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Research reveals how long it takes Aussies to save for a holiday

<p dir="ltr">Saving up for a holiday can seem like an overwhelming task, but some destinations are easier to save for than others. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to new research by <a href="http://money.com.au/">money.com.au</a>, nearly a third of travellers - or 31 percent - need on average a year to save for a trip, while 29 percent of Aussies save for up to six months before jetting off.</p> <p dir="ltr">For 18 percent of travellers, it takes more than a year to save for a trip, while just 13 percent of Aussies manage to save for a holiday in less than three months.</p> <p dir="ltr">On the flip side, 7 percent of eager travellers decide to skip saving altogether and cover their holiday expenses fully on a credit card, while just 2 percent opt for a personal loan to fund their trips. </p> <p dir="ltr">Money.com.au's Finance Expert, Sean Callery said of the survey, "Our research also shows that travel is the one expense Australians aren't willing to forgo, no matter their financial goals or income level."</p> <p dir="ltr">"Going into debt for a holiday brings additional costs and risks. It's important to have a plan for clearing the debt as quickly as possible."</p> <p dir="ltr">With these saving trends in mind, the experts have crunched the numbers to estimate how long it would take the average Aussie to save for a trip to the most popular overseas holiday destinations.</p> <p dir="ltr">The saving time for each location was calculated based on a 10 per cent savings rate of the average weekly earnings of $1,923.40 (from ABS data).</p> <p dir="ltr">Two of the quickest destinations to save for are China and Thailand, while other destinations the experts say you can save for in around half a year include New Zealand, Vietnam and Singapore. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Tips

Strangers raise almost $50,000 for sick stray dog

<p>Cindy was so overweight she could barely move when Lana Chapman found her lying in the dirt outside a 7-Eleven.</p> <p>Chapman, an Australian living in Koh Samui, Thailand, immediately decided to take the dog in, and her kind act has inspired hundreds of people online. </p> <p>The Aussie woman has been helping local street dogs for years and was determined to give Cindy a better life. Weighing in at almost 45kgs when Chapman found her, she has helped the pup lose weight and tracked her progress online where she went viral. </p> <p>It was all going well until a few weeks ago Cindy stopped eating and had a lump on her neck. </p> <p>"Usually she runs around the house with excitement [but] it took her about two minutes before she started to eat. That was really out of the norm," Chapman told <em>9news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>After a few vet visits she was diagnosed with lymphoma, a common cancer in dogs.</p> <p>"We started chemo the same day," Chapman said.</p> <p>"It was awful as the vet didn't think she would live for four weeks, but we wanted to try anything we could to help her."</p> <p>Initial tests alone cost almost $2,500, and Cindy needed at least 19 weeks of chemotherapy to survive. </p> <p>With pet insurance not an option as most vets on the island did not accept insurance claims, Chapman relied on the help of strangers and started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/cindys-lymphoma-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> in Cindy's name, hoping to raise $10,000 to cover for the cost of her care. </p> <p>"$10,000 still wouldn't cover the costs but I thought it would really assist us," she said.</p> <p>To her surprise, strangers flocked to help raising almost $50,000 for Cindy in a matter of days, with the highest donation so far being $5,000. </p> <p>The fundraising page was also filled with messages of support, with one writing: "Cindy you are the sweetest girl! I am sending you all the love, you can do this."</p> <p>"Wishing you well with your treatment Cindy, hoping for a speedy recovery. Sending lots of love to your humans too x," added another.</p> <p>Chapman said she was blown away by people's generosity, and never imagined that so many strangers would be willing to help the stray pup. </p> <p>"People have been following her from the day she was rescued off the streets so they have a major soft spot for her," she said.</p> <p>"We definitely would have struggled to pay for this [without donations]."</p> <p>Chapman added that the donations received so far will cover all of Cindy's cancer treatment, and the left over cash will be used to help other street dogs on the island. </p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe/ Lana Chapman</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

Dwayne Johnson's emotional moment with cancer-stricken fan

<p>A heartfelt moment between Hollywood actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and a fan battling stage 4 cancer has gone viral. </p> <p>While on a trip to Target in New Jersey, Johnson met a woman who shared candidly that she was facing stage 4 pancreatic cancer. </p> <p>Johnson greeted her warmly in the shop, “Good to see you, how are you feeling?”</p> <p>With a smile, the woman replied: “Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Can’t do anything about it.”</p> <p>Johnson then offered to take a photo with her, to which she responded, “I would love to.”</p> <p>As they posed together, the woman proudly declared, “I’m a warrior,” prompting Johnson to affirm, “You are a warrior,” before the woman joked that they looked alike since they both had no hair.</p> <p>Before he parted, she told Johnson: “We gotta keep fighting, fight fight fight.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCTEM7ixvm1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCTEM7ixvm1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Rock then posted a video of the sweet moment to his Instagram, reflecting on the moment with the caption, "As frenzied, and chaotic as all this was - it hit me here just how unpredictable, yet beautiful life truly is."</p> <p>The video quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of likes, with many commenting words of support for the fan. </p> <p>"The Rock is the most humble guy ever," one person wrote, while another added, "You made that woman's day!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

