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Daughter's incredible gesture surprises her cancer-stricken mother

A brave mother fighting cancer has burst into tears at her daughter's amazing display of solidarity, as her mum continues to battle through chemotherapy. Tracy Mulcahy has been fighting a devastating diagnosis of stage four high-grade ovarian cancer and had started to lose her hair after relentless chemo treatment. Tracy and her daughter Sophie headed to their local hairdressers, where they have become like family after seven years, where Sophie was given the task of shaving her mum's head. To everyone's surprise, Sophie was handed the razor and decided to shave off her own long blonde hair in an emotional display of solitary and strength. Both women burst into tears and held one another, while there was not a dry eye in the salon from other clients and hairdressers. <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/C4h63b2rZYX/?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/C4h63b2rZYX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by ⚡️SOUTH WEST BLONDE SPECIALIST ⚡️ (@bambiblonde__)</a> </div> </blockquote> The heartwarming moment was captured by the Bambi Blonde salon and posted to their Instagram, where the post racked up hundreds of thousands of likes and comments of support from all over the world. "The whole salon was in tears," owner Claire Lovett said. Sophie has since revealed she decided to do it because she didn't want her mother to "go through this alone". "She means the absolute world to me. She's done everything she could to help me with any issues I've had in the past," Sophie told the Hit WA radio station. Tracy said her daughter's decision was "just insane", saying, "I saw her do it, and I'm like, no, please don't, please don't do this. I don't want you to go through what I'm going through." "I think when I sat down in that hairdresser's chair and prepared myself for the day, but when you actually sit in that chair and normally go to the hairdressers, it's obviously a positive experience." "And then to have to look in and see that there wasn't a lot of hair left at that point. And to see Sophie do that and sacrifice her own hair for me, it was just insane." The family have set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/tracys-battle-stage-4-high-grade-ovarian-cancer?utm_campaign=p_cp+fundraiser-sidebar&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page to help with the costs of Tracy's treatment. Image credits: Instagram / GoFundMe

