Joe Biden has ‘an aggressive form' of prostate cancer
Former US President Joe Biden's office has announced he's been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The diagnoses was made after President Biden experienced urinary symptoms and his office has said it's an aggressive form of the cancer.
Prostate cancer is Australia's most commonly diagnosed cancer, with 26,000 new cases annually.
ABC NewsRadio's Sarah Morice spoke with Anne Savage, CEO of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
The women of the 'sandwich generation' caring for young and old
I started to notice my 81-year-old mother, Di, struggling just under a year ago, when she texted me late on a Saturday night worrying about some legal paperwork and I could not get her to calm down. After that, she became increasingly anxious and depressed. She no longer took pleasure in the things she loved and began having trouble looking after herself day to day. Realising that mum needed serious professional help, we checked her into a psychiatric hospital for a short stay that turned into six months. Her decline was rapid. She seemed to wither before our eyes. There were falls, a broken arm, delirium, COVID, and, most likely dementia. She couldn't walk from bed to the toilet unaided. Only months prior, mum had lived alone and was independent. She had always been fearsome, a former school principal with a booming laugh and a single mother who made sure I had everything — a picture of self-sacrifice. We love each other to pieces, but also annoy each other like no-one else can. When I realised mum wouldn't be able to live on her own anymore, we planned for her to move into a granny flat at the back of our place when she left the hospital. I suddenly found myself part of what is sometimes called the "sandwich generation": people (mostly women) who have the task of being the primary carer for the generations on either side. My life was hectic even before mum became unwell. I'm an executive producer on the podcast Ladies, We Need to Talk and a parent to my two lovely and spirited neurodivergent kids, who are nine and 11. I knew it was going to be hard work, but nothing prepared me for the difficulty of trying to look after everyone all at once. Every day is spent frantically managing other people's needs, and our time spent together is mostly functional, keeping everyone warm, medicated, fed and showered. As well as helping mum after her release from hospital and getting the kids ready for school, a team of support workers for mum came and went daily, which required a tonne of admin and endless time on the phone. I often feel tired, and like my emotional reserves are used up on everybody else. It could break me on some days. But I'm not alone. There are around 1.5 million Aussies who are in this situation, and the numbers are rising. The 2022 Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (the "HILDA") Survey, found that women were "considerably more likely" to be carers than men. As Australia's population ages, by 2050 the 85+ age group is expected to triple. We're also having babies later, which means women are often at the peak of their careers when they need to start caring for their kids and their elderly parents too. So, I wanted to find out what the sandwich generation can do to take care not only of the people around them, but of themselves. And for those not at that stage yet, how can we set ourselves up to survive this period? I met with Nasalifya Namwinga, a clinical psychologist and burnout researcher, who often sees how women carry most of the caregiving load, and how heavy this can be for them. "I think there's an expectation that as a woman, you'll provide this care. You're being pulled in three different directions and you are being stretched to meet the needs of these particular roles [as a mother, carer and partner]," she says. Namwinga says it can be helpful to have conversations about expectations of who does the care work early on, "while the parent actually has the capacity to engage or contribute". I've used the word burnout a lot in the past year. But I've often wondered how you know you are experiencing carer burnout as opposed to just being a bit tired and over it? Namwinga says there are three components to burnout: exhaustion, low efficacy and cynicism. I identify with "low efficacy" — stuff like missing kids' appointments, or being late on paying my bills — things that are not the norm for me. Namwinga says cynicism is also one to keep an eye on. "[Cynicism] might play out as anger or intense emotions that don't match how you feel about the thing that you're doing. Those are the feelings that come up that; 'I just wish I didn't have to do any of it.' That's probably a sign you're experiencing carer burnout." I think a lot of mothers and carers struggle with asking for help, because we're used to doing it all, and we are really good at juggling a million things. Namwinga says protecting ourselves from burnout is ultimately about "scaffolding" ourselves with support from others. "So if I start experiencing exhaustion to the point that I'm struggling to get out of bed, who can I call? And asking them for support when you need it. And that means you have to prioritise yourself." Phyllis, who is looking after her mother and children, thinks the term "sandwich generation" needs a rebrand. I spoke to Phyllis because I wanted to hear about women going through similar experiences. She is in the thick of it right now, caring for her 94-year-old mother, Barbara, and two teenage sons, who are 15 and 18, while also working four days a week. She's been her mum's main carer since Barbara's husband died 13 years ago. "He was the filter through which mum saw the world, so when he passed, I had to step into that role," she says. Barbara is in great health for a nonagenarian, but she doesn't drive anymore, and Greek is the language she's most comfortable with. So Phyllis is Barbara's emotional support, her taxi driver, her translator and personal assistant. She tries to see her mum twice a week, and they stay in constant phone contact. But she has set clear expectations with Barbara about how much she can offer as a carer while also trying to parent two teenagers. "My sons come first," she says. "You cannot in this day and age take your hands off the wheel. You can't just say 'hey they're teenagers now, go be free'. It adds a whole other layer of complexity to the parenting equation." As the primary carer, Phyllis can sometimes feel the pressure of non-stop demands from her mum. Coupled with exhaustion, it means Phyllis can sometimes lose her cool with her mum. "The boys have been present when I've argued with my mother and we've gone hammer and tongs and it's been really ugly. But then they also see when we make up," she says. The women staying single