Jane Bennett – Cancer survivor and consumer reviewer

After I was diagnosed with cancer in 1998, I wanted to do something to give back, and Cancer Council NSW’s mission resonated strongly with me. I have been a volunteer at Cancer Council for 17 years now, and along the way I have met some passionate researchers and staff.

Over the years I have been involved as a member of the Cancer Research Committee, and I have had the opportunity to complete Consumer Training Workshops so that I can work with researchers and review grant applications.

They help ensure that the research is relevant and that it addresses the needs of the consumers, who are ultimately the end users. It’s a two-way conversation and an opportunity for both sides to share and learn new ideas.

A highlight for me has been the opportunity to review the grant applications, and read what the best and brightest researchers in NSW are working on. One exciting change in cancer treatment is personalised medicine, which allows treatments to be tailored to each patient’s particular cancer, and is a vast difference from the previous ‘one size fits all’ approach.

With advancements like this, I feel optimistic that cancer will become a treatable disease that people no longer die from. Things will be better for my children and their children, thanks to cancer research and the generosity of the community which makes this work possible.