Caring

Kate Middleton is having ‘preventive chemotherapy’ for cancer. What does this mean?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-olver-1047">Ian Olver</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Catherine, Princess of Wales, is undergoing treatment for cancer. In a video thanking followers for their messages of support after her major abdominal surgery, the Princess of Wales explained, “tests after the operation found cancer had been present.” “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she said in the two-minute video. No further details have been released about the Princess of Wales’ treatment. But many have been asking what preventive chemotherapy is and how effective it can be. Here’s what we know about this type of treatment. <h2>It’s not the same as preventing cancer</h2> To <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/how-we-help/prevention">prevent cancer developing</a>, lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and sun protection are <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/how-we-help/prevention">recommended</a>. Tamoxifen, a hormone therapy drug can be used to reduce the risk of cancer for some patients at <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/in-depth/breast-cancer/art-20045353">high risk of breast cancer</a>. Aspirin <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/research/aspirin-cancer-risk">can also be used</a> for those at high risk of bowel and other cancers. <h2>How can chemotherapy be used as preventive therapy?</h2> In terms of treating cancer, prevention refers to giving chemotherapy after the cancer has been removed, to prevent the cancer from returning. If a cancer is localised (limited to a certain part of the body) with no evidence on scans of it spreading to distant sites, local treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy can remove all of the cancer. If, however, cancer is first detected after it has spread to distant parts of the body at diagnosis, clinicians use treatments such as chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs), hormones or immunotherapy, which circulate <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/metastatic-cancer">around the body</a> . The other use for chemotherapy is to add it before or after surgery or radiotherapy, to prevent the primary cancer <a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/adjuvant-therapy-5198903">coming back</a>. The surgery may have cured the cancer. However, in some cases, undetectable microscopic cells may have spread into the bloodstream to distant sites. This will result in the cancer returning, months or years later. With some cancers, treatment with chemotherapy, given before or after the local surgery or radiotherapy, can kill those cells and prevent the cancer coming back. If we can’t see these cells, how do we know that giving additional chemotherapy to prevent recurrence is effective? We’ve learnt this from clinical trials. Researchers have compared patients who had surgery only with those whose surgery was followed by additional (or often called adjuvant) chemotherapy. The additional therapy resulted in patients not relapsing and surviving longer. <h2>How effective is preventive therapy?</h2> The effectiveness of preventive therapy depends on the type of cancer and the type of chemotherapy. Let’s consider the common example of bowel cancer, which is at high risk of returning after surgery because of its size or spread to local lymph glands. The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7564362/">first chemotherapy tested</a> improved survival by 15%. With more intense chemotherapy, the chance of surviving six years is approaching 80%. Preventive chemotherapy is usually given for three to six months. <h2>How does chemotherapy work?</h2> Many of the chemotherapy drugs stop cancer cells dividing by disrupting the DNA (genetic material) in the centre of the cells. To improve efficacy, drugs which work at different sites in the cell are given in combinations. Chemotherapy is not selective for cancer cells. It kills any dividing cells. But cancers consist of a higher proportion of dividing cells than the normal body cells. A <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/how-does-chemotherapy-work#:%7E:text=Chemotherapy%20works%20by%20killing%20cells%20that%20are%20rapidly,cells%20can%20repair%20the%20damage%20and%20can%20recover.">greater proportion of the cancer is killed</a> with each course of chemotherapy. Normal cells can recover between courses, which are usually given three to four weeks apart. <h2>What are the side effects?</h2> The side effects of chemotherapy are usually reversible and are seen in parts of the body where there is normally a high turnover of cells. The production of blood cells, for example, is temporarily disrupted. When your white blood cell count is low, there is an increased risk of infection. Cell death in the lining of the gut leads to mouth ulcers, nausea and vomiting and bowel disturbance. Certain drugs sometimes given during chemotherapy can attack other organs, such as causing numbness in the hands and feet. There are also generalised symptoms such as <a href="https://www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/treatments/treatments-types/chemotherapy/side_effects_of_chemotherapy.html">fatigue</a>. Given that preventive chemotherapy given after surgery starts when there is no evidence of any cancer remaining after local surgery, patients can usually resume normal activities within weeks of completing the courses of chemotherapy.<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/226461/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-olver-1047">Ian Olver</a>, Adjunct Professsor, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/kate-middleton-is-having-preventive-chemotherapy-for-cancer-what-does-this-mean-226461">original article</a>.

Body

Couple who found love in chemotherapy raise funds for final trip

Ainslie Plumb, 22, and Joe Fan, 29, found love in an unexpected place, at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. The couple met in 2022 while they were both undergoing leukaemia treatment. “We met at an event for young people with cancer and became friends following that,” Plumb told 7News. “(We) would hang out during our hospital stays, I asked him out in October 2022 and (we) have been together ever since.” While Plumb successfully entered remission, last October, Fan was told that he was now terminal, as doctors had run out of options to treat his Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. With only months left to live, Fan, who has actively given back to the hospital and cancer community by playing his violin for patients and staff and worked with the Queensland Youth Cancer Service, has one final wish - to travel. The couple have set a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-joe-live-his-dreams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a>, to help raise funds which cover flights, accommodation and specialised travel insurance, for Fan's final trip. “I go through my cancer treatments and observe the toll that takes on my physical and mental wellbeing,” Fan said. “The end of a trip can hopefully mark the start of another — and I have held onto hope, looked forward and dreamed for one more trip, more time, one more experience with that someone I love.” Their first destination will be Taiwan and Hong Kong, where Fan's parents are from and where he spent a majority of his childhood. They also intend to travel to New Zealand and Western Australia to swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo in the state’s north. “We’re aiming at going at the end of February to give us time to co-ordinate with his doctors around his appointments and infusions, which are all booked in advance,” Plumb said. “We recently reached 75 per cent on the fundraiser and are hoping to hit 100 per cent perhaps by the end of January.” As of today, the couple have successfully raised over $21,000 from their $20,000 goal, and have thanked everyone in their community and strangers for their support. “Truly, words do not suffice,” the couple said. Images: 7News

