Latest news with #CancerCouncil
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Young Australians throwing away illegal vapes as prices soar
Vaping rates are falling among young adults and high schoolers, prompting Health Minister Mark Butler to claim Australia's world-first vape ban is working. Prices for the fruity-flavoured puffers illegally sold at tobacco and corner stores have risen from about $25 to between $50 and $60 since the middle of last year when Labor introduced one of the strictest public health measures of its term by banning vapes – they are now only legally purchased as anti-smoking aids at pharmacies – and clamping down on importation. Officials have since seized 8 million illegal vapes at the border, mostly manufactured in China and sold under popular brand names Alibarbar and iGet. While they can still be bought, the higher prices and reduced supply has combined with school-level warnings to bring down smoking rates. The rate of vaping has halved to 18 per cent among 18-24-year-olds from early 2023 to now, according to new data from the Cancer Council's Generation Vape report, the most comprehensive survey on vaping in Australia. Among 14-17-year-olds, the rate of vaping was rapidly rising in recent years but started to drop in the last quarter of last year, falling from 17 per cent to 15.5 per cent. The respondents are asked of their experiences in a mix of surveys and long-form interviews funded by the council and government agencies. Loading That drop-off among teens is backed by data from health authorities in South Australia, which showed vaping rates in the 30-to-59 age group had dropped by about half from 2023 to this year, and by about one-third for South Australians aged between 15 and 29. The number of schoolkids in SA being suspended for vaping declined by 50 per cent from the first term of 2023 when there were 388 suspensions compared to 186 in term four last year. 'The vaping legislation has really changed the game,' said Alecia Brooks of the Cancer Council.
The Age
3 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Young Australians throwing away illegal vapes as prices soar
Vaping rates are falling among young adults and high schoolers, prompting Health Minister Mark Butler to claim Australia's world-first vape ban is working. Prices for the fruity-flavoured puffers illegally sold at tobacco and corner stores have risen from about $25 to between $50 and $60 since the middle of last year when Labor introduced one of the strictest public health measures of its term by banning vapes – they are now only legally purchased as anti-smoking aids at pharmacies – and clamping down on importation. Officials have since seized 8 million illegal vapes at the border, mostly manufactured in China and sold under popular brand names Alibarbar and iGet. While they can still be bought, the higher prices and reduced supply has combined with school-level warnings to bring down smoking rates. The rate of vaping has halved to 18 per cent among 18-24-year-olds from early 2023 to now, according to new data from the Cancer Council's Generation Vape report, the most comprehensive survey on vaping in Australia. Among 14-17-year-olds, the rate of vaping was rapidly rising in recent years but started to drop in the last quarter of last year, falling from 17 per cent to 15.5 per cent. The respondents are asked of their experiences in a mix of surveys and long-form interviews funded by the council and government agencies. Loading That drop-off among teens is backed by data from health authorities in South Australia, which showed vaping rates in the 30-to-59 age group had dropped by about half from 2023 to this year, and by about one-third for South Australians aged between 15 and 29. The number of schoolkids in SA being suspended for vaping declined by 50 per cent from the first term of 2023 when there were 388 suspensions compared to 186 in term four last year. 'The vaping legislation has really changed the game,' said Alecia Brooks of the Cancer Council.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Magda Szubanski has a rare stage four blood cancer. What is mantle cell lymphoma?