Full House star's devastating cancer diagnosis

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

Caring

Your friend has been diagnosed with cancer. Here are 6 things you can do to support them

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephanie-cowdery-2217734">Stephanie Cowdery</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anna-ugalde-2232654">Anna Ugalde</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/trish-livingston-163686">Trish Livingston</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/victoria-white-1888110">Victoria White</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p>Across the world, <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing--amidst-mounting-need-for-services">one in five</a> people are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. By age 85, almost <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/what-is-cancer/facts-and-figures">one in two</a> Australians will be diagnosed with cancer.</p> <p>When it happens to someone you care about, it can be hard to know what to say or how to help them. But providing the right support to a friend can make all the difference as they face the emotional and physical challenges of a new diagnosis and treatment.</p> <p>Here are six ways to offer meaningful support to a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer.</p> <h2>1. Recognise and respond to emotions</h2> <p>When facing a cancer diagnosis and treatment, it’s normal to experience a range of <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/impacted-by-cancer/emotions#:%7E:text=It's%20likely%20that%20feelings%20will,these%20feelings%20ease%20with%20time">emotions</a> including fear, anger, grief and sadness. Your friend’s moods may fluctuate. It is also common for feelings to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-014-2492-9">change over time</a>, for example your friend’s anxiety may decrease, but they may feel more depressed.</p> <p>Some friends may want to share details while others will prefer privacy. Always ask permission to raise sensitive topics (such as changes in physical appearance or their thoughts regarding fears and anxiety) and don’t make assumptions. It’s OK to tell them you feel awkward, as this acknowledges the challenging situation they are facing.</p> <p>When they feel comfortable to talk, follow their lead. Your support and willingness <a href="https://www.cancervic.org.au/get-support/stories/what-to-say-and-not-say.html">to listen without judgement</a> can provide great comfort. You don’t have to have the answers. Simply acknowledging what has been said, providing your full attention and being present for them will be a great help.</p> <h2>2. Understand their diagnosis and treatment</h2> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pon.4722">Understanding</a> your friend’s diagnosis and what they’ll go through when being <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/caregivers/what-a-caregiver-does/treatment-timeline.html">treated</a> may be helpful.</p> <p>Being informed can reduce your own worry. It may also help you to listen better and reduce the amount of explaining your friend has to do, especially when they’re tired or overwhelmed.</p> <p>Explore reputable sources such as the <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/">Cancer Council website</a> for accurate information, so you can have meaningful conversations. But keep in mind your friend has a trusted medical team to offer personalised and accurate advice.</p> <h2>3. Check in regularly</h2> <p>Cancer treatment can be isolating, so regular check-ins, texts, calls or visits can help your friend feel less alone.</p> <p>Having a normal conversation and sharing a joke can be very welcome. But everyone copes with cancer differently. Be patient and flexible in your support – some days will be harder for them than others.</p> <p>Remembering key dates – such as the next round of chemotherapy – can help your friend feel supported. Celebrating milestones, including the end of treatment or anniversary dates, may boost morale and remind your friend of positive moments in their cancer journey.</p> <p>Always ask if it’s a good time to visit, as your friend’s immune system <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/body-systems-and-cancer/the-immune-system-and-cancer#:%7E:text=to%20fight%20cancer-,Cancer%20and%20treatments%20may%20weaken%20immunity,high%20dose%20of%20steroids">may be compromised</a> by their cancer or treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If you’re feeling unwell, it’s best to postpone visits – but they may still appreciate a call or text.</p> <h2>4. Offer practical support</h2> <p>Sometimes the best way to show your care is through practical support. There may be different ways to offer help, and what your friend needs might change at the beginning, during and after treatment.</p> <p>For example, you could offer to pick up prescriptions, drive them to appointments so they have transport and company to debrief, or wait with them at appointments.</p> <p>Meals will always be welcome. However it’s important to remember cancer and its treatments may <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/nutrition#effects-of-cancer-treatment-on-nutrition">affect</a> taste, smell and appetite, as well as your friend’s ability to eat enough or absorb nutrients. You may want to check first if there are particular foods they like. <a href="https://www.cancervic.org.au/downloads/resources/booklets/nutrition-cancer.pdf">Good nutrition</a> can help boost their strength while dealing with the side effects of treatment.</p> <p>There may also be family responsibilities you can help with, for example, babysitting kids, grocery shopping or taking care of pets.</p> <h2>5. Explore supports together</h2> <p>Studies <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35834503/">have shown</a> mindfulness practices can be an effective way for people to manage anxiety associated with a cancer diagnosis and its treatment.</p> <p>If this is something your friend is interested in, it may be enjoyable to explore classes (either online or in-person) together.</p> <p>You may also be able to help your friend connect with organisations that provide emotional and practical help, such as the Cancer Council’s <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/support-and-services/cancer-council-13-11-20">support line</a>, which offers free, confidential information and support for anyone affected by cancer, including family, friends and carers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5659099_Systematic_review_of_peer-support_programs_for_people_with_cancer">Peer support groups</a> can also reduce your friend’s feelings of isolation and foster shared understanding and empathy with people who’ve gone through a similar experience. GPs <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34333571/">can help</a> with referrals to support programs.</p> <h2>6. Stick with them</h2> <p>Be committed. Many people feel <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11120751/">isolated</a> after their treatment. This may be because regular appointments have reduced or stopped – which can feel like losing a safety net – or because their relationships with others have changed.</p> <p>Your friend may also experience emotions such as worry, lack of confidence and uncertainty as they adjust to a <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/survivorship/new-normal">new way of living</a> after their treatment has ended. This will be an important time to support your friend.</p> <p>But don’t forget: looking after <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/caring-for-someone-with-cancer">yourself</a> is important too. Making sure you eat well, sleep, exercise and have emotional support will help steady you through what may be a challenging time for you, as well as the friend you love.</p> <p><a href="https://www.deakin.edu.au/faculty-of-health/research/cancer-carer-hub">Our research</a> team is developing new programs and resources to support carers of people who live with cancer. While it can be a challenging experience, it can also be immensely rewarding, and your small acts of kindness can make a big difference.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239844/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephanie-cowdery-2217734">Stephanie Cowdery</a>, Research Fellow, Carer Hub: A Centre of Excellence in Cancer Carer Research, Translation and Impact, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anna-ugalde-2232654">Anna Ugalde</a>, Associate Professor & Victorian Cancer Agency Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/trish-livingston-163686">Trish Livingston</a>, Distinguished Professor & Director of Special Projects, Faculty of Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/victoria-white-1888110">Victoria White</a>, Professor of Pyscho-Oncology, School of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-friend-has-been-diagnosed-with-cancer-here-are-6-things-you-can-do-to-support-them-239844">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

