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Beloved Aussie musician dies days after revealing cancer diagnosis

<p>Australian musician Richard Andrew has tragically died at the age of 58, just seven days after announcing he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. </p> <p>Andrew, who has long been a fixture of the Melbourne music scene, passed away on October 30th, with his grieving wife confirming his death on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-nikki-through-tragedy-honouring-richards-legacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page. </p> <p>Andrew's wife, Nicolette Powell, is now faced with mourning the sudden loss of her husband while caring for her mother, who is grappling with a terminal brain tumour.</p> <p>"Nicolette's beloved husband, Richard, a well-known and iconic figure in Melbourne's music scene, recently passed away suddenly from cancer," the GoFundMe page's tribute to Andrew began.</p> <p>"Richard was a talented musician who left his mark in bands like Underground Lovers, Crow and Black Cab as well as his own band Registered Nurse and more recently his solo project RJ Andrew."</p> <p>"He was also the founder of Pharmacy Records. He poured his heart and soul into his music, and his legacy will be felt across Melbourne's music community for years to come."</p> <p>Just one week before his untimely death, Andrew revealed to his fans he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in a social media message shared alongside a photo from his wedding to Powell.</p> <p>"After my last unsuccessful attempt to jump 17 double decker buses – A) this may go someway towards explaining being in a wheelchair and, B) the fact I'm getting married to the beautiful Nicolette Powell, in this photo," he wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>"Alas, although the marriage is definitely true and based on love, the double decker bus is, sadly, not quite the truth. Instead, a few month ago, I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer, which has been a billy cart ride down s**t street, for the last little while."</p> <p>Andrew then went on to issue a public farewell to his fans and loved ones.</p> <p>"I am completely reconciled to whatever the future is, however, that future is probably quite limited and I'm in the process of preparing to pop this mortal coil and return to the trees, as it were," he wrote.</p> <p> </p> <p>"I cannot overstate enough what an honour and a privilege it has been to know you all over the last 58 years, and to have lived the most incredible, incredible life."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

Full House star's devastating cancer diagnosis

<p>Dave Coulier has revealed his devastating cancer diagnosis </p> <p>The <em>Full House</em> star told the <em>US Toda</em>y show about his "roller coaster" health struggle on Wednesday. </p> <p>After finding out that he was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he said it felt like "I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you," according to <em>Page Six</em>. </p> <p>Coulier, whose first symptom was a lump in his groin, noted that he was “on pins and needles for a few days” while waiting to hear whether the disease had spread “to any major organs or [his] blood or bones or anything.”</p> <p>While waiting for his results, the 65-year-old actor told his wife, Melissa Coulier that he accepted his fate. </p> <p> “I’m OK with whatever the news [is] going to be no matter how devastating. … I’ve had an incredible life. I’ve had the most amazing people in my life. This has been an extraordinary journey, and I’m OK if this is the end of the journey”.</p> <p>Fortunately the cancer has not moved outside of his lymphatic system, and since then the actor has started chemotherapy, which he said was “intense” and “scared the daylights” out of him.</p> <p>“There [are] days where I feel unbelievable,” he said. “Then there’s other days where … I’m just going to lay down and let this be what it’s going to be”.</p> <p>Coulier is expected to finish treatment in February 2025 after undergoing six rounds of chemo every three weeks. </p> <p>While the diagnosis was initially shocking, the actor has assured his fans that the curability rate is promising. </p> <p><em>Image: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Dawson's Creek star reveals cancer diagnosis

<p>American actor James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, assuring his fans he is "feeling good" since coming to terms with the news. </p> <p>The <em>Dawson’s Creek</em> star, who played the titular character Dawson Leery, announced the news to <a href="https://people.com/james-van-der-beek-diagnosed-with-colorectal-cancer-exclusive-8738844" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>People</em></a> magazine, saying he had been dealing with the diagnosis "privately". </p> <p>“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” the 47-year-old told the publication. </p> <p>“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”</p> <p>No further details regarding his diagnosis or treatment were shared.</p> <p>Van Der Beek has six children with his wife Kimberly, with his most recent Instagram post sharing photos of the family dressed up and going trick or treating. </p> <p>While the post did not mention is diagnosis, many flocked to the comments to share their well wishes. </p> <p>One fan wrote, "Just saw the people article. Best wishes for good health James. Takes a lot of courage strength to share something that personal."</p> <p>Another person added, "Positive thoughts, prayers and love to and your whole family at this time! ❤️huge fan of yours all around!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Caring

Doctor defies terminal cancer diagnosis with breakthrough therapy

<p>Dr Tina Willits was told she had just 24 months to live after being diagnosed with breast cancer, but against all odds she is now in remission. </p> <p>The mother-of-five's disease was "everywhere" with three golf-ball sized tumors in her breast and cancerous masses in her ribs, spine, lymph nodes and legs.</p> <p>"When my cancer was detected, it was pretty past a stage four diagnosis and I was too far gone for a mastectomy," she told the <em>Daily M</em><em>ail</em>. </p> <p>She was placed on end-of-care chemotherapy and was told to "enjoy the time you have left". </p> <p>That was nearly three years ago. Now, the 53-year-old US mum is in remission thanks to a breakthrough cancer therapy that uses cold gases and the body's own cells to freeze and fight tumors. </p> <p>"I was devastated, but I was also like no, I was not ok with that diagnosis. I felt I had to do something," she recalled.</p> <p>"I was just really determined that I did not want to live my life with this cancer, even if they could stop it progressing, I didn't want that, I just wanted it gone."</p> <p>Dr Willits' cancer was HER2 positive, which account for about 20 percent of all diagnoses, and she had no family history of the disease.</p> <p>She underwent four rounds of chemotherapy before she sought alternative treatment at the Williams Cancer Institute. </p> <p>The institute sent her a list of supplements to begin taking and advised her to avoid sugar, which some researchers believe can help reduce inflammation and slow down the growth of cancer cells. </p> <p>She then underwent a treatment regimen that is not yet fully approved in the US, with cryoablation as the first step. </p> <p>Cryoablation is the process where doctors insert a small metal probe through the skin and into the tumor, extremely cold gasses are then released directly into the mass to kill its cells.</p> <p>In the second phase of her treatment, she received immunotherapy, where eight drugs were administered directly into her tumor, which doctors say can prompt the immune system to recognise cancer cells as a threat and trigger an immune response. </p> <p>Dr Willits told the Dailymail that she was shocked when she got the results from her six-week scan after the treatment.</p> <p>"There were none, no tumors. They were just completely gone," she said. </p> <p>"All the metastasis (cancerous growths outside the breast) had completely healed, and the cancer in my lymph nodes was no longer there."</p> <p>After the treatment she had another four rounds of chemotherapy, and still undergoes PET scans every six months. </p> <p>So far the cancer has not been detected in her body since the treatment, and will need to wait for five years of clear results before she can be declared cancer free. </p> <p>Dr Williams, the founder of the institute, developed the treatment regimen over several years, and believes it could offer a better way to treat cancer.</p> <p>He is currently running a trial of the treatment in hard-to-treat prostate cancer patients, although he did not reveal how long the study had been going on for or how many rounds of treatment the patients had received. </p> <p>Since going into remission Dr Willits has travelled to Honduras and Colorado, tried mountain biking and is training for a 5k marathon for breast cancer awareness. </p> <p>"I wouldn't appreciate life like this if I had not gone through the cancer," she said. </p> <p>"No one on their deathbed says I wish I had worked more or got that job, you all say I wish I had spent more time with my parents and kids or gone to that place I had always wanted to." </p> <p><em>Images: DailyMail</em></p>