Australian actor Magda Szubanski, best-known for her iconic role as Sharon in Kath and Kim, has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. The 64-year-old announced her diagnosis of stage four mantle cell lymphoma on social media on Thursday afternoon. Here's what we know about the disease and how it's treated. Mantle cell lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. It begins in the lymphatic system, which helps to fight disease and infection via a network of lots of tiny tubes throughout the body. It affects the outer edge — also known as the mantle zone — of a type of white blood cell called B-cells or B lymphocytes, the Leukaemia Foundation says. What this means is that the body is making abnormal B-cells, British charity Cancer Research UK's website says. When someone has mantle cell lymphoma, these B-cells don't work properly, so they can't fight infection like they normally would. And these abnormal cells build up in the lymph nodes or in other body parts. "They form tumours and begin to cause problems within the lymphatic system or the organ where they are growing," Cancer Research UK says. Mantle cell lymphoma is one of about 60 sub-types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the Cancer Council's website says. Szubanski said her cancer was discovered incidentally via a breast screen, which she'd had after "feeling pretty ratshit for ages". The first sign of this type of cancer is generally painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. "Multiple lymph nodes may be affected as well as other sites of the body including the spleen, bone marrow, blood, tonsils and adenoids, liver, brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract," the Leukaemia Foundation says. "Mantle cell lymphoma commonly affects the bowel, with worsening diarrhoea often a sign of this." Here are some of the other symptoms the foundation lists: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplants are among the treatments listed by the Leukaemia Foundation. "Treatment is often successful initially, however relapses are common," the foundation says. "New treatments for mantle cell lymphoma are being researched all the time in clinical trials in some Australian hospitals." Szubanski echoed this in her post to fans. "I've started one of the best treatments available (the Nordic protocol)," she said. "I'm lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne." She said the treatment would give her immune system "a hammering" and leave her immunocompromised. Stage 4 cancer means the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, the Cancer Insititue NSW website says. It's the highest stage on the scale, which ranges from stage 0 to stage 4. Stage 4 cancer is also called metastatic or advanced cancer. Szubanski's announcement was met with an immediate outpouring of support from her entertainment colleagues and fans. It prompted others to share their experience with the disease in the comments section of her Instagram post. Here are a few of the comments offering insight into mantle cell lymphoma treatment: "I was diagnosed with Mantle cell lymphoma ten years ago! I was 57 at the time, I had 7 strong chemos over 7 months & a stem cell transplant!! I'm still here!! It's a lot & Mantle cell is an unusual one but medicine today is amazing! I'm fighting fit & I believe in my glass being half full!! I'm sending so much love to you & you will get through it!! I ended up with curly hair!!!! Xoxo" "My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2021. He went through chemo, and had been in remission for three years when we found out this last Christmas it was back, but not as aggressively. He started chemo again and will finish this week! He's doing amazingly, and I know you will too!" "My brother was diagnosed with the same 15 years ago. Back then Google said it had a 4 % survival rate. His treatment started with his stem cell then the Nordic Protocol and finally stem cell from your brother. We just celebrated his 70th last year in Langkawi Malaysia and he is fighting fit. Off all meds. Married 4 years ago. Loving life 💕👍🏻 Trust the process 💕"
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
How to identify if you have 'stage 0' cancer BEFORE any symptoms appear
There's a myriad of reasons – and excuses – people will use to skip a cancer health check screening. Life can get busy, attending an appointment can be complicated and let's face it, there's far more enjoyable things to do with your time. But sticking to the recommended health check screening schedules could potentially be the difference when it comes to early detection of cancer or potentially cancerous cells, also known as Stage 0 cancer. Catching cancer risk sooner than later is the reason why doctors and organisations like Cancer Council Australia continuously spruik the message: 'Early detection saves lives'. The Screening and Immunisation Committee Chair Karen Canfell explained to FEMAIL that the aim of the national cancer screening programs is 'to find and treat cancers in healthy individuals as early as possible or, even better, in a precancerous stage'. The role that regular scheduled screening programs have in this early detection process ties into Stage 0 cancer – and how screenings offer a rare chance to assist with catching cancer risk at an extremely early stage. Understanding Stage 0 cancer and symptoms In cancer diagnoses, staging is used by medical practitioners as a measure of how far a cancer has spread in the body. In its simplest form, Karen explained: 'Stage 1 is a cancer contained in its primary site, Stage 2 cancer has spread to local lymph nodes, Stage 3 to tissue beyond local lymph nodes and Stage 4 cancers have metastasised to other organs and distant parts of the body.' 'Diagnostic tests and examinations will help show if you have cancer, the size of the tumour, if it has spread from the original site to other parts of the body, and whether lymph nodes are affected. These factors are combined to determine which stage a cancer is in, from Stage 1 to 4.' Sitting outside this scale is Stage 0 cancer, also 'referred to as in situ', which is a precursor to all the above stages. 'A collection of abnormal cells that has not yet spread or become invasive is assigned Stage 0, or referred to as in situ, as it is an early form of cancer,' Karen explained. Common cancer symptoms like lumps are rarely associated with a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis – meaning they're almost exclusively detected after participating in a screening program or a self-initiated health check. 