Dawson's Creek star reveals cancer diagnosis

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

Caring

Doctor defies terminal cancer diagnosis with breakthrough therapy

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

Caring

Nearly 200 chemicals linked to cancer found in everyday food packaging

<p>A new study has uncovered the alarming amount of potential carcinogens in food packaging and plastic tableware. </p> <p>Researchers from the Food Packaging Forum found that nearly 200 chemicals linked to breast cancer are being used in food packaging, with dozens of these carcinogens able to find their way into the body. </p> <p>“There is strong evidence that 76 known or potential breast carcinogens from food contact materials recently purchased all over the world can be found in people,” study co-author Jane Muncke said.</p> <p>“Getting rid of these known or suspected carcinogens in our food supply is a huge opportunity for cancer prevention.”</p> <p>Muncke is managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, a non-profit foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland focusing on science communication and research. </p> <p>The study, published last month in the journal Frontiers In Toxicology, compared a list of potential breast carcinogens to a list of chemicals that have been found in food contact materials to find out which of the potential carcinogens could be getting into people's diets. </p> <p>Of the 189 potential mammary carcinogens in food contact materials, with 143 of these found in plastics and 89 found in paper or cardboard. </p> <p>Of the recently detected chemicals found in food packaging, 40 have already been classified as hazardous by regulatory agencies around the world. </p> <p>Another research scientist, Jenny Kay, from Silent Spring Institute an organisation focused on the link between chemicals, women's health, and breast cancer said: “So many of these chemicals have already been classified as human health hazards, yet they are still allowed to be used in food contact materials thus allowing them to migrate into the food we eat." </p> <p>Early-onset breast cancer rates in women younger than 50 have been increasing, and experts said the trend cannot be explained by genetics alone. </p> <p>“Many of the mammary carcinogens are hormone disruptors, too, and many of the chemicals on our list can also damage DNA," Kay said. </p> <p>“Consumers should not have to keep track of all of the scientific literature on what chemicals to avoid. It should be on regulators to recognise the danger and take action.”</p> <p>The Consumer Brands Association, which represents the consumer products industry, said its members adhered to the US Food and Drug Administration’s evidence-based safety standards.</p> <p>“Packaging exists to protect and keep food safe for consumption,” the association’s senior vice president of product policy and federal affairs Sarah Gallo told <em>CNN</em>. </p> <p>“The FDA reviews and approves food contact substances through their science and risk-based system before they go to market.</p> <p>“The agency’s post-market review also provides continuous safety analysis and regulation of the approved substances.”</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

Body

Music and dementia: researchers are still making discoveries about how songs can help sufferers