Caring

The financial reality check after a major diagnosis

<p>Once you have received and processed your doctor’s diagnosis, take stock of the situation, because this will determine how you respond and what resources you have available to support you going forward.</p> <p>Who received the diagnosis – you or your spouse (if you have one)? Is it a terminal illness, chronic condition or treatable setback? </p> <p>If you are not yet retired, will you be able to keep working, need a period off work or will this bring forward your retirement? If leaving work temporarily, what are your prospects for re-entering the workforce? Will your partner need to leave their work to care for you (or vice versa)?</p> <p>Once you have clarified and considered this, spring into action as soon as possible.</p> <p><strong>Revisit your spending</strong></p> <p>Healthcare is expensive by any measure. </p> <p>Pensioners and healthcare card holders may get much or all of your treatment covered, but waiting times in the public system can be lengthy. For self-funded retirees, even with private health insurance, there can be considerable out-of-pocket costs: specialist visits, diagnostics, symptom management, physiotherapy and so on. </p> <p>Depending on the type of diagnosis, you may also need to modify your home (install ramps, railings etc.) and/or obtain specialist furniture and equipment. Then comes care requirements – private nurses, retirement living, hospice or palliative care.</p> <p>Your lifestyle may also change, and quickly. Your clothes and shoes may no longer fit if you lose weight rapidly. You may no longer be able to drive. You may need help with household chores – cleaning, cooking, gardening. Covering these requires money if you don’t have family and friends able to lend a helping hand.</p> <p>Carefully look at what supports your new reality demands and whether they will be one-off or ongoing expenses. Some things will need to be purchased, others could be hired to split the cost over the longer term. </p> <p><strong>Secure your income</strong></p> <p>Once you’ve established the impact on your ability to work and your spending needs, determine how you will pay for everything going forward.</p> <p>Your emergency fund can provide short-term cash if you need to stop working suddenly or fork out for large, unexpected bills. </p> <p>Depending on your age and circumstances, it may be worth bringing forward your retirement – allowing you to draw income from superannuation and focus more on your (or your partner’s) health.</p> <p>Check your insurances to see what claims you could make – having paid the premiums, now is the time make use of them. Relevant insurances include total permanent disability, income protection, trauma or critical illness cover. Meanwhile some life insurance policies may pay out based on a specialist’s diagnosis, unlocking much-needed funds sooner. Depending on your diagnosis, policy and the type of insurance, payouts may be a lump sum or smaller payments spaced out over time.</p> <p><strong>Update your estate plans</strong></p> <p>A major diagnosis typically elicits thoughts about mortality, legacy and how you want your loved ones to be provided for.</p> <p>Crucially, it may also influence factors such as guardianship of minors and pets while you are unwell/in hospital, Power of Attorney to cover important legal and financial decisions if you are incapacitated, and palliative care arrangements if required.</p> <p>Before heavy medications, surgeries or further deterioration of your health cloud your judgement, ensure your will and estate plans are updated to fully reflect your current needs and wishes.</p> <p><strong>Look after yourself</strong></p> <p>Stress, shock, anger and despair are common emotions to feel when faced with a major diagnosis. As such, it’s important you look after your mental and emotional wellbeing too.</p> <p>It needn’t cost a cent – you could look to free counselling services available such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue; a daily walk by the beach or through the local park; catching up with loved ones for support and companionship. </p> <p>Keeping your spirits up, as much as you can under the circumstances, can improve your quality of life while also helping you make clearer decisions about your health, finances and relationships – making it arguably the best investment of all.</p> <p>Back that up with sound legal, tax and financial advice. There is much to consider where insurance, superannuation, inheritances, Centrelink and more are involved, and you can’t know everything – especially when your focus is rightly elsewhere!</p> <p><em><strong>Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women. Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only and does not constitute personal financial or product advice. Any opinions or views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent those of people, institutions or organisations the owner may be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Helen Baker is an authorised representative of BPW Partners Pty Ltd AFSL 548754.</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Image credits: Shutterstock </strong></em></p>

Money & Banking

Radio host dies weeks after cancer diagnosis

<p>Beloved radio host Rob Dempsey has passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. </p> <p>Rob Dempsey, host of American Christian radio show <em>HisAir</em>, revealed his diagnosed with bladder cancer in a Facebook post just eight days before his death. </p> <p>After being hospitalised for emergency surgery related to his cancer, Dempsey went in to cardiac arrest and could not be revived. </p> <p>News of Dempsey's death was also shared on <em>His Radio's Rob and Lizz in the Morning</em> show, with the hosts saying, "He always had us laughing."</p> <p>"His finger prints are all over this place. He was not just a boss, he was a leader, an encourager. He made such an impact to the in the community and to Greenville."</p> <p>They added, "We lost him but heaven gained such an incredible person."</p> <p>Just days before his death, Dempsey shared on his Instagram page that he was in hospital for surgery on his left kidney.</p> <p>"It's so overcrowded at this hospital that will be in hallway. Nothing you can do, but the care from these nurses and doctors are wonderful." he wrote.</p> <p>When he shared news of his cancer diagnosis on Facebook, he said doctors told him it was ''aggressive" but he was "at peace today knowing God is in control".</p> <p>"A big thank you to all who have been praying for me. I saw the report today. I have bladder cancer and it looks aggressive," he said.</p> <p>"Thankfully I'm at peace today knowing God is in control. The days ahead will be tough and that's ok. I am determined to be a dad there for his kids."</p> <p>"I'm determined to be that grandpa who will watch them grow up, graduate and get married. I want to grow old with my wife who has been a rock through all of this junk."</p> <p>He added, "I've watched a few videos of people who have survived this and even have new bladders! Things look hopeful."</p> <p>The radio star is survived by his wife, kids and grandchildren.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333;"> </p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333;"> </p>

