'Too much of a risk': Mark kept being turned away until he found his people
When the father-of-five was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Young Onset Lewy Body Dementia at just 54, he had to give up his beloved career as a Station Officer with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, as well as his driver's licence.
"It was a bit of an adjustment, being home everyday with nothing to do," Mr Stephenson said, now aged 57.
Read more in The Senior
The grandfather-of-two told The Senior Lewy Body affects younger people differently than those with more life experience.
"For older people, it's more slower in the progression of the disease normally, whereas for younger people, it's quicker. So life expectancy for someone under 60 getting it is three to seven years," he said.
After diagnosis, Mark wanted to use his extra time to give back to his community as a volunteer - but over a two-year period all the organisations Mark approached shut their doors to him. They told him he was "too much of a risk", due to the hallucinations he can sometimes have with dementia.
After the once-active fireman tried his local sports groups - and was given the same answer - he felt very isolated for the first two years following his diagnosis - only going out if his wife or friends took him.
"By this stage, I was starting to lose a lot of mobility. Lewy body attacks the brain and the spinal cord," he said.
"I'd pretty much given up and just thought, ok, I'll just sit at home and watch the world go by and wait for the Grim Reaper to knock on the door."
But things changed when Mark's wife saw a Facebook ad for wheelchair cricket and "pestered" him too give them a call.
The result changed his life.
Initally, Mark was worried Sporting Wheelies would shut their door too once they knew of his condition, but they didn't.
"It was like, 'G'day, how are you going? Yep, this is a sports wheelchair, jump in one'," he said.
"Very welcoming, very inclusive. Pretty much straight away accepted me as part of the community. No-one's judged."
Sporting Wheelies in Queensland has given Mark a "sense of purpose" and it wasn't long until he started playing wheelchair basketball, as well as wheelchair AFL.
"Sporting Wheelies is also a gateway, so they can put you in touch with wheelchair AFL, the wheelchair rugby league, wheelchair rugby," he said.
Through AFL, he is learning new skills, but it's the support and friendship that's been most rewarding.
"I'm basically a paraplegic now. But the community down there are able to help you adjust to things very easily, because people down there have lived experience," he said.
"And whether it's through accident, through injury or by disease, everyone's in the same boat, just at various stages. So there's a really good support network."
Mark wants everyone to be able to have access to sport and specialised wheelchairs, and is hoping Sporting Wheelies will attract donations and corporate sponsorship so it can include more regional areas in Queensland and then into other states.
Individuals and organisations can make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to Sporting Wheelies before June 30 at sportingwheelies.org.au/taxappeal.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
After having the door slammed in his face time after time as his disability was deemed too "risky", Mark Stephenson finally found his tribe with a volunteer sports organisation.
When the father-of-five was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Young Onset Lewy Body Dementia at just 54, he had to give up his beloved career as a Station Officer with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, as well as his driver's licence.
"It was a bit of an adjustment, being home everyday with nothing to do," Mr Stephenson said, now aged 57.
Read more in The Senior
The grandfather-of-two told The Senior Lewy Body affects younger people differently than those with more life experience.
"For older people, it's more slower in the progression of the disease normally, whereas for younger people, it's quicker. So life expectancy for someone under 60 getting it is three to seven years," he said.
After diagnosis, Mark wanted to use his extra time to give back to his community as a volunteer - but over a two-year period all the organisations Mark approached shut their doors to him. They told him he was "too much of a risk", due to the hallucinations he can sometimes have with dementia.
After the once-active fireman tried his local sports groups - and was given the same answer - he felt very isolated for the first two years following his diagnosis - only going out if his wife or friends took him.
"By this stage, I was starting to lose a lot of mobility. Lewy body attacks the brain and the spinal cord," he said.
"I'd pretty much given up and just thought, ok, I'll just sit at home and watch the world go by and wait for the Grim Reaper to knock on the door."
But things changed when Mark's wife saw a Facebook ad for wheelchair cricket and "pestered" him too give them a call.
The result changed his life.
Initally, Mark was worried Sporting Wheelies would shut their door too once they knew of his condition, but they didn't.
"It was like, 'G'day, how are you going? Yep, this is a sports wheelchair, jump in one'," he said.