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-atkinson-1288605">Rebecca Atkinson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ming-hung-hsu-2215063">Ming-Hung Hsu</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a></em></p> <p>Music is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. Whether it’s lifting our spirits, pushing us to run faster or soothing us to sleep, we can all <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818/full">recognise its power</a>. So it’s no wonder it is increasingly being used in medical treatment.</p> <p>As well as proving very useful in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863265/">cancer treatment</a>, managing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526590022000153">chronic pain</a> and even helping the brain <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00245/full">recover after a stroke</a>, researchers have also been making great strides in using music to help patients with dementia.</p> <p>It reduces patients’ <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003477/full">anxiety and depression</a>, and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00401-7/fulltext">improves wellbeing</a> both for them and their carers <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/individual-music-therapy-for-depression-randomised-controlled-trial/A1CD72904929CECCB956F4F3B09605AF">by enhancing</a> everyone’s ability to adapt and cope with adversity or stress.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bamt.org">Music therapy</a> in the form of playing, singing or listening to music can also have a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361309105660">positive effect</a> on cognitive function – particularly for <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1472-6882-10-39">older adults</a> either with dementia or memory issues.</p> <p>So why does music appear to have such a powerful effect for people with dementia?</p> <h2>Music and the brain</h2> <p>About a decade ago, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811911013000">researchers discovered that</a> when people listened to music, multiple areas of the brain were involved in processing it. These included the limbic (which processes emotions and memory), cognitive (involved with perception, learning and reaction) and motor areas (responsible for voluntary movement). This challenged preconceptions that music was processed more narrowly in the brain – and helped explain why it has such a unique neurological impact.</p> <p>Not only that, research has shown that music might help <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306987708002880">regenerate the brain</a> and its connections. Many <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about-dementia/causes/">causes of dementia</a> centre around cell death in the brain, raising the possibility that music could help people with dementia by mending or strengthening damaged neural connections and cells.</p> <p>It’s not just any music that has a regenerative effect on the brain, though. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00103/full">Familiar and favourite music</a> has been shown to have the biggest impact on the way we feel, and is closely linked with memory and emotions. This is because listening to our favourite songs <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.2726">releases feel-good hormones</a> that give us a sense of pleasure. Curated music playlists of favourite music could be the key in helping us deal with the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10298649211030318">stress of everyday life</a>.</p> <p>This is relevant to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia because researchers have discovered that parts of the brain linked with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/138/8/2438/330016">musical memories</a> are less affected by these conditions than other areas of the brain. This explains why memories and experiences that are linked to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.14283/jpad.2018.19">favourite music</a> are often preserved for people with such conditions.</p> <p>Listening to music can also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34346261/">help manage</a> their experiences of distress, agitation and “<a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/sundowning">sundowning</a>” – where a person is more confused in the afternoon and evening.</p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197457224002209?utm_campaign=STMJ_219742_AUTH_SERV_PA&utm_medium=email&utm_acid=224973760&SIS_ID=&dgcid=STMJ_219742_AUTH_SERV_PA&CMX_ID=&utm_in=DM500444&utm_source=AC_">small study</a> conducted by us and our colleagues at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, we showed just how great of an effect listening to music can have for people with dementia. We found that when people with dementia repeatedly listened to their favourite music, their heart rate and movements changed in direct response.</p> <p>This showed that people’s physical responses were affected by musical features like rhythm and arrangement. Their heart rate also changed when they sang along to music, or when they began reminiscing about old memories or stories while listening to a song or thinking about the music. These changes are important because they show how music affects movement, emotions and memory recall.</p> <p>Studies have also shown that during and after listening to music, people with dementia <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/7/1103">experienced less agitation</a>, aggression and anxiety, and their general mood was improved. They even needed less medication when they had regular music sessions.</p> <p>Other researchers have even begun testing the effects of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/gps.4721?casa_token=VufeKQP7aNsAAAAA%3AMSOgiwUQYKqmmrLsUFv9glmSnc5BMxoqeMmmt3HX4BJX2Fs2UKeXjnN2850o1Umz0j1NvmrpQ3W3Pw">music training programmes</a> to support cognition for people with dementia. Results have been promising so far – with adults in the study showing improved executive functioning (problem solving, emotion regulation and attention) compared to those who took part in just physical exercise.</p> <p>So, music is likely to continue to be a useful medical treatment for people with dementia. But based on what we know so far, it’s important that it comes from the patient’s own music collection – and is used alongside other management techniques such as using drugs that can slow the progression of dementia or help manage symptoms to support self-care and wellbeing.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239446/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-atkinson-1288605">Rebecca Atkinson</a>, Researcher in Music Therapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ming-hung-hsu-2215063">Ming-Hung Hsu</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Music Therapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/music-and-dementia-researchers-are-still-making-discoveries-about-how-songs-can-help-sufferers-239446">original article</a>.</em></p>

Mind

Radio host dies weeks after cancer diagnosis

<p>Beloved radio host Rob Dempsey has passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. </p> <p>Rob Dempsey, host of American Christian radio show <em>HisAir</em>, revealed his diagnosed with bladder cancer in a Facebook post just eight days before his death. </p> <p>After being hospitalised for emergency surgery related to his cancer, Dempsey went in to cardiac arrest and could not be revived. </p> <p>News of Dempsey's death was also shared on <em>His Radio's Rob and Lizz in the Morning</em> show, with the hosts saying, "He always had us laughing."</p> <p>"His finger prints are all over this place. He was not just a boss, he was a leader, an encourager. He made such an impact to the in the community and to Greenville."</p> <p>They added, "We lost him but heaven gained such an incredible person."</p> <p>Just days before his death, Dempsey shared on his Instagram page that he was in hospital for surgery on his left kidney.</p> <p>"It's so overcrowded at this hospital that will be in hallway. Nothing you can do, but the care from these nurses and doctors are wonderful." he wrote.</p> <p>When he shared news of his cancer diagnosis on Facebook, he said doctors told him it was ''aggressive" but he was "at peace today knowing God is in control".</p> <p>"A big thank you to all who have been praying for me. I saw the report today. I have bladder cancer and it looks aggressive," he said.</p> <p>"Thankfully I'm at peace today knowing God is in control. The days ahead will be tough and that's ok. I am determined to be a dad there for his kids."</p> <p>"I'm determined to be that grandpa who will watch them grow up, graduate and get married. I want to grow old with my wife who has been a rock through all of this junk."</p> <p>He added, "I've watched a few videos of people who have survived this and even have new bladders! Things look hopeful."</p> <p>The radio star is survived by his wife, kids and grandchildren.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Caring