Caring

Ellen DeGeneres reveals triple health diagnosis

<p>Ellen DeGeneres has revealed that she has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, OCD and ADHD.</p> <p>The American comedian spoke candidly about her health in her latest Netflix special, <em>For Your Approval</em>, which marks her comeback after receiving backlash over toxic workplace allegations. </p> <p>DeGeneres revealed that she only received the diagnosis after she left her long-running daytime talk show, <em>The Ellen DeGeneres show</em>. </p> <p>The star learned she has “full on osteoporosis” - a disease that causes bones to become weak and more susceptible to fractures - after she took a “stupid bone density test.”</p> <p>“I don’t even know how I’m standing up right now,” DeGeneres said. </p> <p>“I’m like a human sandcastle. I could disintegrate in the shower.”</p> <p>Not only does she have osteoporosis, she said she was also diagnosed with arthritis. </p> <p>“I had excruciating pain one day and I thought I tore a ligament or something and I got an MRI and they said, ‘No, it’s just arthritis.’ I said, ‘How did I get that?’ And he said, ‘Oh it just happens at your age,’” she recalled. </p> <p>She also explained that after the backlash and "hatred" she received from fans following claims that she created a work environment that bred "racism, fear and intimidation", she started going to therapy as it took a toll on her mental health. </p> <p>That was when she learned she had OCD and ADHD. </p> <p>“I was in therapy for a while trying to deal with all the hatred that was coming at me,” she shared. “And you know, it was not a common situation for a therapist to deal with.”</p> <p>She continued, “I may have OCD because a therapist said so and I said, ‘Yes I am very organised,’ because I thought that was the O. I didn’t know what OCD was.”</p> <p>“I was raised in a religion, Christian Science, that doesn’t acknowledge diseases or disorders,” she explained. “So when I was growing up, nobody talked about anything. There was no discussion of anything.”</p> <p>Despite the circumstances, DeGeneres tried to lighten the mood saying: “My ADD makes it really hard to sit down and focus on anything at all.</p> <p>"I mean, do you know how hard it was for me to put this together? Of course you don’t. Why would I ask that question? It’s hard for me to focus,” she told a laughing crowd.</p> <p> “So, I have ADD, I have OCD, I’m losing my memory. But I think I’m well-adjusted, because I obsess on things, but then I don’t have the attention span to stick with it, and I quickly forget what I was obsessing about in the first place. So, it takes me all the way around to being well adjusted, I think.”</p> <p>She also revealed her thoughts on getting cancelled, telling the audience: “We have all these unwritten rules based on gender about acceptable behaviour. If we don’t follow those rules, it makes people uncomfortable. And if people are uncomfortable, there are consequences.”</p> <p>But regardless, she said it all worked out for the better. </p> <p>“I’m happy not being a boss or a brand or a billboard, just a person."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

The Block star reveals shock cancer diagnosis

<p><em>The Block</em>'s Jasmin Neuwen has revealed she's been diagnosed with breast cancer. </p> <p>The 40-year-old, who appeared in the 2020 season of the show alongside her husband Luke, shared the heartbreaking announcement on social media on Thursday evening. </p> <p>"Unfortunately last week I was diagnosed with breast cancer," she wrote in the caption of her post. </p> <p>"We are devastated, given my age, no family history and lack of symptoms. I was just heading off for my first ever mammogram after a friend at work told me to go after turning 40. She saved my life."</p> <p>Jasmin said that she was thankful the cancer had been caught early but said she has a long way to go with treatment. </p> <p>"My treatment includes a double mastectomy, chemo and radiation followed by years of hormone blocking medication.</p> <p>"Wow. It's a lot. I know. I don't know anyone who's walked this path so if anyone out there has been through this... Please reach out."</p> <p>Jasmin, ended her post by urging those who are eligible to book in their free mammogram. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAGAv8-TjaX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAGAv8-TjaX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Luke and Jasmin (@lukeandjasmin)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I'm confident I'll beat this and come out stronger than before 💪🏼 With an even better outlook on life. Just like my wrist tattoo says 'Focus on the Good' that's my mantra through this battle," she wrote.</p> <p>"If you are 40, I urge you to book in a FREE mammogram. Don't put it off. Make it a priority in your busy life."</p> <p>Jasmin, also filmed a video with her husband, which she shared on her Instagram stories, and reiterated how important it is to go and get checked as she felt no symptoms whatsoever before her diagnosis. </p> <p>"My prognosis is good, however it's going to be a really long treatment because of my age," she said. "We wanted to tell our followers because when I went in for my mammogram, I thought I was ticking a box of self-care because I'm 40."</p> <p>"I have surgery in two weeks. We're going to enjoy the next two weeks with our young children, then after that probably chemo and radiation and some other long-term treatments to block my hormones. It's a lot. We're processing it, but we're remaining optimistic."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Bruce Springsteen’s wife reveals cancer diagnosis

<p>Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, has revealed that she was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer in 2018. </p> <p>Scialfa, who is also a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, spoke about her diagnosis in a new documentary about the band. </p> <p>“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” she said in the film, according to <em>Variety</em>. </p> <p>Scialfa didn't attend Sunday's premiere of the documentary, <em>Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band</em>, which was held at the Toronto Film Festival. </p> <p>“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”</p> <p>She revealed that she had multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that doesn’t always require immediate treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.</p> <p>According to the organisation's website, “if the multiple myeloma is slow growing and isn’t causing symptoms, close watching might be the first step," and here are a few ways of managing the disease. </p> <p>CNN reported that a representative for Scialfa had no further comment to provide regarding her condition. </p> <p>Scialfa has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984 and has been married to Springsteen since 1991.</p> <p>The pair have three children together. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Sunrise star announces cancer diagnosis live on air

