Often too proud, or just plain shy, reaching out in a time of need can be a breakthrough moment. Doing so when navigating one of life's biggest challenges monumental.

So, 18 months ago when Ian Coleman was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and the bills continued to pile up, it was time to ask.

He, and his family, needed the help.

Can Assist, a community-based volunteer network that provides financial and practical support to people affected by cancer and living in country NSW, has been working with greenslips.com.au since June and offered financial support to pay their CTP insurance.

It's support the network is now offering to others region wide.

"There has been a lot of toing-and-froing with doctors, surgeons and chemotherapy. It's a long haul and been pretty tough. Life goes on and the bills roll in," Mr Coleman said.

"On top of the day-to-day are essential scans that neither Medicare nor my health insurer would cover."

Mr Coleman, from Orange, said thanks to some help from his daughter Melise and assistance from his oncology social worker, Can Assist helped take some of the burden of he and his wife.

"To know something is paid for is a huge relief and very welcome," he added.

Orange Health Service-based psychoncology social worker Anna Cobb said cancer is so pervasive any help is important "at a practical and emotional level".

"When you're in a low emotional state, one small act of kindness can be disproportionately powerful," she said.

Robert Griffiths has also benefited from the help and, after initially beating bowel cancer 21 years ago, being diagnosed with metastasis cancer earlier in 2019 was a massive blow to he and his family.

"We are back and forth weekly for treatment, it gets very expensive," Robert's wife Gail Griffiths said.

"Bob could see I wasn't coping with the financial stress and he asked for help. To think that someone could do that was amazing. I don't think we could have survived without Can Assist."

Since Mr Griffith's brave phone call five months ago, greenslips.com.au has contributed funding for CTP green slip insurance to branches across the west and it's hoped now more people will reach out for help.