"Very welcoming, very inclusive. Pretty much straight away accepted me as part of the community. No-one's judged."
Sporting Wheelies in Queensland has given Mark a "sense of purpose" and it wasn't long until he started playing wheelchair basketball, as well as wheelchair AFL.
"Sporting Wheelies is also a gateway, so they can put you in touch with wheelchair AFL, the wheelchair rugby league, wheelchair rugby," he said.
Through AFL, he is learning new skills, but it's the support and friendship that's been most rewarding.
"I'm basically a paraplegic now. But the community down there are able to help you adjust to things very easily, because people down there have lived experience," he said.
"And whether it's through accident, through injury or by disease, everyone's in the same boat, just at various stages. So there's a really good support network."
Mark wants everyone to be able to have access to sport and specialised wheelchairs, and is hoping Sporting Wheelies will attract donations and corporate sponsorship so it can include more regional areas in Queensland and then into other states.
Individuals and organisations can make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to Sporting Wheelies before June 30 at sportingwheelies.org.au/taxappeal.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
After having the door slammed in his face time after time as his disability was deemed too "risky", Mark Stephenson finally found his tribe with a volunteer sports organisation.
When the father-of-five was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Young Onset Lewy Body Dementia at just 54, he had to give up his beloved career as a Station Officer with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, as well as his driver's licence.
"It was a bit of an adjustment, being home everyday with nothing to do," Mr Stephenson said, now aged 57.
Read more in The Senior
The grandfather-of-two told The Senior Lewy Body affects younger people differently than those with more life experience.
"For older people, it's more slower in the progression of the disease normally, whereas for younger people, it's quicker. So life expectancy for someone under 60 getting it is three to seven years," he said.
After diagnosis, Mark wanted to use his extra time to give back to his community as a volunteer - but over a two-year period all the organisations Mark approached shut their doors to him. They told him he was "too much of a risk", due to the hallucinations he can sometimes have with dementia.
After the once-active fireman tried his local sports groups - and was given the same answer - he felt very isolated for the first two years following his diagnosis - only going out if his wife or friends took him.
"By this stage, I was starting to lose a lot of mobility. Lewy body attacks the brain and the spinal cord," he said.
"I'd pretty much given up and just thought, ok, I'll just sit at home and watch the world go by and wait for the Grim Reaper to knock on the door."
But things changed when Mark's wife saw a Facebook ad for wheelchair cricket and "pestered" him too give them a call.
The result changed his life.
Initally, Mark was worried Sporting Wheelies would shut their door too once they knew of his condition, but they didn't.
"It was like, 'G'day, how are you going? Yep, this is a sports wheelchair, jump in one'," he said.
"Very welcoming, very inclusive. Pretty much straight away accepted me as part of the community. No-one's judged."
Sporting Wheelies in Queensland has given Mark a "sense of purpose" and it wasn't long until he started playing wheelchair basketball, as well as wheelchair AFL.
"Sporting Wheelies is also a gateway, so they can put you in touch with wheelchair AFL, the wheelchair rugby league, wheelchair rugby," he said.
Through AFL, he is learning new skills, but it's the support and friendship that's been most rewarding.
"I'm basically a paraplegic now. But the community down there are able to help you adjust to things very easily, because people down there have lived experience," he said.
"And whether it's through accident, through injury or by disease, everyone's in the same boat, just at various stages. So there's a really good support network."
Mark wants everyone to be able to have access to sport and specialised wheelchairs, and is hoping Sporting Wheelies will attract donations and corporate sponsorship so it can include more regional areas in Queensland and then into other states.
Individuals and organisations can make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to Sporting Wheelies before June 30 at sportingwheelies.org.au/taxappeal.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
After having the door slammed in his face time after time as his disability was deemed too "risky", Mark Stephenson finally found his tribe with a volunteer sports organisation.
When the father-of-five was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Young Onset Lewy Body Dementia at just 54, he had to give up his beloved career as a Station Officer with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, as well as his driver's licence.
"It was a bit of an adjustment, being home everyday with nothing to do," Mr Stephenson said, now aged 57.
Read more in The Senior
The grandfather-of-two told The Senior Lewy Body affects younger people differently than those with more life experience.