<p>In a heartfelt and emotional moment, <em>Sunrise</em> star Edwina Bartholomew, 41, revealed on live television that she has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia. The popular news presenter made the announcement during an 8am segment on Seven’s breakfast program on Friday, telling viewers she is determined to stay positive despite the shock diagnosis.</p> <p>Bartholomew, who has been a familiar face on Australian television for years, took a moment at the end of the bulletin to share her personal news. “I have been diagnosed with cancer," she said. "That’s a shock to say and hard to say. It is a really good kind. It is called chronic myeloid leukaemia. It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself I will be completely fine,” she said, her voice breaking as she fought back tears.</p> <p>The news presenter revealed that she first received the diagnosis in July but chose to go public now for two main reasons. Firstly, she wanted to share the moment with her audience, who have followed her through many of life’s major milestones. “Many of you have been in similar situations or much, much worse and come out the other side stronger... and more resilient. That’s exactly what I plan to do,” she said.</p> <p>Secondly, Bartholomew explained that she hoped her story would encourage others to prioritise their health, especially after turning 40. She shared that she had undergone a series of routine tests earlier in the year after a series of health checks, including a skin check inspired by her colleague <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/nat-barr-shares-scary-cancer-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nat Barr’s skin cancer scare</a>.</p> <p>“One of those tests came back with levels out of whack,” Bartholomew said, explaining how her cancer was detected.</p> <p>Despite the emotional moment, Bartholomew confirmed to viewers that her prognosis is positive. “I’m feeling very positive and lucky,” she said, adding that her treatment plan involves a daily medication that allows her to manage the condition effectively.</p> <p>Her announcement was followed by a supportive group hug from her fellow <em>Sunrise </em>team members.</p> <p>Bartholomew’s revelation comes just months after her co-star Nat Barr <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/nat-barr-shares-scary-cancer-diagnosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened up about her own battle with skin cancer</a>. Barr had undergone treatment earlier this year after discovering a small cancerous spot on her nose. Fortunately, Barr caught it early and required minimal treatment.</p> <p>In addition to her TV career, Bartholomew is a dedicated mother of two children, Molly, 4, and Thomas, 2, whom she shares with her husband, Neil Varcoe. The couple has been deeply involved in a passion project, renovating a historic hotel, The Victoria 1846, in Carcoar, NSW, with plans to open it as a boutique hotel in 2025.</p> <p>Their project has been a labour of love, with Varcoe leaving his job last year to focus on the hotel restoration full-time, leading the couple to live separately during the week. Bartholomew has also shared insights into her husband’s battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, which had taken a toll on their lives in recent years.</p> <p>Despite the challenges, Bartholomew has remained optimistic, continuing her professional and personal commitments, including signing on as an ambassador for Witchery’s White Shirt Campaign, which raises funds for ovarian cancer research.</p> <p><em>Images: Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

Ovarian cancer is hard to detect. Focusing on these 4 symptoms can help with diagnosis

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenny-doust-12412">Jenny Doust</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p>Ovarian cancers are often found when they are already advanced and hard to treat.</p> <p>Researchers <a href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2010.32.2164">have long believed</a> this was because women first experienced symptoms when ovarian cancer was already well-established. Symptoms can also be <a href="https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/early-detection-and-screening/early-detection-of-ovarian-cancer">hard to identify</a> as they’re vague and similar to other conditions.</p> <p>But <a href="https://ijgc.bmj.com/content/early/2024/07/24/ijgc-2024-005371">a new study</a> shows promising signs ovarian cancer can be detected in its early stages. The study targeted women with four specific symptoms – bloating, abdominal pain, needing to pee frequently, and feeling full quickly – and put them on a fast track to see a specialist.</p> <p>As a result, even the most aggressive forms of ovarian cancer could be detected in their early stages.</p> <p>So what did the study find? And what could it mean for detecting – and treating – ovarian cancer more quickly?</p> <h2>Why is ovarian cancer hard to detect early?</h2> <p>Ovarian cancer <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24979449/">cannot be detected</a> via cervical cancer screening (which used to be called a pap smear) and pelvic exams <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24979449/">aren’t useful</a> as a screening test.</p> <p>Current <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/gynaecological-cancers/clinicians-hub/ovarian-cancer-guidelines">Australian guidelines</a> recommend women get tested for ovarian cancer if they have symptoms for <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/assessment-symptoms-may-be-ovarian-cancer-guide-gps/pdf/ocg_assessment_of_symptoms_gp_card_0.pdf">more than a month</a>. But many of the <a href="https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/ovarian-cancer">symptoms</a> – such as tiredness, constipation and changes in menstruation – are vague and overlap with other common illnesses.</p> <p>This makes early detection a challenge. But it is crucial – a woman’s <a href="https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html">chances of surviving ovarian cancer</a> are associated with how advanced the cancer is when she is diagnosed.</p> <p>If the cancer is still confined to the original site with no spread, the five-year survival rate is 92%. But over half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer first present when the cancer has <a href="https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html">already metastatised</a>, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body.</p> <p>If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the survival rate is reduced to 72%. If the cancer has already metastasised and spread to distant sites at the time of diagnosis, the rate is only 31%.</p> <p>There are mixed findings on whether detecting ovarian cancer earlier leads to better survival rates. For example, a trial in the UK that screened more than 200,000 women <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37183782/">failed to reduce deaths</a>.</p> <p>That study screened the general public, rather than relying on self-reported symptoms. The new study suggests asking women to look for specific symptoms can lead to earlier diagnosis, meaning treatment can start more quickly.</p> <h2>What did the new study look at?</h2> <p>Between June 2015 and July 2022, the researchers recruited 2,596 women aged between 16 and 90 from 24 hospitals across the UK.</p> <p>They were asked to monitor for these four symptoms:</p> <ul> <li>persistent abdominal distension (women often refer to this as bloating)</li> <li>feeling full shortly after starting to eat and/or loss of appetite</li> <li>pelvic or abdominal pain (which can feel like indigestion)</li> <li>needing to urinate urgently or more often.</li> </ul> <p>Women who reported at least one of four symptoms persistently or frequently were put on a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22479719/">fast-track pathway</a>. That means they were sent to see a gynaecologist within two weeks. The fast track pathway has been used in the UK since 2011, but is not specifically part of Australia’s guidelines.</p> <p>Some 1,741 participants were put on this fast track. First, they did a blood test that measured the cancer antigen 125 (CA125). If a woman’s CA125 level was abnormal, she was sent to do a internal vaginal ultrasound.</p> <h2>What did they find?</h2> <p>The study indicates this process is better at detecting ovarian cancer than general screening of people who don’t have symptoms. Some 12% of women on the fast-track pathway were diagnosed with some kind of ovarian cancer.</p> <p>A total of 6.8% of fast-tracked patients were diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. It is the most aggressive form of cancer and responsible for 90% of ovarian cancer deaths.</p> <p>Out of those women with the most aggressive form, one in four were diagnosed when the cancer was still in its early stages. That is important because it allowed treatment of the most lethal cancer before it had spread significantly through the body.</p> <p>There were some promising signs in treating those with this aggressive form. The majority (95%) had surgery and three quarters (77%) had chemotherapy. Complete cytoreduction – meaning all of the cancer appears to have been removed – was achieved in six women out of ten (61%).</p> <p>It’s a promising sign that there may be ways to “catch” and target ovarian cancer before it is well-established in the body.</p> <h2>What does this mean for detection?</h2> <p>The study’s findings suggest this method of early testing and referral for the symptoms leads to earlier detection of ovarian cancer. This may also improve outcomes, although the study did not track survival rates.</p> <p>It also points to the importance of public awareness about symptoms.</p> <p>Clinicians should be able to recognise all of the ways ovarian cancer can present, including vague symptoms like general fatigue.</p> <p>But empowering members of the general public to recognise a narrower set of four symptoms can help trigger testing, detection and treatment of ovarian cancer earlier than we thought.</p> <p>This could also save GPs advising every woman who has general tiredness or constipation to undergo an ovarian cancer test, making testing and treatment more targeted and efficient.</p> <p>Many women remain <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24612526/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1723610085733806&usg=AOvVaw3J5o5DwRFiDzFaQcD7VTQn">unaware of the symptoms</a> of ovarian cancer. This study shows recognising them may help early detection and treatment.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/236775/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenny-doust-12412">Jenny Doust</a>, Clinical Professorial Research Fellow, Australian Women and Girls' Health Research Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ovarian-cancer-is-hard-to-detect-focusing-on-these-4-symptoms-can-help-with-diagnosis-236775">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