Olympic legend given just two years to live

<p>British Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy has announced that his cancer is terminal.</p> <p>In an interview with <em>The Sunday Times</em>, the six-time Olympic cycling champion revealed that doctors have told him he has between two and four years to live. </p> <p>He told the publication that he had initially been diagnosed with cancer in his prostate, which had spread to his bones. </p> <p>Despite the terminal cancer diagnosis, the athlete remained positive and expressed his gratitude for the messages of support he has been receiving since the article's publication on Sunday. </p> <p>"You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I'm feeling fit, strong and positive," he wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>"Overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me. Onwards."</p> <p>Fellow Olympic cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish was among the many British sporting stars to send their support. </p> <p>"Hero of a human being," Cavendish wrote on Instagram. </p> <p>Three-time Olympic track medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes, added: "Sending love to you Chris." </p> <p>"Legend," commented Team GB Paralympic cycling medallist Archie Atkinson.</p> <p>Scottish Cycling added: "Sending our love and best wishes to Sir Chris and his family from everyone in the Scottish Cycling community.</p> <p>"As ever, he continues to be an inspiration on and off the track."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBJEVKhO00z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBJEVKhO00z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Skarper (@skarperofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his support and admiration for Hoy's openness during such a difficult moment.</p> <p>"I'm in awe that Chris Hoy is meeting his cancer with the same positivity and resilience that has defined his life and career," Streeting wrote on X.</p> <p>"The whole country will be cheering him on as we have done so many times before and sending him and his family so much love."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sir Chris Hoy has been an inspiration to us all as a world class sportsman, decorated Olympian & a proud Scot. He’s provided so much joy to millions. He is also incredibly brave. I send my very best wishes to Chris and his family at this difficult time.<a href="https://t.co/aoP5OTKmDb">https://t.co/aoP5OTKmDb</a></p> <p>— Ian Murray MP (@IanMurrayMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanMurrayMP/status/1847910282254758044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Streeting, a cancer survivor himself, also told the <em>BBC</em> that he was "in awe" of Sir Chris's courage and positivity. </p> <p>"I'm in awe of his courage and positivity in face of a death sentence, which is what his cancer diagnosis is. The whole nation will be cheering him on now as we have done in the past," he said. </p> <p>"He is not the only person in this country today dealing with a terminal diagnosis... what a wonderful message of hope he has sent."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Mother helps raise over $1 million for her children ahead of her death

<p>A single mother from America has left an enduring financial legacy to her two young children in the weeks before her untimely death. </p> <p>Erika Diarte-Carr, 30, started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-erika-and-her-children-with-funeral-expenses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in order to cover costs of her own funeral, as well as providing funds to raise her two kids, Jeremiah, 7, and Aaliyah, 5.</p> <p>After setting the fundraising goal for $5,000 USD, generous members of her community spread the word of her selfless actions, with the fundraiser now reaching over $1.7 million USD and counting. </p> <p>Titled “Support Erika: A Mother planning her own funeral”, the page has garnered more than 38,000 individual donations.</p> <p>The page reads, “Dear family, friends and to all of those of you who may or may not know know me..."</p> <p>“My name is Erika Diarte-Carr. I am 30 years old and a single mother of two beautiful children. Jeremiah (7) and Aaliyah (5). ❤️ They are my whole life, light and soul. My children are my fight and what keep me going.”</p> <p>The mother then shared the tragic details of her cancer journey, as she recalled being diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer in May 2022 after presenting for “normal shoulder surgery”.</p> <p>“By that point, the damage had already been done. In that moment, mine and my kids’ entire lives had changed forever, as well as all of those around us,” she wrote.</p> <p>On top of her cancer diagnosis, Erika was hit with another blow in January 2024 as she was diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome, which resulted in rapid weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, and further debilitating symptoms the mother claimed had “taken so much away” from her family.</p> <p>The page was updated in mid-September upon advice Ms Diarte-Carr had just three months to live and that treatments would “no longer help”.</p> <p>The mother added to the GoFundMe page how the excess funds would be allocated, writing, “For anyone’s concern, all the funds that have exceeded my funeral costs goal will be now put into a trust fund for my babies that way I can leave behind something for them and I can still ensure they are going to be ok as they grow up."</p> <p>On October 4th, the mother thanked donors and announced she and her family were able to take one final trip together hoping to leave her kids with “memories that’ll last a lifetime”.</p> <p>Just days later, Erika's cousin shared a post to social media to announce that Erika had passed away on October 12th.</p> <p>“It is with a heavy heart that this is the final update I will be giving for my cousin Erika,” she wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>“She fought a long and hard battle. She was strong and held on as long as she could for her babies. I know she was so thankful for all of your support and love and prayers.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

