JULY 2022 be well.
Submit your claims with the rt health mobile app
Contents 19Meet our members: Michael J Nicholls Community 3127Health and wellbeing Health and wellbeing Alison’s story. Vigilance is key when it comes to your health 05FeatureMeet Bentley – a welcome traveller on the Blue Mountains line Stomach ulcers 25Industry spotlightOptimising health for shift workers 03NewsNewsFrom the Chief Officer CommunityMeet our members: Rita Young 0913On the road 39Health and wellbeingRecipe: Creamy cauliflower soup 42Health and wellbeingRecipe: Lamb shank with mash Health and wellbeingMaking the most of your winter Extras 3733Private Health InsuranceWith a bit of planning, you’ll always be covered 39 rt health is a division of The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited (ACN 000 026 746) following merger. 05
In May, we moved out of our Surry Hills office at 1 Buckingham Street and have set up our new home in HCF House in George Street, Sydney. As our team progressively starts to return to the office, we’re mindful of being able to provide you with the opportunity to interact with us in person, too, and we’ll keep you posted as those plans develop.
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We know that affordability of everyday services is front of mind for people, and we’re committed to providing increased value for families. We were one of only a handful of private health insurers to roll out cover for kids right up to the age of 31 back in April. This means you’re now able to maintain cover for From the Chief Officer
We’re already more than halfway through 2022 and I’m pleased to bring you another edition of Be Well magazine.
And, of course, private health cover has never been more important. As public hospital waiting lists and concerns about staff shortages continue to plague the headlines, there’s assurance in knowing you’re protecting yourself (and those closest to you) with quality health cover. Having the ability to choose your doctor, your hospital and your access to services when you need them is a major reason we all maintain our cover.
Winter brings with it changes to our everyday habits, but it doesn’t decrease the need to invest time and effort in our health. Later in this edition, you’ll find an interesting article on how you can use your Extras Cover to stay healthy during the colder months. It’s good to know your health cover can play an important role in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, even when it’s cold outside.
rthealthfund.com.au 4 your older kids – whether they are students or working – to ensure they’re protected as they establish their lives and careers. If they’re studying full-time, they can remain on your membership as a ‘student dependant’ at no extra cost. If they’ve started working, we can organise for you all to be covered under a ‘Family Extension’ product until they reach the age of 31. Remember, our team is on hand if you have any questions. They’d be happy to hear from you. We continue to roll out the benefits resulting from our merger with HCF. rt health members can now visit HCF Eyecare and Dental Centres – and receive great member benefits, including a range of no-gap preventative dental treatments. Plus, you’ll hear more from us soon on additional benefits and programs you’ll be able to access in the coming months. We acknowledge and thank all of our members working in the rail, transport and energy sectors; the past couple of years certainly haven’t been easy and our country continues to rely on you every day. It’s long been our mission to serve and protect the people who keep the lights on and who keep Australia moving. To the rail and transport workers, drivers, logistics staff, electrical and energy workers (and to everyone who supports them), our ongoing thanks and support.
Take care and be well.
Simone Tregeagle Chief Officer – rt health +
He’s an 18-month-old pedigree miniature poodle. When he’s not working, he lives with his owner, Area Customer Service Manager Janette Owens, in the Blue Mountains.
Janette says whatever station she is at on a particular day, people will come by to knock on her door and ask if Bentley can come out for a pat and play.
Meet quiet achiever and popular commuter, Bentley. A trained mental health assistance dog, Bentley has been a popular new addition to the NSW TrainLink workforce. He made his debut on Rail R U OK? Day earlier this year and has since captured the attention of his colleagues, commuters and the media.
Although he started ‘work’ with NSW TrainLink in 2021, Bentley was officially accredited in March this year.
Meet Bentley –a welcome traveller on the Blue Mountains line
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Bentley is an amazing cuddler who just sits with the person and snuggles them. He will remain with them until they are calmed – unlike many other dogs that keep wriggling and requiring attention. Bentley also responds instantly to the command “cuddles” or “cuddles, Bentley”.
When Bentley singled the worker out by snuggling into her chest and calming her, his actions prompted Janette to think he had the temperament to be a therapy dog.
When Bentley visited the Newcastle Rail Interchange as a 10-week-old puppy, Janette noticed he had a positive impact on the people around him, especially one worker who’d recently experienced a trauma.
“One lady in particular asks that when Bentley is ‘on duty’ he come and be with her while she waits for the train. She suffers from anxiety on trains,” says Janette.
“We had one person who was trying to self-harm. We took Bentley out onto the platform and he sat with her until the police and ambulance arrived; he helped prevent that young lady from hurting herself.”
Bentley accompanied her as she adjusted to catching trains again, building up her confidence until she was able to return to work.
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“When people have stress attacks or panic attacks, he’s quite happy to go and sit on their laps. And just sit there for as long as they need him,” says Janette.
Rail workers often witness traumatic incidents on the rail network, with crew members suffering from anxiety and even PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Bentley often helps to calm workers, making them feel more at ease with his friendly presence. He’s also expert at soothing customers who are nervous about train travel.
Bentley also helped a woman who came to the station planning self-harm.
Bentley has supported a female train driver who was suffering PTSD after witnessing a man jump into the path of a train. At first there were home visits, then
“And one of our initiatives is Bentley. I have really been taken by how effective Bentley has been and Janette plays a huge part in that. It helps our customers and our people,” says Mr Merrick.
Mr Merrick says NSW TrainLink hopes to extend the program to include more mental health dogs in the future.