"For older people, it's more slower in the progression of the disease normally, whereas for younger people, it's quicker. So life expectancy for someone under 60 getting it is three to seven years," he said.
After diagnosis, Mark wanted to use his extra time to give back to his community as a volunteer - but over a two-year period all the organisations Mark approached shut their doors to him. They told him he was "too much of a risk", due to the hallucinations he can sometimes have with dementia.
After the once-active fireman tried his local sports groups - and was given the same answer - he felt very isolated for the first two years following his diagnosis - only going out if his wife or friends took him.
"By this stage, I was starting to lose a lot of mobility. Lewy body attacks the brain and the spinal cord," he said.
"I'd pretty much given up and just thought, ok, I'll just sit at home and watch the world go by and wait for the Grim Reaper to knock on the door."
But things changed when Mark's wife saw a Facebook ad for wheelchair cricket and "pestered" him too give them a call.
The result changed his life.
Initally, Mark was worried Sporting Wheelies would shut their door too once they knew of his condition, but they didn't.
"It was like, 'G'day, how are you going? Yep, this is a sports wheelchair, jump in one'," he said.
"Very welcoming, very inclusive. Pretty much straight away accepted me as part of the community. No-one's judged."
Sporting Wheelies in Queensland has given Mark a "sense of purpose" and it wasn't long until he started playing wheelchair basketball, as well as wheelchair AFL.
"Sporting Wheelies is also a gateway, so they can put you in touch with wheelchair AFL, the wheelchair rugby league, wheelchair rugby," he said.
Through AFL, he is learning new skills, but it's the support and friendship that's been most rewarding.
"I'm basically a paraplegic now. But the community down there are able to help you adjust to things very easily, because people down there have lived experience," he said.
"And whether it's through accident, through injury or by disease, everyone's in the same boat, just at various stages. So there's a really good support network."
Mark wants everyone to be able to have access to sport and specialised wheelchairs, and is hoping Sporting Wheelies will attract donations and corporate sponsorship so it can include more regional areas in Queensland and then into other states.
Individuals and organisations can make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation to Sporting Wheelies before June 30 at sportingwheelies.org.au/taxappeal.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I lost everything': How denouncing surgeon Al Muderis landed biggest critic in prison
Amputee Fred Hernandez spent 16 months in jail after disgraced surgeon Munjed Al Muderis pursued multiple lawsuits against his former patient turned business partner. What started with a series of Facebook posts alleging the doctor was involved in a 'major cover-up' ended with Hernandez, an above-the-knee amputee, serving an indefinite sentence alongside hardened criminals in a US prison in Nevada for contempt of court. There, he said, he was manhandled by guards, was denied access to treatment for severe nerve pain and was injured after he was shackled at the legs and waist without appropriate disability support and fell. 'The medical [treatment] in there was severely lacking on just about every level,' he said. 'I spent a good 15 months in a wheelchair, which has caused me to start from scratch for my walking. I started with a walker, and that went to two crutches, one crutch and I'm still on a cane.' The lawsuits filed by Al Muderis against Hernandez in America were sparked by social media posts from Hernandez in 2018 warning patients about Al Muderis' unethical conduct and raising awareness of other surgeons who perform osseointegration, which involves inserting a titanium rod into an amputee's residual bone to enable a prosthetic limb to be attached. Hernandez's claims, like those of many victims of the once celebrated surgeon, were vindicated this month in a devastating defamation case judgment in the Federal Court of Australia which lashed Al Muderis over his negligent treatment of patients. But by that point Hernandez had already paid a heavy price for his criticisms of Al Muderis going back to 2018. 'Over the years I became aware of situations that I frankly did not agree with; unethical on some levels and downright wrong on others,' Hernandez posted on December 20, 2018. 'This is not the forum to air anyone's dirty laundry in detail but what the patient population and general public sees is not what actually goes on ... I smell a major cover-up.' This spurred years of litigation leaving Hernandez broke, unemployed and struggling to piece his life back together as Al Muderis still blocks his ability to work in osseointegration. Despite the heavy toll, Hernandez has no regrets. 'I literally lost everything,' he said. 'Patients had a right to know. Given my role in building this fake persona that is Al Muderis, I feel like I had a responsibility. If I have to lose everything over that, so be it. It's been hard, don't get me wrong.' In Al Muderis' failed defamation case against this masthead and 60 Minutes, his barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, falsely claimed Hernandez was the 'primary source' for the media outlets' investigation and successfully opposed Hernandez giving evidence from prison via video link. Hernandez believes Al Muderis' ongoing pursuit of him has been designed to silence him, and maintain a monopoly on the lucrative surgery in America. 'If you work for him, he owns you. His cult following will deny it, but they've never seen it. They've never worked on that level with him, so they have no clue,' Hernandez said in an interview. 'Whatever it takes' Hernandez first approached Al Muderis with a business pitch in 2012, attracted by the surgeon's passion for osseointegration. 