'This is why cancer screening is important, as screening programs can identify early-stage cancers and precancerous conditions through signs that might otherwise go unnoticed,' the spokesperson confirmed. 'Often, precancerous or abnormal cell development, like the changes that precede cervical cancer, won't cause symptoms. 'It's also important to know that some cancers, such as breast and bowel cancer, may show no symptoms at any stage of tumour growth.' Karen explained that the cancers most commonly detected at Stage 0 'include breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma' – which are also among 'the most common cancers in Australia at all stages of diagnosis combined'. The absence of symptoms accompanying a Stage 0 diagnosis circles back to the importance of stringently adhering to the recommended schedule times from health cancer screenings as an absolute minimum. 'For most cancers, clinical outcomes are better if they are detected and treated at early stage.' Screening programs that could assist in Stage 0 cancer detection At present in Australia, there are organised screening programs available for bowel, cervical and breast cancers, with a lung cancer screening program being introduced in Australia from July. Using the example of National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, the Cancer Council chair explained that when 'detected early, over 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated'. 'Between 2021 – 2022, only 40 per cent of eligible Australians participated in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program,' she said. 'We know, through modelling, that if this figure increased to 60 per cent, 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040.' 'The key is, if you are eligible for a cancer screening program, participate – it could save your life, whether that's through detection of a precancerous condition or an early-stage cancer that would have spread if not detected through screening.' So how often should those who are eligible be participating in these screenings? The health expert confirmed that the requirements vary between the screening programs. 'The BreastScreen Australia Program invites women aged 50 – 74 to have a free mammogram every 2 years,' said Karen. The expert explained that women aged 40 - 49 and those aged over 74 are also eligible to receive free mammograms, but will not receive a direct reminder notification. 'To participate in the program, you need to book in for an appointment at a BreastScreen Australia clinic,' Karen added. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is an at-home test called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), which is mailed to people aged 50-74 every two years. Additionally, people aged 45 – 49 can also request to be sent a kit through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register. 'This test looks for traces of blood in the poo which you collect two samples of and mail it to a pathology lab for analysis,' Karen explained. 'If your result is positive, follow-up tests, like a colonoscopy, are recommended to determine the origin and cause of the blood.' The National Cervical Screening Program is open to women aged between 25-75, and they're invited to screen every five years. 'The test looks for signs of HPV, which causes 93 per cent of cervical cancers, and other pre-cancerous abnormalities, which if left untreated may progress to cervical cancer,' Karen said. 'The program offers two screening options – self-collection or clinical-collection.' You can find out more about your eligibility for the National Breast, Bowel and Cervical Cancer Screening Programs HERE. The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program starting in July is for Australians aged 50 -70 as well as those who currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 10 years and have a heavy smoking history. Australians will need to speak to their GP to be referred to the screening program. 'The test involves undergoing a low-dose CT scan, which takes around 10-15 minutes,' Karen explained. Staying on screening track If you have gone longer than the recommended amount of time between screening appointments, the health expert suggests doing it sooner than later. 'If you're eligible for one of these screening programs and you've put off or missed participating in one, it's important to make sure you catch up.' The health expert adds that it's important to remember that 'most screening tests are not diagnostic tests – and are most often used to look for 'early indicators of cancer', which are then subsequently 'used alongside other tests to determine cancer diagnosis'. 'That's why it's also important to get to know your own body and keep an eye out for any unusual changes,' she said. 'If you notice any changes, such as a lump in your breast or a spot growing on your skin, it's important to see your doctor for further investigations.' Next steps: what happens after a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis If a screening followed by further diagnostics returns a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen said the upside is that most cancers diagnosed at Stage 0 'will have a good treatment outcome'. 'Outcomes can, however, vary, given there are more than 200 cancer types and subtypes,' she added. Following a Stage 0 cancer diagnosis, Karen explained that your doctor will advise the best suited treatment plan for your situation and cancer type. Some of the common cancer treatment options 'include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy'. But in the case of a Stage 0 diagnosis, Karen noted that none of these measures may be initially necessary. 'Your doctor may also advise that you need routine monitoring, but do not need active treatment.' There's never a good time to find out you have cancer. But if you do, finding out that it's at Stage 0, or cancer in situ, increases the amount of time for investigation and treatment options to be fully explored. Beyond adhering closely to the national schedule screenings and being vigilant about health self-checks, Karen also suggests some other simple lifestyle measures. 'For all cancers, the keys for prevention are aiming to lead a cancer-smart lifestyle,' she explained. 'Not smoking, protecting yourself from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, having a healthy diet and exercise, moderating alcohol use – and screening for cancer if eligible and having regular health checks.'
