For many people affected by upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer – pancreatic, liver, biliary, stomach and oesophageal, life becomes less about counting days and more about reaching the milestones that matter.

As someone who has lost family to upper GI cancer and is a survivor herself, Sue not only feels immense gratitude but also heartbreak over her loved ones’ absence from the moments she is now able to experience.

Having tapped into support from organisations like Pancare, Sue is now encouraging Australians to gift A Place for Hope to help advance research and improve care so people and families navigating upper GI cancer can reach the milestones that matter most.


From diagnosis to a place at the table

In 2023 Sue was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, one of the upper GI cancers. Just two years after her initial surgery to remove the cancer, it had returned.

Sue’s courage and hope kept her strong through her cancer battle, but it took months before realising she needed extra help.

“I compartmentalise things and thought I was doing fine. After about six months I knew I wasn’t quite right and I was struggling.”

Along with the support she received from her loved ones, Sue was referred to resources and support services from Pancare.

PanSupport is Pancare’s dedicated, personalised support service for anyone affected by upper GI cancers. They offer telehealth nursing, counselling, dietitian support, financial assistance, trusted cancer information, and more to help people navigate their experience with confidence and care.

“I went on their website, spoke with a Care Coordinator for half an hour and she put me straight onto a nurse, dietician and counsellor. It was like, wow this is all now available to me and that has made all the difference.”

The interdisciplinary approach it takes to address an upper GI cancer can be nuanced and complex. For Sue, these support services and a successful oesophagectomy has meant she gets to take her place at the table with loved ones to celebrate more precious milestones.

This should be the outcome for all people and families affected by upper GI cancer.

Sadly, this is not the reality. Which is why we’re asking Australians to donate and gift a chair to keep more people at the table for longer.


Set a place for hope

While Sue looks forward to her daughter’s upcoming graduation and watching her family grow, her sister Leanne was not given the same opportunity.

Her closest sister Leanne passed away from pancreatic cancer, another upper GI cancer, just 6 months from diagnosis. Unable to see her nieces grow up or be at her son’s wedding, it’s for people like Leanne that Pancare hopes to support with their latest fundraising campaign.

A Place for Hope invites Australians to gift a chair and set one more place at the table for someone affected by upper GI cancer.

A place at the table represents life's most meaningful moments, from birthdays and celebrations to everyday meals shared with loved ones. For families facing upper GI cancer, these moments carry even greater meaning.

Every chair represents hope. Hope for more time together, more milestones reached, and more memories made. 

By donating and gifting a chair this festive season, supporters will help Pancare continue to advance research and improve care for people affected by upper GI cancer, creating hope that they’ll get to celebrate more of life’s precious milestones.

“I’m one of the recipients who is benefiting from the generosity of donors,” says Sue. “If anybody can donate to or support Pancare, that would be essential.”

Because everyone deserves a place at the table.

Set one more place at the table for someone facing upper GI cancer. Gift a chair today.