Kate Middleton helps teen with cancer fulfill "bucket list" dream

<p>Kate Middleton has taken another step back to public duties after inviting a teenage girl with a rare form of cancer to Windsor Castle. </p> <p>The Prince and Princess of Wales invited 16-year-old Liz, a budding photographer from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to Windsor Castle after the teen was told by doctors earlier this year that she only had between six months and three years to live. </p> <p>“A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today,” the Prince and Princess of Wales wrote in a social media post shared on Wednesday, with a photo of Kate hugging the teenager.</p> <p>“A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAoPPEMNX6F/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAoPPEMNX6F/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Liz had a photography bucket list "to create a lifetime of memories" after being diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour in January. The cancer has no form of standard treatment. </p> <p>She first took up photography in Year 6 after saving up to buy her first camera. </p> <p>Liz was given the opportunity to take photos of cyclist Mark Cavendish and ex-footballer Ally McCoist's investiture ceremony, after Prince William heard about her through his patronage of London Air Ambulance Charity.</p> <p>A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “Following the investiture both the Prince and Princess of Wales met Liz privately with her family to hear about her day and journey."</p> <p>Liz said she was "over the moon" after meeting the couple at the castle.</p> <p>“Such lovely, genuine and kind people, I’m over the moon that my family and I had this experience,” she recalled on social media. </p> <p>The event is a rare appearance for the Princess who has been out of the public eye for most of the year following her own cancer diagnosis earlier this year.</p> <p>While the meeting is not being treated as an official engagement for the Prince and Princess, it was their first joint appearance this year. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Fresh claims about Queen Elizabeth's health in her final days

<p>Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shared a sad claim about Queen Elizabeth and her secret health battle that she was going through before her death in 2022. </p> <p>Johnson reflected on his relationship with the former monarch in his upcoming memoir, <em>Unleashed</em>, detailing his final meeting with the Queen at Balmoral Castle just days before she died.</p> <p>In the book, he explained that the Queen had been battling bone cancer and was worried about the deterioration of her condition.</p> <p>“I had known for a year or more that she had a form of bone cancer, and her doctors were worried that at any time she could enter a sharp decline,” Johnson wrote in an excerpt obtained by the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13901877/BORIS-JOHNSON-meeting-Queen-inspirational-words-wisdom.html">Daily Mail</a></em>.</p> <p>Before their meeting, Johnson claimed the Queen’s private secretary, Edward Young, warned him that her health had “gone down quite a bit over the summer.”</p> <p>“She seemed pale and more stooped, and she had dark bruising on her hands and wrists, probably from drips or injections,” Johnson wrote.</p> <p>He continued, “But her mind – as Edward had also said – was completely unimpaired by her illness, and from time to time in our conversation she still flashed that great white smile in its sudden mood-lifting beauty.”</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth died just two days after their final meeting. </p> <p>According to Johnson, the Queen “had known all summer that she was going, but was determined to hang on and do her last duty” by overseeing the “peaceful and orderly transition” of power from him to his successor Liz Truss.</p> <p>Johnson isn’t the first person to have claimed the late monarch was diagnosed with cancer during her final years, as royal author Gyles Brandreth wrote about rumours Her Majesty had a rare form of myeloma, a bone marrow cancer, in his book, <em>Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait</em>.</p> <p>He explained that the diagnosis “would explain her tiredness and weight loss and those ‘mobility issues’ we were often told about during the last year or so of her life.”</p> <p>However, the Queen’s official cause of death was listed as “old age” and the palace has never disclosed any other medical records.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/UPI/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Caring

"We all come to an end": Beloved comedian's heartbreaking message from palliative care

<p>Scottish comedian Janey Godley has made an emotional announcement to her social media followers, sharing that she is now in palliative care. </p> <p>Godley was forced to cancel her tour after developing sepsis from her cancer treatments, and is now receiving end of life care after a years long battle with ovarian cancer. </p> <p>"So I'm now in palliative care and I am at end-of-life care now in the hospital," the 63-year-old said in a video posted to Instagram. </p> <p>"The chemo ran out of options, and I just couldn't take any more of it," she continued, adding that the "has spread, so it looks like this will be getting to near the end of it, and it's really difficult to speak about this and say it to people."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAWJ3Qgt-Rx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAWJ3Qgt-Rx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Janey Godley (@janeygodley)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She went on to thank the hospital staff for their efforts, and family and friends for supporting her and husband Sean Storrie and their daughter Ashley through her illness. </p> <p>"It is devastating news to know that I'm facing the end of life but we all come to an end sometime," she continued. </p> <p>"I don't know how long I've got left before anybody asks. I'm not on TikTok so I just want you all to know that I appreciate all the love you've given me."</p> <p>She wished everyone a "lovely Christmas", adding, "I might be here, who knows? But I just want you to know I'm sending all my love to people living with a life-limiting disease."</p> <p>The news comes just weeks after Godley was forced to cancel her tour after developing sepsis while undergoing treatment. </p> <p>An official statement shared, "Janey has been living with stage four ovarian cancer for the past few years and the treatment from the wonderful Scottish NHS has kept the disease at bay, but sadly in the last few weeks the cancer has returned and there have been a few added complications."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Sam Neill expresses gratitude for modern medicine that extended his life

