Month: June 2020

‘Let’s Talk About Sarcoma’ Podcast

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In a collaboration to mark global awareness month, Sock it to Sarcoma and the Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation will host a series of free podcasts, to provide sarcoma patients and their families with a reliable resource from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. This series will be hosted by popular Sydney media identity, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and seasoned podcast presenter Cathrine Mahoney, creator of “So I quit my day job”.

In episode one we discuss how Sock it to Sarcoma and CRBF were incepted, and why, the need for what we do, our aims, and the current research we are funding. Special guest for the episode will be Dr Densie Caruso, CEO of the Australia New Zealand Sarcoma Association, discussing sarcoma. What it is, symptoms, and the importance of seeking professional advice, via a sarcoma specialist multi-disciplinary team.

Episode two will be broken into three parts, and will see patients from a cross section of sexes, age groups, and differing sarcoma subtypes, speaking about their experience from the moment they were symptomatic, diagnosis, treatment and beyond. This will be a raw account of each patient’s journey, with a special section on fertility and survivorship.

Episode three will see the spotlight shone on the families, friends, siblings and those who have tragically lost a loved one to sarcoma. This will provide a sensitive insight into managing the family dynamic leading up to diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. It will also explore grief, and the dire impact of losing a loved one to this cancer.

Episode four sees us finishing on a very positive note, when we hear from our leading researchers, clinicians, and a psycho-social researcher, covering a myriad of topics, which will provide hope for the future for all sarcoma patients.

Sarcoma & Covid 19 Govt guidelines

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Information for people with cancer about COVID-19

Whether you have cancer currently, had cancer in the past, or are caring for a loved one with cancer, the situation may be more challenging than usual. Your treatment team and all those working in cancer support and care, are working as hard as we can to make sure that you receive the best treatment and outcomes possible.

People with compromised immune systems or pre-existing medical conditions, including cancer, may be at increased risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) and increased risk of more severe infection.

Our knowledge about COVID-19 is changing rapidly. If you are receiving cancer treatment that suppresses your immune system and you develop a fever or respiratory symptoms, call your oncologist or a member of your treatment team, as you usually would if you develop a fever while on treatment. Be sure to follow their guidance on actions to take.

Everyone should practice good hygiene to protect against infection, including people who have had cancer

Good hygiene includes:

  • washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • using a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
  • avoiding close contact with others, such as touching
  • avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

People at increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19, such as people receiving treatment for cancer, and people living with metastatic cancer

As well as practising good hygiene:

  • ensure you have adequate prescription and over-the-counter medications
  • try to keep space between yourself and others
  • when you go out in public, avoid crowds, stay away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • avoid non-essential travel.

If there is a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.

For family, friends and carers of people at increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19

Follow advice for good hygiene to protect against infection, including:

  • washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser for at least 20 seconds, or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • using a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
  • avoiding close contact with others, such as touching
  • avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoiding contact with people in the community who are unwell.

There is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet.  However, this year, it is important to have your influenza vaccination as early in the flu season as possible.

Useful COVID-19 information links

Current status on COVID-19 in Australia – Department of Health (Australia)
COVID-19 Consumer messaging kit –   HealthDirect’s answers to questions and symptom checker
Advice for the public about COVID-19- World Health Organization

Coronavirus Health Information Line

Call this line if you are seeking information on novel coronavirus. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Phone: 1800 020 080

The Cancer Council Helpline

Cancer Council is a free, confidential telephone information and support service run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory. Call if you have a question about cancer, or if you’re seeking emotional or practical support.

Phone: 13 11 20

Follow us on Twitter @CancerAustralia to get news and updates.

Cancer Australia information hub about COVID-19 and cancer

Cancer Australia has released an Information about cancer and COVID-19 website hub, providing advice and information for Australians affected by cancer and a repository of up-to-date, evidence-based resources and guidance for health professionals and researchers from Australian and international organisations in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The website will be updated as new information is released.

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Great people doing great things…

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August of 2019 saw Swans rising star Nick Blakey shining a light on sarcoma in memory of  Cooper, who was his team mate and, at times, his on-field adversary. Nick did this by attending a training session at the East Sydney Bulldogs home ground at Trumper Park, a ground that holds so many memories of Nick and Cooper fiercely contesting the AFL ball during their junior years. In Nick and Coop’s teams over the years were many other young keen players, including Jack Weinert and his younger brother Tom, who were overseen as coach by their Dad, former Sydney Swans Chairman & President Peter Weinert, a quiet and understated man who had volunteered his time to coach the boys.

Peter contacted CRBF after he saw the article published on Nick’s visit, writing the following:  “By going to Trumper Oval when Nick did, it resulted in an article in the paper which may attract people such as me, who may like to contribute even in a very small way initially, to the incredibly important cause you are now involved in”.  Peter also shared a precious photo from those Easts Bulldogs days, and in an unexpected twist was pictured standing side by side with Cooper in a team photo which included his son Jack, as it turns out, he was Cooper’s original coach at Trumper (pictured).