Relationships

From straight to curly, thick to thin: here’s how hormones and chemotherapy can change

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> Head hair comes in many colours, shapes and sizes, and hairstyles are often an expression of personal style or cultural identity. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631178/">Many different genes</a> determine our hair texture, thickness and colour. But some people’s hair changes around the time of puberty, pregnancy or after chemotherapy. So, what can cause hair to become curlier, thicker, thinner or grey? <h2>Curly or straight? How hair follicle shape plays a role</h2> Hair is made of <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23204-keratin">keratin</a>, a strong and insoluble protein. Each hair strand grows from its own <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470321/">hair follicle</a> that extends deep into the skin. Curly hair forms due to asymmetry of both the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6894537/">hair follicle and the keratin</a> in the hair. Follicles that produce <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318524">curly hair</a> are asymmetrical and curved and lie at an angle to the surface of the skin. This kinks the hair as it first grows. The asymmetry of the hair follicle also causes the keratin to bunch up on one side of the hair strand. This pulls parts of the hair strand closer together into a curl, which maintains the curl as the hair continues to grow. Follicles that are symmetrical, round and perpendicular to the skin surface produce straight hair. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/567020/original/file-20231221-29-fp0wci.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A diagram shows the hair follicle shape of straight, curly and coiled hair." /></a><figcaption>Each hair strand grows from its own hair follicle. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/diagram-hair-follicle-shape-vector-illustration-2248429145">Mosterpiece/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>Life changes, hair changes</h2> Our hair undergoes repeated cycles throughout life, with different stages of growth and loss. Each hair follicle contains stem cells, which multiply and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2022.899095/full">grow into a hair strand</a>. Head hairs spend most of their time in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5905671/">the growth phase</a>, which can last for several years. This is why head hair can grow so long. Let’s look at the life of a single hair strand. After the growth phase is a transitional phase of about two weeks, where the hair strand stops growing. This is followed by a resting phase where the hair remains in the follicle for a few months before it <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-hair-growth">naturally falls out</a>. The hair follicle <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/exd.13347">remains in the skin</a> and the stems cells grow a new hair to repeat the cycle. Each hair on the scalp is replaced <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606321/#b3">every three to five years</a>. <h2>Hormone changes during and after pregnancy alter the usual hair cycle</h2> Many women notice their hair is <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/pregnancy-hair">thicker during pregnancy</a>. During pregnancy, high levels of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4908443/">oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin</a> prolong the resting phase of the hair cycle. This means the hair <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488/">stays in the hair follicle for longer</a>, with less hair loss. A drop in hormones a few months after delivery causes increased hair loss. This is due to all the hairs that remained in the resting phase during pregnancy falling out in a fairly synchronised way. <h2>Hair can change around puberty, pregnancy or after chemotherapy</h2> This is related to the genetics of hair shape, which is an example of <a href="https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/incomplete-dominance">incomplete dominance</a>. Incomplete dominance is when there is a middle version of a trait. For hair, we have curly hair and straight hair genes. But when someone has one curly hair gene and one straight hair gene, they can have wavy hair. Hormonal changes that occur around <a href="https://clinicalepigeneticsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13148-019-0780-4">puberty</a> and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/20/12698">pregnancy</a> can affect the function of genes. This can cause the curly hair gene of someone with wavy hair to become more active. This can change their hair from wavy to curly. Researchers have identified that activating specific genes can change hair in pigs <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1184015/full">from straight to curly</a>. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5759815/">Chemotherapy</a> has very visible effects on hair. Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells, <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2628766">including hair follicles</a>, which causes hair loss. Chemotherapy can also have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1988866/">genetic effects</a> that influence hair follicle shape. This can cause hair to <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chemo-curls">regrow with a different shape</a> for the first few cycles of hair regrowth. <h2>Hormonal changes as we age also affect our hair</h2> Throughout life, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488/">thyroid hormones</a> are essential for production of keratin. Low levels of thyroid hormones can cause dry and brittle hair. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36578854/">Oestrogen and androgens</a> also regulate hair growth and loss, particularly as we age. Balding in males is due to <a href="https://theconversation.com/starting-to-thin-out-hair-loss-doesnt-have-to-lead-to-baldness-34984">higher levels of androgens</a>. In particular, high dihydrotestosterone (sometimes shortened to DHT), which is produced in the body from testosterone, has a role in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7269836/">male pattern baldness</a>. Some women experience <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-why-does-womens-hair-thin-out-39126">female pattern hair loss</a>. This is caused by a combination of genetic factors plus lower levels of <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/3/893">oestrogen and higher androgens</a> after menopause. The hair follicles become smaller and smaller until they no longer produce hairs. Reduced function of the cells that produce <a href="https://www.health.com/mind-body/what-going-gray-early-can-tell-you-about-your-health">melanin</a> (the pigment that gives our hair colour) is what causes greying.<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/219329/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, Associate professor of Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/from-straight-to-curly-thick-to-thin-heres-how-hormones-and-chemotherapy-can-change-your-hair-219329">original article</a>.