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Wigmaker Rachel Walker spends up to 450 hours on wigs for medical hair loss
Master wigmaker Rachel Walker can spend up to 450 hours painstakingly attaching human hair, strand by strand, to a Swiss lace base to create a single wig. The time-consuming process has become a passion for her after seeing the impact a wig can have on the self-esteem of people experiencing medical hair loss. Ms Walker, who has been a hairdresser for 36 years, expanded her skills to wig-making 10 years ago, when she became frustrated by the lack of options available to her clients. She largely relies on hair donations to keep wig costs as low as possible, but her wigs still cost thousands of dollars because of the skill and time required to make them. Even the simplest wigs can take close to 100 hours to complete. "Sometimes I get in a real zone and can ventilate [the process of hand-tying hair strands] for five to six hours," Ms Walker said. Other options are available for people experiencing medical hair loss, including a service by the Cancer Council, which provides free wigs for people suffering hair loss due to cancer treatment. Ms Walker, one of just a handful of human-hair wigmakers in Australia, was inspired to learn the skill when she realised the range of wigs available to her clients did not reflect their identities before they started losing their hair for medical reasons. Seeing no training opportunities in Australia at the time, she relocated to New York, where she studied under two master wigmakers. "I've been going strong ever since," she said. Sitting surrounded by boxes of hair in her home studio in southern Tasmania, Ms Walker said the only downside was finding strands of hair everywhere. "I have hair in my food, I have hair in my washing, I have hair in my hair — my house is full of hair," she said before laughing. Today, she is working on a topper, a piece made to blend with a client's existing hair. Looking through a magnifying glass, she skilfully adds a single strand of hair to the lace. This topper will take an estimated 98 hours to complete. The clock starts ticking before Ms Walker even picks up the Swiss lace, as she must first match donated hair to her client's existing or lost hair in density, texture and colour, if maintaining their former look is what they desire. For clients who had, or still have, the beginnings of white or grey hair, Ms Walker individually selects grey or white strands from her compendium of hair. She said silver and white hair was the most difficult to source because people with those hair types generally wear their hair short or colour it. Ms Walker receives "bunches of packages" of donated hair from all over Australia and New Zealand. A recent donation of a brown ponytail of hair was cut 37 years ago and kept by a parent, who was willing to part with their daughter's hair in the hope that it could help someone else. The donation arrived with its 1980s plastic, hair-bobble ties still intact. "For somebody to donate it and to willingly cut off that adornment … to share what they have and to give [it] out of the loveliness and generosity of their own heart … it's just beautiful," she said. Barb Jeffery of Western Australia bought one of Ms Walker's toppers after years of living with extensive scarring alopecia, a permanent type of hair loss. She and her friends call her topper Moira, after a character from the television show Schitt's Creek who has a wig for all occasions. Ms Jeffery says Moira is a celebrated member of her family and community, and is "known about town by lots of people … she has a personality". "I've noticed a huge difference. When I'm out with my normal hair, people will say hello and immediately look at the top of my head," Ms Jeffery said. "That used to upset me. I didn't want to be in family photographs — now I take a photo any time I have Moira. "It makes you feel good again." Ms Jeffery said wearing the topper for the first time was overwhelming for everyone. When unable to meet a client's needs through local donations, Ms Walker buys ethically harvested hair, but said she was facing difficulty in accessing ethical hair because of the war in Ukraine, where her supplier was based. Anthropologist Assa Doron, of the Australian National University, has spent more than a decade exploring the global trade of human hair as part of a larger project on waste. He said the trade was built on the exploitation of labour, primarily in the Global South, and was largely unregulated because of its "fragmented" and "informal" nature. In 2013, Professor Doron travelled to India, where he observed waste pickers, people who collect refuse from gutters, collecting hair in unsafe conditions and with minimal protection. He also traced the supply route of temple hair, which is cut by religious pilgrims as a sign of devotion but then collected and sold for profit, in his co-authored book Waste of a Nation. Professor Doron said there was no standardised certification, like the Fair Trade certification, that verified ethically sourced hair. Until such mechanisms existed for hair, ethical sourcing would remain difficult, and conditions would not improve for "the most vulnerable in this trade". Ms Walker said she refused to buy hair from temple hair sources and had a stance against unethically sourced hair. Free wigs are among options for those experiencing medical hair loss. The Cancer Council offers access to a wide range of synthetic wigs and turbans for free to anyone who has lost their hair due to cancer treatment. Claire Prior, the council's Tasmanian director of supportive care, said the wigs could be tailored to suit a client's face. The Cancer Council accepts donated wigs, and other organisations, such as Sustainable Salons — who sort and send hair to wigmakers and charities across Australia — accept donations of plaited natural or coloured hair ponytails of 20 centimetres or longer. The Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation offers wig advice online for children and adults living with alopecia. "You don't have to donate to me … you can donate to any wig-making charity that supports people who have medical hair loss," Ms Walker said.
