Foundation in Focus Christmas Issue 2017 IN THIS ISSUE
NOELA MCINNES’ LIFE WITH CANCER | CHRISTMAS APPEAL | FLAMINGO SYDNEY | GRIFFO’S RECAP
From Gayndah to Brisbane
Noela McInnes has lived with breast cancer for 14 years but despite the cards she’s been dealt, Noela continues to live a humble and fulfilling life with her husband in the regional Queensland town of Gayndah. She shares why being on a clinical trial keeps her happy. A routine mammogram in 2003 marked the beginning of Noela’s battle with breast cancer. After several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy she was given the all clear and went on to live her life in Gayndah with her loving husband, Ian, and helping out with their small business. But in 2013 the cancer returned and had spread. Since then, Noela has lived with metastatic breast cancer but feels healthy, happy and hopeful. “I was in someways relieved to get the diagnosis because you then know what it is, and you know you’ve got to just get on with the treatment. When it came back it felt familiar, I was ready to go through it again,” Noela said. This time around, her doctor gave her the standard treatment options of radiation and chemotherapy to consider, but also the choice of a clinical trial. Her medical oncologist explained the requirements of the trial and that early studies of the trial medication showed exciting and encouraging results. Noela didn’t hesitate and became a trial patient with Icon Cancer Foundation before Christmas 2013.
“I don’t regret my decision at all, I would do anything to stay on this trial” Every four weeks for the last four years, Ian has driven Noela down to Brisbane for her appointments and they spend the night in the city and will often visit their children and grandchildren. Noela admits sometimes the constant travelling can take its toll, but they’ve made it work and are grateful for this trial. “Sometimes it can be difficult for people who live in the country to get treatment let alone be on a clinical trial. Despite the difficulties, I don’t regret my decision at all, I would do anything to stay on this trial. I still feel generally in good health, and since being on the trial I haven’t got worse, I feel strong.” Noela and Ian fell in love with Gayndah when they moved there to run a small business. Now a retired teacher, she keeps active by helping Ian out at their rural supply store business. They couldn’t imagine leaving the tight knit community. “Gayndah is such a beautiful little country town, it’s a very supportive community. We all know each other and support one another. It makes me happy.”
Clinical trial opportunities
We are currently recruiting patients for clinical trials into the following cancer types: Breast | Myelodysplatic Syndrome | Multiple Myeloma | Ovarian | Pancreas | Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia | Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | Urothelial | Prostate | Head and Neck Renal Cell | Lung | Endometrial | Gastrointestinal | Bladder | Heart | B-Cell Lymphoma | Graft vs Host Disease | Melanoma You can also keep up-to-date by following us on social media:
iconcancerfoundation.org.au
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