by choice in a world of relentless dating pressure The idea of modelling healthy relationships to your kids is something Namwinga leans into in her practice. "When we mess up as parents, it actually provides a beautiful moment for repair with our children, which teaches them something about relationships. It teaches them that you are not perfect," she says. "You can get things wrong. [Saying] 'I was wrong and I'm sorry', is a really powerful experience for a child to learn that if my parent doesn't have to be perfect, then maybe I don't have to be perfect either." Phyllis says there can also be little moments of beauty with her mother. "She can be a really complex, difficult character, but she's very loving and she's very kind and beneath all the bluster, is a very frightened, vulnerable little girl," she says. "And that's what I try and hold onto when times can be tough. "And it makes me emotional because, she's just such a force of nature. She's been through a lot of rejection and pain, and yet she's still who she is unapologetically. She's dealing with her frailties of aging with as much grace as she can muster." I recently spent the day with mum after she had been in respite care for about three weeks. I took her shopping and I could tell she thought she felt good about herself for the first time in a long while. It was so great to see her sparkling a bit. We went out for lunch and she told me about some friends she made in care, and how they get together to complain about the food. Having a chat with me was out of the ordinary for her; normally it's just a list of worries. It made me feel a bit lighter, like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I know there'll be many more bad days ahead, but she's in a good place right now, and we've just signed the paperwork for her to stay in care permanently. But I'm also battling with something more existential as I watch my mum get older — a living grief for the woman she once was. A part of me is also preparing for the end. "It is a complex grief to be watching someone you love slip away from you," Namwinga tells me. "If they experience things like dementia, they're losing memories, they're losing mobility, [and] watching that process can be quite heartbreaking." It is a privilege to be in a position where I can care for my mum and be able to pay her back for a lot of the stuff she did raising me. If I was going to give any advice, it would be that it's going to happen way faster than you think. You think you've got years, but one event can just send everything spiralling out of control and change the whole world for them and for you. So talk to your parents early about their power of attorney, their enduring guardianship, about their will and final wishes. They're hard conversations to have, but it's much easier to have them sooner than later. The host of the Ladies, We Need To Talk, Yumi Stynes, once gave me some words of advice when I was having a bit of a shitty week: "Don't be heroic." So I've taken those words on board and it's now my current Sandwich Gen motto.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Australia's LGBTQIA+ youth report physical, verbal assault — but also queer joy
One in 10 LGBTQIA+ young people say they have been physically assaulted in the last year, according to a new landmark study. More than a third of those interviewed nationally had experienced physical harm for their identity in their lifetime. Minus18, a mental health charity for queer youth, released the data as part of their national Queer Youth Now survey. Almost 3,000 LGBTQIA+ young people aged between 13-25 were interviewed across Australia. Public discourse and debate surrounding Australia's queer community made the numbers unsurprising for project lead Alvi Ahmed. "It's still really confronting that we found nine in 10 LGBTQ+ young people in our survey had faced bullying, harassment, or violence due to their identity," he told the ABC. "[The reports of violence] are sadly consistent with previous studies done in this space as well. "And so the message is still loud and clear that these experiences are still happening. "Over half of young people [surveyed] had experienced verbal harassment as well in the past year, which is a big finding. "But importantly, there's so much that we can do to help combat anti-LGBTQ+ hate. "There's small actions people can take [to] make a real difference in the lives of queer young people." I came out to my first university class and a woman from class came to talk to me because her 10-year-old transgender son had never met another trans person. I was able to show a 10-year-old kid that there is a future for us. — National Youth Survey participant ❝ When my best friend came out to me it made me feel so proud because without each other we wouldn't have had the courage to be ourselves. I found euphoria through my friendship with her and my own unique relationship with gender through my autism. I feel things so different and it's beautiful. — National Youth Survey participant ❝ I feel the most happy and proud when I am walking around with my partner's hand in mine. — National Youth Survey participant ❝ My queer alliance at school is one of my favourite places to be at school. Love you guys!! — National Youth Survey participant A snapshot of Australia's young queer community Of the 2,724 young people aged between 13 to 25 surveyed, 64 per cent were transgender, gender-diverse or non-binary. Almost half were still in high school and more than a third lived in rural, regional or remote areas. The majority said they had first questioned or realised their identity about the age of 12. Minus18's chief executive Micah Scott said the data affirmed the "lived experience" of Australia's young LGBTQIA+ community. "It [also] gives us clear, actionable direction to improve the support systems they rely on," he said. "It tells us where to focus, what needs to change, and how we can better show up for queer youth across the country." The report, supported by the Telstra Foundation and aided by more than 20 community organisations, is the largest national survey of LGBTQIA+ youth in recent years. It provided a "vital" snapshot of the community, according to Minus18. Only six per cent of respondents felt the Australian government understood and listened to people like them. Many said they did not feel safe being completely open about their identity at school, in sports settings or at home. Having access to inclusive facilities and seeing visible support — like lanyards, posters and flags at school — also helped them feel accepted, according to the report. Where an LGBTQIA+ student group was available, 71 per cent said they got involved — but only half of the respondents had access to that kind of group. Mr Ahmed said there was a "discrepancy between what young people