<p>Sam Neill was diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma - a form of blood cancer in 2022. He has since gone into remission and in his latest interview, expressed his deep gratitude for the medical advancements that have made his recovery possible. </p> <p>He underwent chemotherapy after his cancer diagnosis, but it stopped working after three months. He then switched his treatment to a rare anti-cancer drug which led him into remission. </p> <p>In his recent appearance on Kate Thornton’s <em>White Wine Question Time</em> podcast, he expressed his gratitude and optimism, praising the "strides" that have been made in modern medicine over the past two decades. </p> <p>“I’m in remission and as you see, I’m hard at work and enjoying life immensely,” he said.</p> <p>“I’m very grateful for not just the wonderful care I’ve had from doctors and nurses and so on, but also the strides that have been made in treating these things in the last few years." </p> <p>He then shared insights into his current treatment and acknowledged that while it remains challenging, things are improving. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAInw1goPgF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAInw1goPgF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by White Wine Question Time (@whitewine_questiontime)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“If this had happened to me 20 years ago, I wouldn’t be around to talk to you," he said. </p> <p>“I go in [for treatment] once a month now. But it used to be three times a month and it’s down to once a month now.</p> <p>“You have sort three or four horrible days afterwards and then all is well and you cheer up and I go to the gym and all that.”</p> <p>Despite the advances in medicine, in a previous interview with <em>Australian Story</em>, he admitted that he's aware the drug won't continue working forever, saying: “I’m prepared for that.” </p> <p> “I know I’ve got it, but I’m not really interested in it. It’s out of my control. If you can’t control it, don’t get into it," he added of his cancer. </p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

New research proves travelling can slow down the ageing process

<p>It turns out that going on holiday is good for you in more ways than one. </p> <p>According to new research conducted at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, travelling can actually slow the ageing process both physically and mentally.</p> <p>The study, published in the <a title="Journal of Travel Research" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00472875241269892#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20entropy%20increase%20provides%20a%20dynamic%20perspective%20to,Silva%20%26%20Annamalai%2C%202008)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Travel Research</a>, is believed to be the first-ever that applied the theory of entropy - the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder – to tourism.</p> <p>"Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," ECU PhD candidate Fangli Hu said.</p> <p>"Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down."</p> <p>According to the research, travelling, exploring new corners of the world and engaging in unique and relaxing activities can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively influencing metabolic activities and the body's self-organising capabilities.</p> <p>"Leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, dampen over-activation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defence system," Fangli added.</p> <p>While some people prefer relaxing holidays, others prefer to stay on their feet and keep active during their travels, enjoying the many well-known benefits of exercise.</p> <p>It can "enhance the body's immune function and self-defence capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks".</p> <p>In response to their study, the experts suggested that "travel therapy could serve as a groundbreaking health intervention."</p> <p>Despite the positive results of the research, experts also warned that travelling can exposed to infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues, and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement, which in turn will have the opposite effect on our health.</p> <p>"Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase," Fangli said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Tips