Beauty & Style

"She's been amazing": The friendship helping Johnny Ruffo through cancer treatment

Johnny Ruffo said he owes everything to his girlfriend Tahnee Sims for constantly being by his side as he battles through his terminal brain cancer. But behind-the-scenes is one more person that the former Home and Away star has to thank for her support. Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts, has also been a rock in Johnny’s life as he pushes through his chemotherapy. "She's been amazing," the former X-Factor star told TV Week. "She constantly checks in and asks how I'm doing. She always wants to go out for dinner. "I can't stress enough how people like her help get through tough times. She's just a wonderful person. Having people like that to say 'Oh, how are you feeling this week?' and little sweet things like that make all the difference. It's a great support network." When it comes to Tahnee, Johnny admits that he wouldn’t have been able to go through his diagnosis without her. "Having Tahnee by my side every step of the way, literally and metaphorically, she's incredible. I couldn't do it without her,” he previously said. "She does it just as hard as I do. She's having to deal with all the doctors and what they're saying, and then she has to deal with me once we get home as well.” The singer is going through chemotherapy once every three weeks and said he wanted to give gave as the holiday season creeps up. Ruffo partnered with Amazon Australia to help twelve superhero children from the Starlight Children’s Foundation to become official toy testers for the festive season. "It brings such joy to me. It's a privilege to be able to know that you are helping them forget about everything that they're going through," he said in the Starlight Children's Foundation campaign. "I feel like I get as much out of it as the kids. It's quite cathartic for me to be able to bring joy to these children who are somewhat in a similar position." The 34-year-old was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017 after struggling with multiple headaches. Ruffo then announced in 2019 that he was in remission, but by November 2020 the cancer had returned, before confirming in 2022 that his illness is terminal. He has also recently released a memoir called No Finish Line, dedicated to his girlfriend, in which he details his experiences recording music, acting, his family and loved ones. The title, he explains, is that “it wasn’t the end”. Images: Instagram