'Osseointegration technology is a life changer and once amputees see the implant for themselves, they will do whatever it takes to obtain it,' Hernandez wrote. The cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking Las Vegas resident became an above-the-knee amputee in 1985 at the age of 17 after he was crushed by a truck in an accident. Like many above-the-knee amputees, Hernandez always had trouble with traditional sockets that were uncomfortable and made it difficult to walk. In the early 2000s, he discovered osseointegration online and became transfixed by the novel procedure. Loading For the right people, osseointegration alleviates the blisters and discomfort of traditional socket prosthetics and enables greater mobility. But it also carries immense risks, from worsening pain to infections and the need for further amputations. The Federal Court judgment ruled Al Muderis deliberately downplays or fails to explain risks to vulnerable patients and uses high-pressure sales tactics to sign them up to invasive and experimental operations without informed consent. Enthralled by the potential of osseointegration, Hernandez started a website dedicated to the procedure, and tracked the clusters of surgeons performing it around the world. He couldn't afford the surgery so, in 2012, he emailed every osseointegration surgeon, asking for a free procedure in exchange for his promotion of their work in the US, a country with an enormous number of amputees. Al Muderis was the only one who was interested. By March 2013, Hernandez was on a flight from Las Vegas to Sydney for the operation to be performed at Macquarie University Hospital. It was a success, though he has experienced worsened pain and several infections. Hernandez held up his end of the bargain – giving glowing media interviews in America, and promoting the procedure and Al Muderis through roadshows aimed at prospective patients who flew to Australia for surgery. What these patients did not know was that, for a period, Hernandez was paid cash commissions of $US1000 for each patient he sent Al Muderis' way who went ahead with surgery. These commissions were detailed in a contract that included confidentiality and exclusivity clauses, forbidding the patients from knowing Hernandez's advice was conflicted. In the Federal Court ruling, Justice Wendy Abraham found this arrangement to be unethical, as it altered the advice Hernandez gave to prospective patients, many of whom considered him a 'friend'. By 2018, Al Muderis stopped paying Hernandez's commissions, the tipping point behind a bitter falling out between the two. They parted ways, and Hernandez turned to social media to expose what he saw as unethical conduct by Al Muderis. 'I chose Australia at the time, because they had the beginnings of a proper team but that has significantly changed over the year,' Hernandez wrote. 'If you look at what they have now, it looks nothing like what they started with and I think that is sad; because it really doesn't have to be that way.' Al Muderis responded by filing a defamation suit in the US. Hernandez said a combination of poor legal representation and US competition laws led to a default judgment being filed against him — and he was ordered to pay Al Muderis $US2.7 million. The court documents in that case revealed the once lucrative nature of their partnership, with each American patient flying to Australia for osseointegration surgery with Al Muderis delivering the surgeon a profit of $US75,000. While Hernandez tried to overturn the judgment, Al Muderis' lawyers were conducting surveillance on Hernandez and his business partners before launching a second lawsuit – this time alleging he was shuffling money between businesses to avoid paying the money. Hernandez tried to file for bankruptcy, but every step he took was blocked. Eventually, during one hearing, on November 29, 2023, the judge found him in contempt of court over his failure to pay and sent Hernandez to prison, with an indefinite sentence. In jail, he said, he was denied access to proper healthcare, and was terrified of his osseointegrated leg becoming infected. He tripped, and fell, putting him in a wheelchair while he awaited treatment. 'I was constantly complaining in writing,' he said. 'Trying to get somebody's attention to help me in there.' Hernandez was due to give evidence in Al Muderis' failed defamation case about everything from the secret cash commissions to recruit patients, to Al Muderis' illegal US hotel room 'clinics', to his bullying of staff and failure to care for his patients. 'I always saw Dr Al Muderis' motivation as related more to status, and that Dr Al Muderis wanted to be known as the king of osseointegration, and as 'the guy' for osseointegration,' Hernandez's affidavit stated. He did not end up testifying, but watched some of Al Muderis' cross-examination on Youtube. 'I kept shaking my head when I was listening to him talk about things I knew weren't true, and I … thought to myself, don't they have laws in Australia about giving false testimony?' Under cross-examination, Al Muderis denied any knowledge of the cash commission paid to Hernandez. Abraham ruled he made 'disingenuous attempts to distance himself from the arrangement' and 'denied the obvious'. 'Al Muderis' cross-examination in relation to the contract was not just evasive, it was false,' she ruled. 'Given the evidence, it is apparent he denied it in the interview because it reflected adversely on him.' Loading Hernandez said that since his release in April, Al Muderis had continued to block his ability, through court orders, to work in osseointegration, an area he has spent 13 years building a career in. His family and friends launched a petition to raise funds to pay for lawyers to keep fighting these battles, titled 'Help Amputee Advocate in Legal Battles for Whistleblowing'. In the landmark Federal Court judgment, Justice Abraham found that it was clear Hernandez 'holds strong views against' Al Muderis and sent 'unpleasant' messages about him to friends, but cited other messages in which Hernandez said, 'it's all about the truth anyway'. Chrysanthou alleged Hernandez was one of the driving forces behind a 'concoction' of fake complaints designed to destroy Al Muderis. Abraham was searing in her criticism of this submission. 'This reflects the preparedness of the applicant to make such serious allegations blaming others, where it appears there is no basis,' she found. Al Muderis was last week asked to respond to Hernandez's claim that he aggressively used litigation to silence concerns about his practice. He did not respond.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
‘I lost everything': How denouncing surgeon Al Muderis landed biggest critic in prison
Amputee Fred Hernandez spent 16 months in jail after disgraced surgeon Munjed Al Muderis pursued multiple lawsuits against his former patient turned business partner. What started with a series of Facebook posts alleging the doctor was involved in a 'major cover-up' ended with Hernandez, an above-the-knee amputee, serving an indefinite sentence alongside hardened criminals in a US prison in Nevada for contempt of court. There, he said, he was manhandled by guards, was denied access to treatment for severe nerve pain and was injured after he was shackled at the legs and waist without appropriate disability support and fell. 'The medical [treatment] in there was severely lacking on just about every level,' he said. 'I spent a good 15 months in a wheelchair, which has caused me to start from scratch for my walking. I started with a walker, and that went to two crutches, one crutch and I'm still on a cane.' The lawsuits filed by Al Muderis against Hernandez in America were sparked by social media posts from Hernandez in 2018 warning patients about Al Muderis' unethical conduct and raising awareness of other surgeons who perform osseointegration, which involves inserting a titanium rod into an amputee's residual bone to enable a prosthetic limb to be attached. Hernandez's claims, like those of many victims of the once celebrated surgeon, were vindicated this month in a devastating defamation case judgment in the Federal Court of Australia which lashed Al Muderis over his negligent treatment of patients. But by that point Hernandez had already paid a heavy price for his criticisms of Al Muderis going back to 2018. 