Latest news with #BreastCancerTrials
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Woo-woo': bewildering breast cancer case revealed for NRLW magic round
Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit
9 News
06-06-2025
- Health
- 9 News
Wendy's cancer might be incurable, but she just wants to help future patients
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here When Wendy Clift went for a routine breast scan in 2007, she got call from her doctors almost immediately. "The news wasn't good," the widowed grandmother of two from Scone in regional NSW told Wendy Clift was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. (Supplied) Just days later, she had a mastectomy, followed by more treatment. While it was successful in keeping her in remission for a few years, the cancer has now returned and it has spread. However, Clift, now 72, was invited to be part of a new Australian drug trial. It's hoped it could help patients with a certain kind of breast cancer live longer. The DIAmOND clinical trial showed adding dual immunotherapy to existing treatments could be promising for some patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Clift said her cancer appears to be "pretty stable" after the trial earlier this year, which she did at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital. Some of the cancerous lumps she had have even disappeared, though she doesn't know if that's due to the new drug combination. Clift said she didn't have side effects. She said taking part in the trial was less about her and more to help future patients. "I'm just prepared because whatever happens to me is neither here nor there, but hopefully in years to come it'll help somebody else," she said. Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses a person's immune system to treat certain cancers. Wendy Clift, pictured with son Joshua and grandchildren Florence and Arthur, says she just wants to help future cancer patients. (Supplied) The other drug used alongside this in the trial was trastuzumab, commonly known as Herceptin. The trial aimed to see if combining the two could prolong the amount of time cancer was under control in patients with advanced disease which had become resistant to trastuzumab. Results differed depending on the kind of cancer each of the 68 trial patients had. Some had a response rate of up to 63 per cent, while for other kinds it was 27 per cent. Some patients saw their cancer controlled for more than two years. The combination of drugs has been given previously to people with lung cancer. Professor Sherene Loi developed and led the trial, which was conducted by the research organisation Breast Cancer Trials. "These promising results suggest combining new immunotherapy treatments with trastuzumab may offer a new treatment option for patients with treatment-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer," Loi said. "These findings provide a compelling case for further exploration and how we can best integrate this treatment combination into clinical practice." HER2-positive breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). However, it often responds well to specific treatments. Around 15-20 per cent of all types of breast cancers are HER2-positive. It is more common in younger, pre-menopausal women. cancer health drugs Australia medical national New South Wales CONTACT US Auto news:Is this the next Subaru WRX? Mysterious performance car teased.
The Advertiser
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'I was going downhill fast': breast cancer drug gives new lease on life
Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer. She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years. It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer. "I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67. "Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak." The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer". The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long". "The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone." Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease". "It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said. "We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research." Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50. "I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said. "When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck." FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial". "You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me. "I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin." As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private. "We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said. "They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better." She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey. "I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement. "We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends. "I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy." She said there was an upside to going through health challenges. "It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said. "It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye." She said early intervention was key. "I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said. "Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey." Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer. She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years. It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer. "I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67. "Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak." The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer". The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long". "The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone." Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease". "It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said. "We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research." Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50. "I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said. "When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck." FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial". "You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me. "I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin." As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private. "We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said. "They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better." She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey. "I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement. "We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends. "I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy." She said there was an upside to going through health challenges. "It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said. "It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye." She said early intervention was key. "I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said. "Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey." Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer. She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years. It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer. "I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67. "Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak." The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer". The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long". "The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone." Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease". "It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said. "We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research." Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50. "I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said. "When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck." FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial". "You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me. "I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin." As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private. "We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said. "They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better." She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey. "I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement. "We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends. "I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy." She said there was an upside to going through health challenges. "It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said. "It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye." She said early intervention was key. "I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said. "Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey." Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer. She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years. It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer. "I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67. "Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak." The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer". The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long". "The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone." Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease". "It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said. "We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research." Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50. "I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said. "When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck." FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial". "You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me. "I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin." As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private. "We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said. "They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better." She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey. "I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement. "We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends. "I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy." She said there was an upside to going through health challenges. "It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said. "It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye." She said early intervention was key. "I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said. "Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey."