Caring

TV host explains why he didn’t treat late son’s cancer

TV host Nick Cannon has revealed why his late son Zen did not receive treatment after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. In his latest interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/parents/nick-cannon-opens-up-losing-son-zen-cancer-people-cover/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=people_people&utm_term=curalate_like2buy" target="_blank">People</a>, Cannon spoke about his own experience with chemotherapy during his battle with lupus and said it influenced his decision to not proceed with the same treatment for his son. He explained that he didn’t want his young son to “suffer”. The Masked Singer star shared Zen with former model Alyssa Scott, and explained how they came to their decision. “We were having quality of life conversations,” he <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/nick-cannon-reveals-he-chose-not-to-treat-late-sons-cancer/WOH3VM56FDSJ7L64WAJ3P4GLF4/" target="_blank">said</a>. “We could have had that existence where he would’ve had to live in the hospital, hooked up to machines, for the rest of the time. From someone who’s had to deal with chemotherapy before, I know that pain. To see that happen to a two-month-old, I didn’t want that. I didn’t want him to suffer.” The actor, who starred on the cover of People, said “we had a short time with a true angel”. “My heart is shattered. I wish I could have done more, spent more time with him, taken more pictures. I wish I could have hugged him longer.” In August, Zen was diagnosed with a high-grade glioma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, at just two-months old. After doctors did all they could to treat him, Cannon and Scott decided to give their son the best life they could, no matter how long or short it would be. Cannon first <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/tv-host-announces-death-of-5-month-old-son" target="_blank">shared the news of Zen’s passing</a> on his talk show while recounting the difficult moments during his son’s health battle. “Over the weekend I lost my youngest son to a condition called hydrocephalus that is pretty much a malignant, midline brain tumour - brain cancer,” he said. The couple spent their last day with Zen at the beach watching the sunrise and sunset together. He then passed away on December 5 with his parents by his side. “I see it as a blessing that I got to be there,” Cannon told People. “Alyssa says, ‘I think he was just waiting for you.’” Image: Getty Images

Caring

Edwina Bartholomew shares heart-warming news of a toddler’s recovery

Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew has shared news she says is “close to my heart” about Sydney toddler, Grace Bridges, winning her battle with cancer. The news comes as a great relief to Bartholomew, who is pregnant herself and a mother to one-year-old daughter Molly. When Bartholomew first shared Grace’s story in June, she broke down on air. But now Bartholomew has been able to share with viewers that two-year-old Grace – or ‘Amazing Grace’ as she’s now called by the doctors, has been “declared cancer-free” after undergoing multiple bouts of gruelling chemotherapy. “Here’s an update on a story that’s very close to my heart,” Bartholomew said on Wednesday. “Earlier this year I met toddler grace Bridges. This gorgeous little girl has been battling the rare cancer named metastatic hepatoblastoma.” “I’m delighted to tell you that this week her parents and Grace received the best news ever - she is cancer-free!” she said. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c8129ab75f104d8ca0de2625c24af2c5" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.5198618307427px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844324/grace-kangaroo-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c8129ab75f104d8ca0de2625c24af2c5" /> Treatment of 70 doses of chemotherapy Grace had undergone a staggering 70 doses of chemotherapy, five major surgeries and has spent more than 100 days in hospital. Her rare cancer was so aggressive that devastated doctors at one point warned her heartbroken parents their daughter may have just 24 hours to live. Bartholomew described the update as “beautiful” and recalled her emotional response to meeting Grace and her family earlier this year. “You might remember because I absolutely lost it!” she joked. “They call her ‘amazing Grace’ and I think that is absolutely the best name for her, she is such a cute kid,” Bartholomew added. “It’s such wonderful news for her whole family to be cancer-free after that horrific ordeal.” Image: Sunrise