The Princess of Wales wants to stay cancer-free. What does this mean?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amali-cooray-1482458">Amali Cooray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-eddie-la-marca-1503690">John (Eddie) La Marca</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-diepstraten-1495268">Sarah Diepstraten</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822"><em>WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)</em></a></em></p> <p>Catherine, Princess of Wales, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/princess-of-wales-cancer-free-after-completing-chemotherapy">has announced</a> she has now completed a course of preventive chemotherapy.</p> <p>The news comes nine months after the princess first <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68641441">revealed</a> she was being treated for an unspecified form of cancer.</p> <p>In the new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSrDEq8QFkc">video message</a> released by Kensington Palace, Princess Catherine says she’s focused on doing what she can to stay “cancer-free”. She acknowledges her cancer journey is not over and the “path to recovery and healing is long”.</p> <p>While we don’t know the details of the princess’s cancer or treatment, it raises some questions about how we declare someone fully clear of the disease. So what does being – and staying – “cancer-free” mean?</p> <h2>What’s the difference between being cancer-free and in remission?</h2> <p>Medically, “cancer-free” <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/remission--cancer-free--no-evidence-of-disease--what-is-the-difference-when-talking-about-cancer-treatment-effectiveness-and-results.h00-159460845.html">means</a> two things. First, it means no cancer cells are able to be detected in a patient’s body using the available testing methods. Second, there is no cancer left in the patient.</p> <p>These might sound basically the same. But this second aspect of “cancer-free” can be complicated, as it’s essentially impossible to be sure no cancer cells have survived a treatment.</p> <p>It only takes a few surviving cells for the cancer to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-does-cancer-spread-to-other-parts-of-the-body-219616">grow back</a>. But these cells may not be detectable via testing, and can lie dormant for some time. The possibility of some cells still surviving means it is more accurate to say a patient is “in remission”, rather than “cancer-free”.</p> <p>Remission means there is no detectable cancer left. Once a patient has been in remission for a certain period of time, they are often considered to be fully “cancer-free”.</p> <p>Princess Catherine was not necessarily speaking in the strict medical sense. Nonetheless, she is clearly signalling a promising step in her recovery.</p> <h2>What happens during remission?</h2> <p>During remission, patients will usually undergo surveillance testing to make sure their cancer hasn’t returned. Detection tests can vary greatly depending on both the patient and their cancer type.</p> <p>Many <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening/screening-tests">tests</a> involve simply looking at different organs to see if there are cancer cells present, but at varying levels of complexity.</p> <p>Some cancers can be detected with the naked eye, such as skin cancers. In other cases, technology is needed: colonoscopies for colorectal cancers, X-ray mammograms for breast cancers, or CT scans for lung cancers. There are also molecular tests, which test for the presence of cancer cells using protein or DNA from blood or tissue samples.</p> <p>For most patients, testing will continue for years at regular intervals. Surveillance testing ensures any returning cancer is caught early, giving patients the best chance of successful treatment.</p> <p>Remaining in remission for five years can be a huge milestone in a patient’s cancer journey. For most types of cancer, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31231898/">chances of cancer returning</a> drop significantly after five years of remission. After this point, surveillance testing may be performed less frequently, as the patients might be deemed to be at a lower risk of their cancer returning.</p> <h2>Measuring survival rates</h2> <p>Because it is very difficult to tell when a cancer is “cured”, clinicians may instead refer to a “five-year survival rate”. This measures how likely a cancer patient is to be alive five years after their diagnosis.</p> <p>For example, data shows the <a href="https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival-diagnosis">five-year survival rate</a> for <a href="https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer">bowel cancer</a> among Australian women (of all ages) is around 70%. That means if you had 100 patients with bowel cancer, after five years you would expect 70 to still be alive and 30 to have succumbed to the disease.</p> <p>These statistics can’t tell us much about individual cases. But comparing five-year survival rates between large groups of patients after different cancer treatments can help clinicians make the often complex decisions about how best to treat their patients.</p> <p>The likelihood of cancer coming back, or recurring, is influenced by many factors which can vary over time. For instance, approximately 30% of people with lung cancer <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7061059/">develop a recurrent disease</a>, even after treatment. On the other hand, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4933127/">breast cancer recurrence</a> within two years of the initial diagnosis is approximately 15%. Within five years it drops to 10%. After ten, it falls below 2%.</p> <p>These are generalisations though – recurrence rates can vary greatly depending on things such as what kind of cancer the patient has, how advanced it is, and whether it has spread.</p> <h2>Staying cancer-free</h2> <p>Princess Catherine <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/princess-of-wales-cancer-free-after-completing-chemotherapy">says</a> her focus now is to “stay cancer-free”. What might this involve?</p> <p>How a cancer develops and whether it recurs can be <a href="https://nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05467-z">influenced</a> by things we can’t control, such as age, ethnicity, gender, genetics and hormones.</p> <p>However, there are sometimes <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances">environmental factors</a> we can control. That includes things like exposure to UV radiation from the sun, or inhaling carcinogens like tobacco.</p> <p>Lifestyle factors also play a role. Poor diet and nutrition, a lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption can all <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10925935">contribute to cancer development</a>.</p> <p>Research estimates more than half of all cancers could <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/resources/position-statements/lifestyle-risk-factors-and-primary-prevention-cancer/recommendations">potentially be prevented</a> through <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/cancer/screening-for-cancer">regular screening</a> and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (not to mention preventing other chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes).</p> <p>Recommendations to reduce cancer risk are the same for everyone, not just those who’ve had treatment like Princess Catherine. They include not smoking, eating a nutritious and balanced diet, exercising regularly, cutting down on alcohol and staying sun smart.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/238681/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amali-cooray-1482458">Amali Cooray</a>, PhD Candidate in Genetic Engineering and Cancer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-eddie-la-marca-1503690">John (Eddie) La Marca</a>, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) </a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-diepstraten-1495268">Sarah Diepstraten</a>, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/wehi-walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-of-medical-research-822">WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-princess-of-wales-wants-to-stay-cancer-free-what-does-this-mean-238681">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

Bruce Springsteen’s wife reveals cancer diagnosis

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

Caring

Kate Middleton confirms the end of her chemotherapy

<p>The Princess of Wales has confirmed that she has finished chemotherapy and is now focused on staying cancer free. </p> <p>Kate Middleton, who announced in March that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for an undisclosed type of cancer, shared the update on social media with a deeply personal message. </p> <p>"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," she began in the video, which was shot last month in Norfolk. </p> <p>"The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she continued.</p> <p>“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.</p> <p>“With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.</p> <p>“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”</p> <p>Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all feature alongside Kate in the video, as they're surrounded by nature, with the couple even showing a rare display of public affection. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_s6SukNNne/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_s6SukNNne/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The Princess said that going forward her focus would be on “doing what I can to stay cancer-free” but was “looking forward to being back at work”, with plans to undertake a light program of engagements until the end of the year. </p> <p>“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she added.</p> <p>“Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”</p> <p>She then thanked the public for their support, saying how grateful the family were and how they had “drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time”.</p> <p>"Everyone's kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling."</p> <p>“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright,” she concluded.</p> <p>The Princess of Wales plans to support her family at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday in November and host her annual televised <em>Together At Christmas </em>carol service at Westminster Abbey the following month. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ Kensington Palace</em></p> <p> </p>

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