Cancer diagnosis can be devastating, but for some it gives permission to live more radically

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kevin-dew-577291">Kevin Dew</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-herenga-waka-victoria-university-of-wellington-1200">Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-broom-121063">Alex Broom</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-cunningham-1534054">Chris Cunningham</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elizabeth-dennett-1532423">Elizabeth Dennett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-otago-1304">University of Otago</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kerry-chamberlain-103714">Kerry Chamberlain</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-egan-400188">Richard Egan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-otago-1304">University of Otago</a></em></p> <p>A diagnosis of life-limiting cancer can be overwhelming and cause feelings of panic and anxiety. But for some people, it provides a license to live life differently, including quitting toxic jobs and becoming more adventurous.</p> <p>In our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9566.13797">recently published research</a>, we sought to understand the impact of a cancer diagnosis and subsequent experiences for cancer survivors.</p> <p>We talked with 81 New Zealanders (23 Māori and 58 non-Māori) who had lived longer than expected with a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis of cancer (four to 32 years since first diagnosis), and 25 people who were identified as their supporters.</p> <p>We found there are vastly different ways in which people experience and respond to a cancer diagnosis, but for some it’s a prompt to make significant changes. Of the 81 participants, 26 expressed the view, unsolicited, that cancer had some positive impact on their lives – without downplaying the negative impacts it could have as well.</p> <h2>A licence to change</h2> <p>Being told you only have limited time left to live can undoubtedly be a shock. But it can lead to profound change.</p> <p>It’s not uncommon for people who receive a serious diagnosis to draw up a “<a href="https://theconversation.com/paris-in-spring-bali-in-winter-how-bucket-lists-help-cancer-patients-handle-life-and-death-225682">bucket list</a>”. Some people in our study took the opportunity to travel or move to a new home.</p> <p>For others, the diagnosis provided a chance to rethink their lives and make more significant changes to the way they lived. They decided to be culturally more adventurous and to take up new skills.</p> <p>Many of these people quit their jobs or changed to jobs that suited them better. Many changed their relationships with the people around them. One talked about showing more affection for his children, another was kinder and stopped fretting over small things.</p> <p>Some decided to be more selective and no longer be around people who were negative. Others took up new hobbies or crafts which they felt were healing. For one person, the cancer diagnosis provided the impetus to look at things and people differently, which they thought would not have happened otherwise.</p> <p>Individuals could also undergo a transformation to become what they felt they were meant to be in life. One person, given two months to live, embraced rongoā (Māori traditional healing), including its spiritual side. They now love their “journey” and feel this was what they were “supposed to do”.</p> <p>For many, a diagnosis of cancer gave them license to be different people and to resist conforming to social norms, including having a job, being thrifty or not taking risks.</p> <h2>Disrupting diagnoses</h2> <p>One person, given only months to live, moved out of her flat, gave away her possessions, quit her job that she described was toxic, and returned home to say goodbye to her family.</p> <p>Most importantly for her, she worked on experiencing “joy” – after receiving the diagnosis, she realised she had lost it. But she continues to live many years later. After a while, she had to find a new flat, get a new job and the recovery of her joy was challenged:</p> <blockquote> <p>I had to start working again. And, of course, with working again, joy goes down, time goes down, rest goes down, spirituality goes down.</p> </blockquote> <p>But not everyone has the opportunity to change. Some peoples’ lives were limited because of the physical effects of the cancer, its treatment, or because of their personal, social or financial resources.</p> <p>Some go to great lengths to ensure their lives change as little as possible after diagnosis to maintain a sense of normality.</p> <h2>Why we need to know</h2> <p>Given the fear a cancer diagnosis can elicit, it is important to see there are different ways of responding.</p> <p>It is also worth knowing there are people who live longer than expected. Many people in our study were given just months to live, but one woman was still alive 12 years after being told she had a year left.</p> <p>Beyond that, this research documents how the disruption produced by a cancer diagnosis can prompt people to breach social norms. Where people have the capacity and resources to change, those around them and their health professionals can support them in taking opportunities to live life differently.</p> <p>We heard people say they think of their cancer as a friend or an amazing opportunity. Some even felt thankful.</p> <p>The possibility of cancer providing opportunities for some in no way diminishes the grief or a sense of loss, fear and anxiety that can accompany such diagnoses.</p> <p>Our research supports a reframing of cancer narratives, to consider ways of tempering the negative impacts of a diagnosis – while remaining cognisant of the struggle that can follow such news, and the variability in people’s capacity to engage with that struggle.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233782/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kevin-dew-577291">Kevin Dew</a>, Professor of Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-herenga-waka-victoria-university-of-wellington-1200">Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-broom-121063">Alex Broom</a>, Professor of Sociology & Director, Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-cunningham-1534054">Chris Cunningham</a>, Professor of Maori & Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/elizabeth-dennett-1532423">Elizabeth Dennett</a>, Associate Professor in Surgery, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-otago-1304">University of Otago</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kerry-chamberlain-103714">Kerry Chamberlain</a>, Professor of Social and Health Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-egan-400188">Richard Egan</a>, Associate Professor in Health Promotion, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-otago-1304">University of Otago</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/cancer-diagnosis-can-be-devastating-but-for-some-it-gives-permission-to-live-more-radically-233782">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