Caring

70% of women with breast cancer may not need chemotherapy, finds landmark study

Darren Saunders is a cancer biologist in the School of Medical Sciences at UNSW Sydney. Findings from a <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1804710?query=featured_home">major international clinical trial</a> suggest a significant number of women with the most common form of early-stage breast cancer do not need chemotherapy after surgery. The results of the so-called TAILORx trial were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://am.asco.org/">American Society of Clinical Oncology</a> and concurrently published in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1804710">New England Journal of Medicine</a>. Breast cancer types The study looked at over 10,000 women with one specific type of breast cancer known as hormone-receptor–positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative, lymph node–negative breast cancer. Not all breast tumours behave the same way, with a number of different subtypes of breast cancer defined by genetic and protein markers. There are five to six main subtypes, depending on the classification system used. But with genome sequencing it’s becoming apparent each patient’s disease has subtle differences at the molecular level. These <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-treatment-pdq">different subtypes are treated differently</a>, and can have significantly different outcomes for patients. The subset of breast tumours that form the focus of this study are driven by hormones (oestrogen), do not respond to drugs such as <a href="https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/cancer-types/breast-cancer/treatment/what-does-treatment-breast-cancer-involve/targeted-therapies/types-targeted-therapy/trastuzumab-herceptin">trastuzumab</a>(also known as Herceptin - an engineered antibody that targets HER2), and haven’t yet spread to the lymph nodes. They represent roughly half of the more than 17,000 new cases of breast cancer <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/breast-cancer-in-australia-an-overview/contents/summary">diagnosed in Australia every year</a>. Patients with these kind of tumours typically undergo surgery followed by treatment with drugs that target rapidly dividing cells (chemotherapy) and drugs that block the production or action of the hormone oestrogen (endocrine therapy, such as the drug Tamoxifen). Results from this study suggest many women with this specific type of tumour do not receive any additional benefit from having chemotherapy in combination with endocrine therapy, compared to endocrine therapy alone. This has the potential to spare thousands of women from the awful side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea, hair loss, and heart and nerve damage. This study used a genetic test (called “Oncotype DX”) to measure a panel of 21 genes that help predict risk of cancer recurrence. Importantly, chemotherapy still showed some benefit in women with higher Oncotype recurrence scores, and in some women under the age of 50. Although mortality rates have decreased significantly over the last few decades, breast cancer is estimated to cause more than <a href="http://globocan.iarc.fr/old/FactSheets/cancers/breast-new.asp">half a million deaths globally</a> every year. Breast cancer remains the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-compendium-information-and-trends-by-cancer-type/report-contents/breast-cancer-in-australia">second most common cause of death from cancer</a> among females in Australia. Hope and hype Cancer is complex and challenging to study, and news reporting on the disease easily lends itself to hype, contradiction and misinterpretation. Clearly communicating research findings are important for helping patients make informed decisions about treatment and modifying risk. Poor reporting may have serious consequences for public and scientific communities alike. Some of the reports and headlines on this trial have been a little misleading, feeding on an understandable fear. They could potentially encourage patients to incorrectly avoid or stop treatment - with potentially tragic consequences. False or unmet expectations can also seed disappointment and an eventual loss of trust in science. Another, more sinister, aspect to these headlines is the potential to fuel myths and conspiracy theories about the effectiveness of chemotherapy. One of the most exciting aspects of this trial is the emergence of robust, large-scale data supporting the use of “<a href="https://theconversation.com/its-2030-and-precision-medicine-has-changed-health-care-this-is-what-it-looks-like-90539">precision medicine</a>” - using genetic profiles to dictate treatment and predict outcomes in cancer. Trials like this are critical in balancing the significant hope and hype of precision medicine. This study supports sparing thousands of women from the sometimes nasty side-effects of chemotherapy, but we must be crystal clear that it applies to a very specific (and significant) subset of women. Patients should not make any changes to their treatment based off this study, and should always consult their doctors. And while celebrating this genuine advance, we should remember just how far we have to go in finding effective therapies for metastatic breast cancer, and other breast cancer subtypes for which treatment options are still limited. Written by Darren Saunders. Republished with the permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/many-women-with-breast-cancer-may-not-need-chemo-but-beware-misleading-headlines-97686" target="_blank">The Conversation.</a>

