Ms O'Hara is living with metastatic cancer which started in the breast. She finds support in McGrath breast care nurse Andrea Franke, based at Moruya Hospital three days a week.

"The breast care nurse treats me as a whole person rather than just a set of symptoms," Ms O'Hara said. "It really doesn't matter how empathetic your breast surgeon or your oncologist is; they're still just delivering the facts: 'These are your stats, we need to do this next, you need to be on these drugs and come back in a month'. Then you walk out and go, 'what did all of that mean?'

"That's where Andrea, for me, has been a God-send. She'll just go through it all with me and make sure I understand."

Ms O'Hara met Ms Franke after she was diagnosed with a large and aggressive tumour in her left breast.

"She was there for me the moment I came out of surgery and advised me about breast prostheses, as well as my upcoming treatment - which involved several months of intravenous chemotherapy, followed by six weeks of radiation," Ms O'Hara said. "I was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in my bones and have joined the 20 to 30 per cent of women whose breast cancer metastasises elsewhere in the body. Andrea is still with me as I continue with the next phase of my treatment, and for this I am very grateful."

Ms Rafferty also recognises the significance of a McGrath nurse.

Three years ago, she lost her partner, Becky Barney, to breast cancer, and not long after was diagnosed with a cancer herself.

"I'm a nurse and I know how much care and support Bec needed just to go to the doctor," she said.

She set up a scholarship to the College of Nursing, with the hope community members would sponsor the cause.

"Every year, I try to raise $5000 so one more nurse can become a McGrath nurse for a community in need somewhere in Australia," she said.

This year, they are $600 short and she hopes a BBQ, live music and raffle night will make up the difference, to be held at Maloneys Beach tonight at 5pm.

"Having another human to relate to and understand is so vital," Ms Rafferty said. "It's one of the things that differentiates good care to excellent care. The person feels secure and wanted."

She said nurses were especially needed in regional areas. "I'm not saying they don't need them in metropolitan areas, but rural and remote areas tend to miss out on a lot of resources," Ms Rafferty said. You can donate at: hostyourown.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/page/JudeRafferty0