"It’s a lot to take in": Carly Findlay reveals cancer diagnosis

<p>Australian writer, speaker and disability advocate Carly Findlay has revealed she has cancer in an emotional post shared on Instagram. </p> <p>"I have cancer. I also had a hysterectomy, and I’ll have early menopause," she began her post. </p> <p>Findlay said she had been taken to hospital the day she returned from an overseas trip, with severe stomach pain and bloating. </p> <p>“Tests showed that I have a large ovarian cyst, also known as an ovarian mass,” she said in an earlier post.</p> <p>The 42-year-old, known for her work as an appearance advocate as she lives with ichthyosis, a genetic disorder that affects her skin and hair said she had been experiencing symptoms for six months before they discovered the cyst. </p> <p>She was required to have a full hysterectomy, which means that she had lost the choice to have children, and may also experience early menopause as a result. </p> <p>"The surgery went well. I seem to be recovering ok, but this is the first time I’ve had this type of surgery so I don’t know what’s normal," she continued in her post. </p> <p>"Unfortunately two types of cancer were detected during surgery." </p> <p>“I’ll find out more about the diagnosis and treatment soon.”</p> <p>She added that: "Everyone around me has been incredibly gentle and kind.</p> <p>"The surgeon who led the surgery held my hand as she told me the news. Nurses are angels and should be paid more." </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C88-o6kyZOH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C88-o6kyZOH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Carly Findlay OAM (@carlyfindlay)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The appearance advocate also said that while she suspected it may have been cancer, it was difficult for her to take it all in. </p> <p>“Even though I knew cancer was a possibility, it’s a lot to take in, especially while recovering from major surgery.”</p> <p>Friends and fans have shared their well wishes. </p> <p>"Ah. Lovely Carly. Praise be for the intervention of medicine. Your heart and spirit and those who love you will carry you through this, and you will emerge, as always, with grace and courage. You are a gift. Much love and strength," wrote Kate Langbroek. </p> <p>"Sending you so much love, light and hugs. Thinking of you. You got this.🙏❤️" added Jelena Dokic</p> <p>"Sending you so much love 💕" added one fan. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

"Worst nightmare": Teen dies one day after flu diagnosis

<p>William Jones was complaining of a sore throat and cough last month and when his mum called the doctor, they were told that it was most likely the flu. </p> <p>However, the following morning when Rebecca Rollason went to check on her 16-year-old son, he was found unresponsive in his bed in their Wellington home. </p> <p>"We ask ourselves how what started as a sore throat, snotty nose and a cough on Tuesday to no longer with us three days later," the grieving mum told the <em>NZ Herald</em>. </p> <p>"No one understands, we don't know what happened... it feels like the worst nightmare that we cannot wake from."</p> <p>Rollason explained that her family have to "wait for results" in hopes of understanding what happened and how the teenager, who was barely sick, passed away so suddenly. </p> <p>"We just don’t understand how this can happen to a boy who was barely ever sick and was very healthy," she said.</p> <p> "It is an incredibly hard and devastating time for us."</p> <p>A family friend has helped set up a <a href="https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/rebecca-lost-her-son-william-last-friday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fundraising page</a> to help relieve the financial pressure on her and William's two brothers while they grieve. </p> <p>"It is every parents worst nightmare and a shocking tragedy to lose a healthy child from a sudden and brief illness," a statement from the fundraising page read. </p> <p>"The money will help the family with funeral costs and ease Financial burden while they grieve and come to terms with Williams passing." </p> <p>On July 1 they shared an update on the fundraising page, saying: "Rebecca and family would like all to know that are incredibly grateful for all the support and kindness." </p> <p><em>Image: Givealittle </em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Pioneering TV presenter reveals terminal diagnosis live on air

<p>Popular New Zealand TV presenter Joanna Paul-Robie has revealed she is dying of cancer. The pioneering presenter, known for her work on TV3, shared the heartbreaking news during an interview with Radio New Zealand on Friday morning.</p> <p>Paul-Robie, who has been a beloved figure in the broadcasting world, made the announcement while accepting the Icon Award for her contributions to the creative industries.</p> <p>“I was so touched because this award means so much to me, coming from Tauranga Moana,” she said. “But more importantly, because I am, unfortunately, dying – I have terminal cancer – and really to have this award before one posthumously gets it is an even better break. I can’t tell you the lightness, the brightness, the feeling of aroha inside me last night.”</p> <p>Reflecting on her career, Paul-Robie recounted her experiences as one of the few Māori individuals on New Zealand's television screens. “The newsroom was really … it was being run by mostly a pair of middle-class, middle-aged white men who had the audacity and the balls to say ‘If it bleeds, it leads’ but these guys you know they had never been in a Māori world,” she remarked.</p> <p>Starting her career at Radio New Zealand, Paul-Robie later became a newsreader for TV3 and played a significant role in establishing Māori Television in 2004, serving as a program and production manager.</p> <p>During a 2011 interview with <em>NZOnScreen</em>, she spoke about the challenges and triumphs of setting up the network. “There’s been a handful of people in the world who have built a television station and taken it to air,” she said. “There are only a handful of people in the world who can do that and even though it nearly broke me in half on the day that we launched, I thought ‘hell we did that’. I think it is difficult for someone like me with an A-type personality to think now you have done your big thing maybe you should take it easy now.”</p> <p>Paul-Robie's courage and dedication have left an indelible mark on New Zealand's broadcasting landscape. Her announcement has been met with an outpouring of support and love from colleagues, fans and the wider community, who admire her strength and resilience in the face of such a personal battle.</p> <p><em>Images: <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">NZOnScreen</span></em></p>