'Over the years I became aware of situations that I frankly did not agree with; unethical on some levels and downright wrong on others,' Hernandez posted on December 20, 2018. 'This is not the forum to air anyone's dirty laundry in detail but what the patient population and general public sees is not what actually goes on ... I smell a major cover-up.' This spurred years of litigation leaving Hernandez broke, unemployed and struggling to piece his life back together as Al Muderis still blocks his ability to work in osseointegration. Despite the heavy toll, Hernandez has no regrets. 'I literally lost everything,' he said. 'Patients had a right to know. Given my role in building this fake persona that is Al Muderis, I feel like I had a responsibility. If I have to lose everything over that, so be it. It's been hard, don't get me wrong.' In Al Muderis' failed defamation case against this masthead and 60 Minutes, his barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, falsely claimed Hernandez was the 'primary source' for the media outlets' investigation and successfully opposed Hernandez giving evidence from prison via video link. Hernandez believes Al Muderis' ongoing pursuit of him has been designed to silence him, and maintain a monopoly on the lucrative surgery in America. 'If you work for him, he owns you. His cult following will deny it, but they've never seen it. They've never worked on that level with him, so they have no clue,' Hernandez said in an interview. 'Whatever it takes' Hernandez first approached Al Muderis with a business pitch in 2012, attracted by the surgeon's passion for osseointegration. 'Osseointegration technology is a life changer and once amputees see the implant for themselves, they will do whatever it takes to obtain it,' Hernandez wrote. The cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking Las Vegas resident became an above-the-knee amputee in 1985 at the age of 17 after he was crushed by a truck in an accident. Like many above-the-knee amputees, Hernandez always had trouble with traditional sockets that were uncomfortable and made it difficult to walk. In the early 2000s, he discovered osseointegration online and became transfixed by the novel procedure. Loading For the right people, osseointegration alleviates the blisters and discomfort of traditional socket prosthetics and enables greater mobility. But it also carries immense risks, from worsening pain to infections and the need for further amputations. The Federal Court judgment ruled Al Muderis deliberately downplays or fails to explain risks to vulnerable patients and uses high-pressure sales tactics to sign them up to invasive and experimental operations without informed consent. Enthralled by the potential of osseointegration, Hernandez started a website dedicated to the procedure, and tracked the clusters of surgeons performing it around the world. He couldn't afford the surgery so, in 2012, he emailed every osseointegration surgeon, asking for a free procedure in exchange for his promotion of their work in the US, a country with an enormous number of amputees. Al Muderis was the only one who was interested. By March 2013, Hernandez was on a flight from Las Vegas to Sydney for the operation to be performed at Macquarie University Hospital. It was a success, though he has experienced worsened pain and several infections. Hernandez held up his end of the bargain – giving glowing media interviews in America, and promoting the procedure and Al Muderis through roadshows aimed at prospective patients who flew to Australia for surgery. What these patients did not know was that, for a period, Hernandez was paid cash commissions of $US1000 for each patient he sent Al Muderis' way who went ahead with surgery. These commissions were detailed in a contract that included confidentiality and exclusivity clauses, forbidding the patients from knowing Hernandez's advice was conflicted. In the Federal Court ruling, Justice Wendy Abraham found this arrangement to be unethical, as it altered the advice Hernandez gave to prospective patients, many of whom considered him a 'friend'. By 2018, Al Muderis stopped paying Hernandez's commissions, the tipping point behind a bitter falling out between the two. They parted ways, and Hernandez turned to social media to expose what he saw as unethical conduct by Al Muderis. 'I chose Australia at the time, because they had the beginnings of a proper team but that has significantly changed over the year,' Hernandez wrote. 'If you look at what they have now, it looks nothing like what they started with and I think that is sad; because it really doesn't have to be that way.' Al Muderis responded by filing a defamation suit in the US. Hernandez said a combination of poor legal representation and US competition laws led to a default judgment being filed against him — and he was ordered to pay Al Muderis $US2.7 million. The court documents in that case revealed the once lucrative nature of their partnership, with each American patient flying to Australia for osseointegration surgery with Al Muderis delivering the surgeon a profit of $US75,000. While Hernandez tried to overturn the judgment, Al Muderis' lawyers were conducting surveillance on Hernandez and his business partners before launching a second lawsuit – this time alleging he was shuffling money between businesses to avoid paying the money. Hernandez tried to file for bankruptcy, but every step he took was blocked. Eventually, during one hearing, on November 29, 2023, the judge found him in contempt of court over his failure to pay and sent Hernandez to prison, with an indefinite sentence. In jail, he said, he was denied access to proper healthcare, and was terrified of his osseointegrated leg becoming infected. He tripped, and fell, putting him in a wheelchair while he awaited treatment. 'I was constantly complaining in writing,' he said. 'Trying to get somebody's attention to help me in there.' Hernandez was due to give evidence in Al Muderis' failed defamation case about everything from the secret cash commissions to recruit patients, to Al Muderis' illegal US hotel room 'clinics', to his bullying of staff and failure to care for his patients. 'I always saw Dr Al Muderis' motivation as related more to status, and that Dr Al Muderis wanted to be known as the king of osseointegration, and as 'the guy' for osseointegration,' Hernandez's affidavit stated. He did not end up testifying, but watched some of Al Muderis' cross-examination on Youtube. 