News

To mark the highly anticipated release of Tim Burton’s latest film, Alice in Wonderland, Walt Disney yesterday joined forces with Cancer Council to create Sydney’s own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in Martin Place. 

This event celebrated the official national launch of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is one of Australia’s most loved fundraising events and until the end of May, Cancer Council is encouraging people to host their own morning tea to help support Cancer Council’s research, education, support and prevention programs.

The set in Martin Place was designed to inspire onlookers to get creative when hosting their own tea parties.  In true Wonderland style, it featured a magical garden with a bountiful morning tea laid on a table in the centre.

Party guests included, Vince Sorrenti as the MC, dressed as the Mad Hatter, funny man Mike Goldman, model Annalise Braakensiek, actress and Cancer Council ambassador Clare Bowen, and Maz Compton from Nova FM.

Guests were invited to enjoy the refreshments, play a little croquet and create as much magical mayhem as possible!

Register now to host your own tea party at: www.biggestmorningtea.com.au or  call 1300 65 65 85.

30 November 2009
 
Cancer Council is concerned about the emotional wellbeing of pancreatic cancer patients after a perceived gap in support services has left many feeling confused and neglected after their ‘death sentence.’

Upon diagnosis, pancreatic cancer patients discover that nine out of ten people die from the aggressive disease.  Not surprisingly, patients often meet this news with shock and an urgent need for support. 
 
It comes as new Cancer Council Helpline figures reveal pancreatic cancer patients are twice as likely to need emotional support than breast cancer patients. But, limited support services, including advice from the small number of fellow patients and survivors, have caused feelings of isolation and neglect.
 
In response, Cancer Council NSW today launched an Understanding Pancreatic Cancer DVD, the first resource of its kind.  Developed with NSW Pancreatic Cancer Network (NSWPCN), the DVD features real life patients and medical experts, who cover topics including loneliness, symptoms, surgery, treatment, and palliative care.

The DVD can be viewed online at www.cancercouncil.com.au/pancreaticcancer.

21 November 2009

Cancer Council NSW has called on the NSW Government to fix a patchy radiotherapy system with the release of a compelling new report, Roadblocks to Radiotherapy - stories behind the statistics.

As the first of its kind, this patients' perspective highlights the emotional, psychological and financial impact on cancer patients when needing radiotherapy.

According to Anita Tang, Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Cancer Council NSW, this patients' perspective follows more than 16 radiotherapy focused reports, 11 written or commissioned by NSW Health Department over the last 10 years. 

“This unique report is the first patients’ perspective in a long line of reports looking at radiotherapy issues in NSW and sadly, the findings confirm what we already know.  Although half of the NSW population will develop cancer by the time they turn 85, patients needing radiotherapy are faced with roadblocks at every turn. 

“It's time for the government to stop stalling and take seriously the recommendations made to them time and time again. We need to see more radiotherapy centres across NSW, better financial support for patients, and planning that ensures that patients are able to access radiotherapy without undue hardship,” said Ms Tang. 

Please click here for further information.

15 November 2009

Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach became a massive ‘crime scene’ today (15 Nov) in a new Cancer Council campaign that graphically depicts the dangers of tanning.

Startled beachgoers were greeted by the sight of 1700 towels stretched across the sand, each emblazoned with a ‘crime scene’ chalk outline of a ‘victim’. The towels are a graphic representation of the 1700 Australians who die each year from skin cancer.

Cancer Council Australia CEO, Professor Ian Olver, said the ‘Don’t be a victim’ campaign was aimed mainly at Australian teens, many of whom continued to desire a tan, despite the well publicised risks.

“Newly analysed data from our National Sun Survey shows that 43 per cent of teens believe a suntan ‘looks healthy’,” said Professor Olver.*  “Peer pressure is largely to blame, with 71 per cent of teens saying their friends thought ‘a suntan was a good thing.’”

Professor Olver said that with one in four teens still getting sunburnt on a typical summer weekend, Cancer Council believed it was time to send an “unambiguous message” about the deadly risks of tanning.

Cancer Council’s latest awareness campaign features an edgy 30 second television commercial starring actress Nicole da Silva (of RUSH fame), as a crime scene detective following the case on Bondi Beach.

“More needs to be done to educate younger Australians about the dangers of getting sunburnt,” said Professor Olver. “We hope this campaign will help get the message to sink in that a tan just isn’t worth the risk.”

Please click here to view our 'Crime scene' TV commercial'