Caring

Nat Barr shares scary cancer diagnosis

<p>Sunrise co-host Nat Barr has shared a recent personal health scare that underscores the importance of regular skin checks.</p> <p>Barr disclosed that doctors diagnosed her with skin cancer after a persistent “pimple” on her nose prompted her to seek medical advice.</p> <p>On Tuesday's <em>Sunrise </em>program, Barr detailed her experience, explaining how a seemingly innocuous blemish led to an unexpected and concerning diagnosis. “I’ve had this pimple on my nose, it’s been about three weeks. It keeps going up, down, up, down, won’t go away,” Barr shared. This irregularity convinced her to consult a dermatologist, who used advanced AI technology along with a Spectrascope to examine the lesion.</p> <p>The specialist diagnosed the 3mm lesion as cancerous, with Barr receiving a score of 7.4 on the test, where any score above seven is indicative of cancer. “That was so tiny, it was just a tiny little red thing,” Barr said, showing just how easily such a small detail could be overlooked.</p> <p>The dermatologist’s use of AI to analyse photos of Barr’s entire body further highlighted the cutting-edge methods now available in skin cancer detection. This technology can compare images over time to identify changes more accurately than the human eye, providing a powerful tool in early diagnosis and treatment.</p> <p>Following the diagnosis, Barr was prescribed an anti-cancer cream to treat the lesion and also underwent red light therapy, a treatment that selectively targets and kills cancer cells.</p> <p>Reflecting on her experience, Barr expressed how this health scare made her more aware of the importance of regular skin checks. “It’s just a good reminder for everyone," she urged, "remember to get your skin checked regularly."</p> <p>Despite the scare, Barr reassured her fans about her health. “The outlook for my health is fine,” she confirmed, noting that her next appointment is scheduled for Friday. In the meantime, she mentioned that the lesion is currently concealed with make-up. “I do the same process this Friday, and then it gets all crusty, and then it will be fine,” she added.</p> <p>Skin cancer, often underestimated, can start as something as small as a persistent pimple or a red spot. Early detection and treatment are vital, and advancements in technology now offer more precise and early diagnoses, potentially saving lives.</p> <p><em>Images: Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

Do you have a mental illness? Why some people answer ‘yes’, even if they haven’t been diagnosed

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jesse-tse-1429151">Jesse Tse</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-haslam-10182">Nick Haslam</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722"><em>The University of Melbourne</em></a></em></p> <p>Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders have become more prevalent, especially among <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/prevalence-and-impact-of-mental-illness#changeovertime">young people</a>. Demand for treatment is surging and prescriptions of some <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35176912/">psychiatric medications</a> have climbed.</p> <p>These upswinging prevalence trends are paralleled by rising public attention to mental illness. Mental health messages saturate traditional and social media. Organisations and governments are developing awareness, prevention and treatment initiatives with growing urgency.</p> <p>The mounting cultural focus on mental health has obvious benefits. It increases awareness, reduces stigma and promotes help-seeking.</p> <p>However, it may also have costs. Critics worry <a href="https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/therapy-today/2023/april-2023/the-big-issue/">social media</a> sites are incubating mental illness and that ordinary unhappiness is being pathologised by the overuse of diagnostic concepts and “<a href="https://www.bustle.com/wellness/is-therapy-speak-making-us-selfish">therapy speak</a>”.</p> <p>British psychologist <a href="https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/team/lucy-foulkes">Lucy Foulkes</a> argues the trends for rising attention and prevalence are linked. Her “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732118X2300003X">prevalence inflation hypothesis</a>” proposes that increasing awareness of mental illness may lead some people to diagnose themselves inaccurately when they are experiencing relatively mild or transient problems.</p> <p>Foulkes’ hypothesis implies that some people develop overly broad concepts of mental illness. Our research supports this view. In a new study, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560324000318?via%3Dihub">we show</a> that concepts of mental illness have broadened in recent years – a phenomenon we call “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1047840X.2016.1082418">concept creep</a>” – and that <a href="https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-05152-6">people differ</a> in the breadth of their concepts of mental illness.</p> <h2>Why do people self-diagnose mental illnesses?</h2> <p>In our new <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2024.100326">study</a>, we examined whether people with broad concepts of mental illness are, in fact, more likely to self-diagnose.</p> <p>We defined self-diagnosis as a person’s belief they have an illness, whether or not they have received the diagnosis from a professional. We assessed people as having a “broad concept of mental illness” if they judged a wide variety of experiences and behaviours to be disorders, including relatively mild conditions.</p> <p>We asked a nationally representative sample of 474 American adults if they believed they had a mental disorder and if they had received a diagnosis from a health professional. We also asked about other possible contributing factors and demographics.</p> <p>Mental illness was common in our sample: 42% reported they had a current self-diagnosed condition, a majority of whom had received it from a health professional.</p> <p>Unsurprisingly, the strongest predictor of reporting a diagnosis was experiencing relatively severe distress.</p> <p>The second most important factor after distress was having a broad concept of mental illness. When their levels of distress were the same, people with broad concepts were substantially more likely to report a current diagnosis.</p> <p>The graph below illustrates this effect. It divides the sample by levels of distress and shows the proportion of people at each level who report a current diagnosis. People with broad concepts of mental illness (the highest quarter of the sample) are represented by the dark blue line. People with narrow concepts of mental illness (the lowest quarter of the sample) are represented by the light blue line. People with broad concepts were much more likely to report having a mental illness, especially when their distress was relatively high.</p> <p>People with greater mental health literacy and less stigmatising attitudes were also more likely to report a diagnosis.</p> <p>Two interesting further findings emerged from our study. People who self-diagnosed but had not received a professional diagnosis tended to have broader illness concepts than those who had.</p> <p>In addition, younger and politically progressive people were more likely to report a diagnosis, consistent with some <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560321000438">previous research</a>, and held broader concepts of mental illness. Their tendency to hold these more expansive concepts partially explained their higher rates of diagnosis.</p> <h2>Why does it matter?</h2> <p>Our findings support the idea that expansive concepts of mental illness promote self-diagnosis and may thereby increase the apparent prevalence of mental ill health. People who have a lower threshold for defining distress as a disorder are more likely to identify themselves as having a mental illness.</p> <p>Our findings do not directly show that people with broad concepts over-diagnose or those with narrow concepts under-diagnose. Nor do they prove that having broad concepts <em>causes</em> self-diagnosis or results in <em>actual</em> increases in mental illness. Nevertheless, the findings raise important concerns.</p> <p>First, they suggest that rising mental health awareness may <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934573-900-why-being-more-open-about-mental-health-could-be-making-us-feel-worse/">come at a cost</a>. In addition to boosting mental health literacy it may increase the likelihood of people incorrectly identifying their problems as pathologies.</p> <p>Inappropriate self-diagnosis can have adverse effects. Diagnostic labels may become identity-defining and self-limiting, as people come to believe their problems are enduring, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032724002489?via%3Dihub">hard-to-control</a> aspects of who they are.</p> <p>Second, unwarranted self-diagnosis may lead people experiencing relatively mild levels of distress to seek help that is unnecessary, inappropriate and ineffective. Recent <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37844607/">Australian research</a> found people with relatively mild distress who received psychotherapy worsened more often than they improved.</p> <p>Third, these effects may be particularly problematic for young people. They are most liable to hold broad concepts of mental illness, in part due to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X22000682?via%3Dihub">social media</a> <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10810730.2023.2235563">consumption</a>, and they experience mental ill health at relatively high and rising rates. Whether expansive concepts of illness play a role in the youth mental health crisis remains to be seen.</p> <p>Ongoing cultural shifts are fostering increasingly expansive definitions of mental illness. These shifts are likely to have mixed blessings. By normalising mental illness they may help to remove its stigma. However, by pathologising some forms of everyday distress, they may have an unintended downside.</p> <p>As we wrestle with the mental health crisis, it is crucial we find ways to increase awareness of mental ill health without inadvertently inflating it.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/231687/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jesse-tse-1429151">Jesse Tse</a>, PhD Candidate at Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-haslam-10182">Nick Haslam</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-have-a-mental-illness-why-some-people-answer-yes-even-if-they-havent-been-diagnosed-231687">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