Body

Johnny Ruffo's inspirational act of kindness hours after gruelling chemotherapy

Johnny Ruffo has marked his final round of chemotherapy in a very inspirational way. Just hours after his chemotherapy session, the former Home and Away star participated in a charity walk for children with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy. The 29-year-old took part in the 150km ‘Walk to Save Our Sons’, which aims to raise awareness for the severe muscle condition that impacts one in 3,500 boys. Talking to Today before starting the walk, Ruffo brushed off his own struggles, focusing on those living with this genetic condition. "I'll pull through it… I'm blessed, in comparison," he said. "At the end of the day, these kids have it far worse than I do. [They] will be lucky to live to 25 or 30, whereas I'm 30 on Thursday." The Aussie actor and singer has already raised $21,000 towards finding a cure for the disease. "I'm lucky compared to these kids," he continued. "I would much rather give to them." <blockquote 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: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/Bf14XE8g3FI/" target="_blank">A post shared by SaveOurSons DuchenneFoundation (@saveoursons)</a> on Mar 2, 2018 at 5:01pm PST </div> </blockquote> In August, Ruffo announced that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. "On Sunday I went into hospital with a migraine," he told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/tvweek" target="_blank">TV WEEK</a>. "I had to have emergency surgery to have a brain tumour removed. I am on the mend and feeling positive. Keep me in your thoughts." Ruffo shared his journey with Australia, sharing photos in his hospital bed and of the large scar running across his forehead. <blockquote 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: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/BXl7r5-AH1S/" target="_blank">A post shared by Johnny Ruffo (@johnny_ruffo)</a> on Aug 9, 2017 at 5:11pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Ruffo first shot to fame after auditioning for X-Factor in 2011. He placed third in the competition with singer Reese Mastin coming out on top. In April 2012, he then went on to win the mirror ball in Dancing with the Stars and then made his acting debut on Home and Away in 2013 as Chris Harrington. His acting landed him a TV Week Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent. Ruffo announced that he was leaving the show in 2016 and said, "I've loved my time in Summer Bay. There's a lot more coming up for Chris and I hope fans continue enjoying his time on screen."

Caring

Julia Louis-Dreyfus celebrates last day of chemo

Veep actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus is celebrating her last day of chemotherapy. To celebrate the end of her extremely tough season since first being diagnosed with breast cancer, her two sons have shared a special video they made to put a smile on her face. Charlie and Henry Hall made their mum a video of themselves lip-syncing to Michael Jackson’s song Beat It. "Mum's last chemo day, beat it, love Henry and Charlie," read a message at the beginning of the video. The 57-year-old TV star shared the video on her Instagram with the caption, “My beauty boys @henryhallmusic @charlie_hall made this for me today, my last day of chemotherapy." "Pretty swell, right?" she added. "Ain’t they sweet?” <blockquote 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: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/Bd0nh3QH-Xm/" target="_blank">A post shared by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@officialjld)</a> on Jan 11, 2018 at 12:18pm PST </div> </blockquote> Actress Reese Witherspoon shared the video writing, “This touched my heart <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialJLD" target="_blank">@OfficialJLD</a><a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialJLD" target="_blank"></a>. Sending this out to all the folks who are fighting cancer. Beat It!” In September last year, Julia announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Julia revealed that she found out the devastating news the day after winning an Emmy for her role on Veep. The actress has used her social media accounts to <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/2017/10/julia-louis-dreyfus-shares-update-on-breast-cancer-battle/" target="_blank">share her journey</a> with fans and post the support from loved ones that she has received.

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Daughter's incredible gesture surprises her cancer-stricken mother

Kate Middleton is having ‘preventive chemotherapy’ for cancer. What does this mean?

Couple who found love in chemotherapy raise funds for final trip

From straight to curly, thick to thin: here’s how hormones and chemotherapy can change

"She's been amazing": The friendship helping Johnny Ruffo through cancer treatment

TV host explains why he didn’t treat late son’s cancer

Edwina Bartholomew shares heart-warming news of a toddler’s recovery

70% of women with breast cancer may not need chemotherapy, finds landmark study

Johnny Ruffo's inspirational act of kindness hours after gruelling chemotherapy

Julia Louis-Dreyfus celebrates last day of chemo

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

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Daughter's incredible gesture surprises her cancer-stricken mother

Kate Middleton is having ‘preventive chemotherapy’ for cancer. What does this mean?

Couple who found love in chemotherapy raise funds for final trip

From straight to curly, thick to thin: here’s how hormones and chemotherapy can change

"She's been amazing": The friendship helping Johnny Ruffo through cancer treatment

TV host explains why he didn’t treat late son’s cancer

Edwina Bartholomew shares heart-warming news of a toddler’s recovery

70% of women with breast cancer may not need chemotherapy, finds landmark study

Johnny Ruffo's inspirational act of kindness hours after gruelling chemotherapy

Julia Louis-Dreyfus celebrates last day of chemo

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