diagnosed last July, Robyn was referred to a specialist in Albury, two hours from her home in Mansfield. Their lives turned upside down, Robyn and her husband Trevor packed up and left to undertake Robyn’s treatment program.
“I didn’t know where we would live during the treatment time or how long it would take,” she said.
A cancer diagnosis on its own is difficult to face and not knowing where you will live for the months of treatment adds to the stress. Unsure of how they would navigate this challenge Robyn and Trevor were welcomed in one of Fight Cancer Foundation’s purpose built accommodation centres.
Without the support of the accommodation centre Robyn says she doesn’t know where the couple would have lived during her treatment.
“The accommodation and support is just too good to be true. The whole set-up is wonderful, and being only 100 metres from the hospital is a very welcome security blanket.”
However it’s not just the closeness to the hospital that makes our accommodation centres such a practical and welcome solution, but also the opportunity for families to meet others in similar situations.
Robyn’s husband Trevor echoes this “The centre is an amazing place with beautiful views, but it is the wonderful and caring people inside that make such a difference to people’s lives.”
Robyn adds “When people first come to our accommodation centre – like us, they are shell-shocked,” explaining that “there’s a lot to take in. We were enveloped by the warmth of the centre.”
In recent weeks, Robyn has received news that her cancer has now spread to her spine. “It was unheard of for this type of cancer to travel,” says Robyn, “So when they found it on my spine, it blew them away – it is so extremely rare.”
Trevor continues, “At one time, the doctors thought the tumour on Rob’s spine would sever the spinal cord, but this hasn’t happened.”
Providing a ‘home away from home’ the care, support and convenience provided by Fight Cancer Foundation’s accommodation centres continues to help Robyn and Trevor through this challenging chapter of their lives.
“The support is marvellous. The care is wonderful. I hope every day – and that is what keeps me going,” said Robyn.
If you would like to support people like Robyn and Trevor, please donate today so Fight Cancer Foundation can continue to provide a home away from home for those undergoing cancer treatment away from home.