Princess Kate makes first public appearance since cancer diagnosis

<p>The Princess of Wales has made her first public appearance in almost six months following her cancer diagnosis. </p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Princess Kate</span>, who was last seen in public at a church service on Christmas Day, underwent abdominal surgery in January and has been receiving chemotherapy since late February. </p> <p>The royal took part in Trooping the Colour on Saturday, after taking time away from royal duties, and left Buckingham Palace in a carriage with her children shortly before 11am local time to watch the parade. </p> <p>After the King's Birthday Parade, she appeared at the balcony alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and other members of the royal family. </p> <p>The family waved to the cheering crowd as they watched military aircrafts fly by to mark the monarch's official birthday. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Pt2DrN61b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Pt2DrN61b/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Princess Kate confirmed in a statement on Friday that she would be attending the King's Birthday Parade, as well as a few other public engagements over the summer. </p> <p>However, she also said that her treatment was "ongoing, and will be for a few more months". </p> <p>"On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home," she wrote in the statement on Friday. </p> <p>"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.</p> <p>"Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."</p> <p>King Charles, who is also being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, travelled in a carriage with Queen Camilla this year, instead of on horseback as he did last year. </p> <p>He has also been easing back into public duties, and just last week he attended commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. </p> <p><em>Image: Ray Tang/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

Caring

Urgent investigation into potential cancer cluster after mass diagnosis

<p>An urgent investigation has been launched into a potential cancer cluster after five women from the same workplace all developed cancer. </p> <p>Liverpool City Council confirmed five staff members working at its Moore Street office building, in Sydney’s southwest, were diagnosed with thyroid cancer within three to five years of each other. </p> <p>Four of the five workers are taking part in an urgent investigation by the NSW Department of Health, while sixth worker who has reported a thyroid condition has also opted out.</p> <p>The staff members were all working on the sixth floor of the office building, which has since been shut down upon the commencement of the investigation, with workers being relocated to other floors. </p> <p>Jenny Havilah, who works on level six of the building and was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer, told <em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/liverpool-council-cancer-cluster-investigation-three-staff-diagnosed-thyroid-cancer/75ef3ccd-1ca6-4b41-b3b5-8c614886f093#:~:text=Liverpool%20Council%20has%20made%20the,were%20%22well%20and%20working%22." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="75ef3ccd-1ca6-4b41-b3b5-8c614886f093#:~:text=Liverpool%20Council%20has%20made%20the,were%20%22well%20and%20working%22." data-tgev-label="national" data-tgev-metric="ev">9News</a></em> she was concerned for her colleagues' health and safety. </p> <p>“It certainly sounds very sinister,” she told the outlet when asked about how three of her workmates who sat five metres apart were experiencing the same health issue. </p> <p>“I’m worried about my colleagues, not just on the sixth floor (but) that worked in that building.”</p> <p>“I had my thyroid and some lymph nodes removed and I’ll get the results in a week or so.”</p> <p>In a statement, Liverpool City Council said it was taking the matter “very seriously”, and have employed a third-party environmental health consultant while the NSW Department of Health undertakes a separate epidemiological investigation.</p> <p>“The decision to relocate staff is in response to the council’s high level of concern for the welfare of its staff,” the council said. </p> <p>“Our thoughts are with those affected and we wish them a prompt recovery.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News </em></p>

Caring

Grace Tame reveals unexpected health diagnosis

<p>After years of dismissing her symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain and vomiting, Grace Tame has revealed that she has endometriosis. </p> <p>Tame, an activist for survivors of sexual assault, is among the one in nine Australian women and girls who suffer from the debilitating disease, which mostly affects the reproductive organs. </p> <p>She announced the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday morning and revealed that she underwent surgery to remove the endometriosis from her bowel, pelvic walls and sacral ligaments on May 24.</p> <p>The former Australian of the Year, initially ignored the symptoms thinking it was due to her traumatic experiences of child sex abuse that she endured when she was 15-years-old, but only recently discovered the actual cause of her pain. </p> <p>"It’s easy to fall into the trap of internalising trauma to our detriment," she said.</p> <p>"I always assumed persistent sexual abuse alone caused my chronic pelvic pain, and learned to disassociate from most of it.</p> <p>"The episodes of violent sickness I put down to food poisoning. That is, until the end of 2022, when I began vomiting weekly into early 2023.</p> <p>"After negative screenings for Crohn’s, coeliac and IBD, my cousin Morgan encouraged me to see a gynaecologist for the first time in over a decade."</p> <p>She added that her gynaecologist suspected endo, and later on confirmed <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">the diagnosis </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">in a laparoscopic operation.</span></p> <p>"Surgery went smoothly, and as I write this, I can’t help but feel extremely grateful to be where I am, even if removal isn’t the panacea for this disease,” she said, hoping to raise more awareness for the disease.</p> <p>“Grateful knowing, in the absence of both prevention and cure, there are still options, and we’re not alone," she said. </p> <p>She also added that she was grateful for the support of her friends and family, and for being able to afford and access treatment. </p> <p>According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), there were 40,500 endometriosis-related hospitalisations in 2021–22, with this rate doubling in the past decade. </p> <p>In May's federal budget, the government announced a $49.1m investment into tackling endometriosis. </p> <p>From July 1, 2025, women suffering from endometriosis will have longer specialist consultations of 45 minutes or more covered under Medicare.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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