Western NSW is a community committed to supporting families affected by cancer and helping those less fortunate and a collection of “real, heart-wrenching personal experiences of palliative care, to be launched in Dubbo in February 2017, is part of Cancer Council NSW’s push for more action to ensure better palliative care in our region.

Our Stories – a collection of personal accounts from cancer patients and the family of patients, utilising palliative care “ is being shared to support the Cancer Council NSW I Care for Palliative Care campaign. The campaign is urging the state government to provide more palliative care doctors and nurses to meet the needs of the community.

Palliative care means people with terminal illness can keep doing the things they love for as long as possible and that families can make the most of the time they have left. The personal accounts praise the work of palliative care specialists but highlight concerns about the lack of available specialists and resources.

“There are many people in Western NSW who require specialist palliative care every day, and the limited availability of this vital service means people are suffering in pain needlessly, when they could be spending quality time with their loved ones said Melanie Trethowan, Cancer Council volunteer who is helping to drive the campaign locally in Dubbo & Mudgee.

Community members across Western NSW can support the I Care for Palliative Care campaign by signing the pledge: www.canact.com.au/palliative_care_pledge