want and what they actually see on the ground". He added there were also differences between the experiences of those aged under 18 and those aged 18-25. "[There are] different ways in which people engage with community in terms of the events that they attend," he said. "Under 18s are more likely to attend queer formals or rainbow balls, and over 18s are more likely to attend public pride events. "Our interpretation of that is that often some public pride events aren't catered to those who are under 18, and so at Minus18 we base a lot of our events on the premise of creating a space for young people to connect." Finding queer joy in 'being seen and being celebrated' Amid reports of violence, harassment and fear, the survey also gave a spotlight to something "deeply" important — queer joy. A total of 79 per cent of LGBTQIA+ young people said they had felt a sense of "acceptance and inclusion" relating to their identity in the last year. A similar number said they had felt "pride or euphoria" for their identity. Despite 10 per cent of those surveyed saying they had "no-one" as a role model in their lives, others looked to friends, family, teachers, coworkers — as well as influencers and celebrities — for inspiration. Mr Ahmed said he wanted the report to show "what the future can be". "It shows us that queer young people are finding queer joy everywhere," he said. "They find it in friendship. They're finding it in support. They're finding it in being seen and being celebrated. "So we know that these moments matter deeply to young people. "By highlighting these queer joy experiences, we're trying to show that there is a future where queer young people can experience joy and euphoria and be celebrated for who they are. "So we hope these findings can help queer young people now, but also … into the future and help create a better environment for young people in a more safe and welcoming world."
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Calls for urgent home support packages after aged care reform delay
The government is under pressure to fund at least 20,000 new at-home care packages for older Australians who need additional support, after the implementation of sweeping sector-wide aged care reforms were postponed. A group of 10 crossbenchers have written to the government calling for the additional packages to be made available from next month, a push that has been backed by the aged care sector and advocates. Under the aged care reforms — which passed parliament in November with bipartisan support — 83,000 home support packages were due to be rolled out from July. But the government announced last week that it would delay the implementation of the wider reforms until November to allow for a smooth transition and allay concerns from the sector. While providers and advocates welcomed the extension for the most part, they have raised concerns that the four-month delay would worsen the existing backlog of people waiting for at-home supports. About 80,000 people are currently on the waitlist for home care packages, with some people waiting a year for their correct supports to help with things like cleaning, cooking and showering. Independent Senator David Pocock, who was part of the group that wrote the letter to the government, warned on Wednesday that "people are dying on the waitlist". While he said delaying the majority of reforms was a good thing, he argued there is "absolutely no reason" to hold off on the home care packages. "The government has already budgeted for this," he said. "They need to bring that part of the reform forward so people can actually age at home with dignity rather than ending up in hospital or in aged care facilities, which are far more expensive." Fellow independent Helen Haines said the longer the wait for services, the bigger the backlog will grow. "The longer that they wait, the higher the chances are of further deterioration in their health and in many cases, people have a premature entry into residential aged care," she said. Canberra resident Kaye Pritchard has seen first-hand what the waitlist for at-home support means for the people that need it. Her cousin, Robin Rawson, was 93 when she died in April last year after being approved for a level four home care package — the highest one available. She had been told it would take six to nine months before she would be able to access that additional support. "I can remember her saying at the time, 'well, that's not much use to me because I'm going to be dead by then,'" Ms Pritchard said. "And she certainly was within the next couple of months. She deteriorated and passed away without ever receiving any of the benefits that she needed in those crucial last weeks of her life." Ms Pritchard said her cousin wanted to stay at home and the additional supports would have given her peace of mind that she could "die with dignity". "Six to nine months to wait for a package for someone who is terminally ill is just not good enough," she said. The reworked Support at Home Program is designed to shorten wait times for home care packages and lift funding for the highest classification of need up from $60,000 to $78,000 a year. It will provide support for nursing care, occupational therapy, help with showering or taking medications, and everyday living like cleaning and gardening, as the government aims to help more people stay in their homes for longer. Those packages will also be subject to greater means testing, which will vary depending on individual circumstances. Tom Symondson, the chief executive of peak body Ageing Australia, warned that the waitlist would grow to over 100,000 people if the packages are held up until November. "We need to see packages start to flow," he said. "We just can't have people waiting longer than they already are." Craig Gear, head of the Older Person Advocacy Network, told the ABC that many people want to be able to age at home. "And we also know that the residential aged care system, it's under a lot of pressure and it's pretty full at the moment," he said. "So we need to help support people to stay in their home as long as they can." Aged Care Minister Sam Rae did not respond to ABC News' request for comment. But Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler last week said the government had decided to push back the start date after listening to the sector. "We need to think about a delay of a few months to ensure that all of the systems are in place to deliver a smooth transition to the new laws, and also that older Australians are fully informed about what those new laws will mean for them," he said. "Nonetheless, what we see into the future is a once-in-a-generation reform to the aged care system that will deliver high quality, world class aged care services to older Australians who have built this community."