'I kept shaking my head when I was listening to him talk about things I knew weren't true, and I … thought to myself, don't they have laws in Australia about giving false testimony?' Under cross-examination, Al Muderis denied any knowledge of the cash commission paid to Hernandez. Abraham ruled he made 'disingenuous attempts to distance himself from the arrangement' and 'denied the obvious'. 'Al Muderis' cross-examination in relation to the contract was not just evasive, it was false,' she ruled. 'Given the evidence, it is apparent he denied it in the interview because it reflected adversely on him.' Loading Hernandez said that since his release in April, Al Muderis had continued to block his ability, through court orders, to work in osseointegration, an area he has spent 13 years building a career in. His family and friends launched a petition to raise funds to pay for lawyers to keep fighting these battles, titled 'Help Amputee Advocate in Legal Battles for Whistleblowing'. In the landmark Federal Court judgment, Justice Abraham found that it was clear Hernandez 'holds strong views against' Al Muderis and sent 'unpleasant' messages about him to friends, but cited other messages in which Hernandez said, 'it's all about the truth anyway'. Chrysanthou alleged Hernandez was one of the driving forces behind a 'concoction' of fake complaints designed to destroy Al Muderis. Abraham was searing in her criticism of this submission. 'This reflects the preparedness of the applicant to make such serious allegations blaming others, where it appears there is no basis,' she found. Al Muderis was last week asked to respond to Hernandez's claim that he aggressively used litigation to silence concerns about his practice. He did not respond.
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
"I was a high-functioning drinker": the silent risk few know about
A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades. Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light. In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact. Read more from The Senior: Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said. "My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking." Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning. "A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said. "[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire." Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices. University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases. "People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said. Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone. In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products. But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post. Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells". "Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said. The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel. Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life. "I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said. "I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad." But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships". "I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said. Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them. Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels. "It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said. Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport. "That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said. Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar. But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research. "The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said. Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer. "There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said. Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level." The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together. University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant. "If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said. "It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented." The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario. "I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said. But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society. The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states. Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer. "I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said. "It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that? "They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens." Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof. "I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said. For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them. "I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said. Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades. Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light. In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact. Read more from The Senior: Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said. "My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking." Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning. "A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said. "[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire." Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices. University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases. "People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said. Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone. In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products. But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post. Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells". "Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said. The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel. Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life. "I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said. "I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad." But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships". "I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said. Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them. Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels. "It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said. Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport. "That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said. Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar. But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research. "The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said. Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer. "There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said. Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level." The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together. University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant. "If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said. "It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented." The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario. "I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said. But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society. The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states. Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer. "I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said. "It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that? "They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens." Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof. "I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said. For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them. "I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said. Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades. Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light. In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact. Read more from The Senior: Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said. "My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking." Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning. "A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said. "[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire." Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices. University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases. "People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said. Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone. In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products. But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post. Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells". "Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said. The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel. Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life. "I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said. "I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad." But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships". "I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said. Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them. Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels. "It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said. Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport. "That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said. Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar. But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research. "The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said. Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer. "There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said. Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level." The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together. University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant. "If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said. "It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented." The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario. "I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said. But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society. The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states. Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer. "I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said. "It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that? "They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens." Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof. "I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said. For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them. "I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said. Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades. Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light. In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact. Read more from The Senior: Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said. "My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking." Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning. "A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said. "[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire." Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices. University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases. "People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said. Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone. In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products. But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post. Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells". "Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said. The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel. Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life. "I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said. "I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad." But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships". "I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said. Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them. Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels. "It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said. Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport. "That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said. Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar. But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research. "The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said. Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer. "There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said. Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level." The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together. University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant. "If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said. "It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented." The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario. "I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said. But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society. The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states. Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer. "I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said. "It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that? "They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens." Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof. "I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said. For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them. "I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said. Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