By means of background, Peter, when Chairman and one of the private owners of the Club, played a leading role in the survival of the Sydney Swans in Sydney.  In 1992 he led the fight to save the Swans from extinction in Sydney, together with the great support of Mike Willlesee and Craig Kimberley after several years of on field turmoil and potential financial ruin. Along with Basil Sellers and John Gerahty, overseas based Owners also providing financial support, these five were inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame in 2015 under the Heritage Listing as “True Believers”.

In 1996, less than four years after the club faced extinction, the Sydney Swans played in their first AFL Grand Final under the then revitalised new Club administration, and Peter along with his co-Owners were permanently etched in Swans Club history.  After eventually serving as the No. 1 Ticket Holder for 11 years Peter became a Patron of the Swans, and it is indeed fitting the Player’s Club Lounge at the SCG bears his name. 

Through Peter’s understated generosity, together with Nick’s willingness to volunteer his time to memorialise his former team mate at Trumper Oval, Peter now holds the distinction of being our largest individual donor directly supporting clinical research into sarcoma.

It is difficult indeed to articulate our thanks to Nick and to Peter for their thoughtfulness, selflessness and generosity.

Swans 2019 Club Champion Dinner
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2004 East Sydney Junior Bulldogs AFL Club -1
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Zero Childhood Cancer $67m boost

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The innovative and highly successful Zero Childhood Cancer program (ZERO) has this week received $67 million collaborative funding from the Federal government and Minderoo Foundation, to provide all children and adolescents with cancer the greatest chance of survival.

ZERO has changed the way diagnosis and treatment occur for children with the most aggressive cancers or for those with relapsed cancers. New funding committed by the Commonwealth Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt of $54.8million together with $12.2million from Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation will ensure ZERO is expanded, and will eventually be offered to all children diagnosed with cancer by 2023.

Each year, almost 1000 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer around Australia, and is unfortunately still the most common cause of death from disease

https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/67-million-for-personalised-treatments-for-every-child-with-cancer

NOTTCS/Sony join forces

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On Friday the 21st February, a young 20 year old sarcoma patient underwent a life changing egg harvesting and cryogenic preservation at the Alexandria Day Hospital in Sydney, under the watchful eye of Professor William Ledger.  Whilst this may not seem remarkable to those who are fortunate enough not to have to explore such avenues, this young woman is representative of many young cancer patients who slip through the cracks prior to undergoing onerous chemotherapy and surgical regimes to treat their respective cancers.

This process is expensive and it is challenging at times for those who find themselves in need of  seeking fertility treatments, in order to have a child.  It can be argued those with cancer have already been through quite enough without the added burden of infertility.  More often than not the  financial strain of this process  becomes an enormous burden, preventing many from having children.  The emotional and psychological impact of infertility can be immense, and this can me magnified when the patient is young, and has suffered a cancer diagnosis.

This situation is about to change.  A national “pioneering service to transport, freeze and store reproductive tissue for young cancer patients” initiated  by the Sony Foundation stands to revolutionise this process.  “The service – the first of its kind in Australia – will enable medical professionals nationwide to offer free fertility-preserving treatment to youth cancer patients aged 13 – 30 years.”

A gap in the health system for young people with cancer, had been preventing access to affordable fertility preservation options, and this was identified by the Sony Foundation.  “Alarmingly, Currently, only 4 per cent of young women and 1 in 4 young men undergo fertility preservation before chemotherapy, despite research showing infertility is the number one issue that has an identified impact on a young person’s quality of life following cancer. ”

CEO of the Sony Foundation, Sophie Ryan  said: “Sony Foundation’s funding will ensure this innovative fertility service is available for all young people diagnosed with cancer.  No longer will young people miss out on this treatment due to barriers such as lack of access for regional patients, cost and time restrictions. But more importantly, providing access will give young people facing cancer hope and the opportunity to focus on  life after cancer.

The team at the National Ovarian and Testicular Tissue Transport and Cryopreservation Service (NOTTCS) led by Professor Kate Stern, has a demonstrated history of fertility preservation, egg and sperm freezing, counselling and support of patients affected by cancer and fertility issues. “This service will enable tissue to be collected, transported and cryopreserved in Melbourne from patients right around Australia. It will give access to state-of-the-art fertility preservation to young people who might have thought that it’s the end of the road for their fertility, said Professor Stern”.

The Sony Foundation’s mission is for 100% of young people who are diagnosed with cancer to be offered fertility preservation that’s free and easily accessible.

CRBF wish to extend our deepest gratitude to Professor William Ledger, Professor Kate Stern, Dr Henry Liberman, The Alexandria Day Surgery Hospital, Kerri and the staff at IVF Australia, Bondi, and Emma Pechey from the Sony Foundaiton.

For further information on the Nationals Ovarian and Testicular Tissue Transport Service:

Call: (03) 83453227

Email: NOTTCS@thewomens.org.au

IVF Australia https://www.ivf.com.au/clinics/bondi-junction-fertility-clinic