Federal Law protects these rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
A typical day for Bentley So, what’s a normal day like for Bentley? Janette says: “Bentley’s average day consists of coming to work with me and going around stations for visits, wherever he is needed”.
NSW TrainLink’s Chief Operations Officer Dale Merrick says: “R U OK? Day is a very important day in the NSW TrainLink calendar. It’s a day we get to have conversations about mental health and the wellbeing of our people. We have many initiatives around mental health and wellbeing, and a reflection of that is achieving ‘Gold’ status from Mental Health First Aid Australia as being a mental health-skilled workplace.
Pet dogs are not specifically trained to help their owners with a disability or health issue. However, assistance dogs are taught precise skills to help their human and enable them to engage in activities that may otherwise be too difficult or challenging.
In Australia, assistance dogs are granted full Public Access Rights, allowing them to accompany their owners almost everywhere. These rights are only granted after a thorough annual assessment by accredited organisations.
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Most people who have dogs or other pets find their presence comforting and reassuring.
“When we get to a station, he basically has free rein and once inside the building he wanders around saying hello to whomever is there, or he curls up having a nap until the next person comes along.”
About Rail R U OK? Day Rail R U OK? Day officially started in 2015, following the establishment of the original R U OK? Day in 2009 as a suicide prevention initiative. Rail R U OK? Day is an industry-wide event that unites rail workers across Australia and New Zealand. Mental health has become an extremely important topic in the past few years and events like R U OK? Day aim to break down barriers and help start conversations about mental health.
On Rail R U OK? Day this year, Bentley attended a special event at Central Station in Sydney, where he made friends with staff and customers.
What is an assistance dog?
rt health on show at AusRail Expo
rt health was proud to exhibit at the annual AusRail Expo at the International Convention Centre in Sydney from 28 February to 2 March. Our stand, featuring our signature colours, was popular with delegates. Our team handed out informative goody bags, and chatted to visitors and delegates about health insurance, the railways and our common industry.
Other exhibitors included Transport for NSW, John Holland, Wabtec, McConnell Dowell, Knorr-Bremse, Linmag, Siemens and Australian Rail Technology, to name just a few.
TrackSAFE Ambassador and Paralympian Vanessa Low –who featured in the March edition of Be Well – also stopped by to say hi. You can read Vanessa’s inspirational story of how losing her legs as a teenager in a train accident in Germany eventually led her to become a gold medal-winning athlete in the Paralympics in the January edition of Be Well.
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On roadthe
In July, members of our Queensland team staged a thank-you event for ETU (Electrical Trades Union) members at a Gold Coast sub-branch meeting. ETU members work tirelessly through major weather events to meet the energy needs of Queenslanders – especially during the floods from February to April this year. rt health put on a pizza dinner for ETU members. We’re proud to stand by our members so they can continue to ‘be well’, especially during some of the most extreme weather events this country has seen in recent years.
Queensland ETU thank-you event
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RTAA Field Day a runaway success for rt health rt health had a fun and extremely successful time at the RTAA (Rail Track Association Australia) Field Day, 11–12 May at Chullora in Western Sydney. The event was held in partnership between the RTAA and Sydney Trains. It’s the largest outdoor rail event in the Southern Hemisphere and is only held every two years. The sensational design and strategic location of the rt health display booth won the President’s Award for ‘Best on Field’, a first for rt health. At our booth, we offered full body scans with the Evolt 360 Body Composition Analyzer, which proved incredibly popular with attendees. The Evolt 360 is a 60-second scan that provides detailed data about a body through more than 40 measurements taken by passing a safe electrical current through the feet and hands. Plenty of rt health members came to say hello, including a fellow who brought his mother’s 50-year membership certificate that she received back in 2002.
Next was the Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL) ‘Driving the Difference’ conference. rt health has had a 10+ year partnership with TWAL, so was a great opportunity to network with representatives across all areas of road transport.
Key Account Managers Rebecca Delahaye and Alison Weatherill and the Marketing Team’s Kate Toulis flew the rt health flag at three big events in Melbourne. They also rolled out the Evolt 360 Body Scan* machine for attendees, which proved popular.
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Australian Energy Week was the final event on the calendar. It’s the major annual conference and expo for the entire energy supply chain and brings together supply generators, networks, retailers, end users and government. Attendees ranged from CEOs to analysts, energy traders to engineers. The conference was an excellent opportunity to introduce rt health to more businesses and participants in the energy industry and explore future partnerships.
First up was the Transport Workers Union (TWU) conference – an opportunity to engage with around 250 delegates, including occupational health and safety officers.
A trio of events in Melbourne rt health was thrilled to be back out and about at some big industry events in Melbourne recently. Due to COVID-19, many events had been cancelled or postponed over the past two years.
rthealthfund.com.au 12 We know healthy families are happy families – no matter how old your kids are. Knowing your kids’ health is protected is important. And being able to keep your kids covered for longer, makes life easier. We’re now offering cover to adult dependants – whether they’re students or working – right up until they turn 31.* Keeping your kids covered for longer *Full-time students can be covered for free and working kids can be covered for an additional premium (less than the amount they’d pay for an equivalent single person cover).
“I was born at a little place called Emmaville and I grew up in a mining district called Torrington, which was a very beautiful little area,” she says.
Rita May Young has lived a rich life. Now 90, she fondly recalls an almost idyllic childhood in Torrington, a small village in Northern NSW.
Two of her brothers served in the Army during the war effort. Her father was also a returned serviceman after serving in World War I and she had an uncle who lost his life during active service in France.
Glen Innes was the closest “town” of note (just more than 40 kilometres away). “It was a beautiful place to grow up in. We could go anywhere, ride our bikes anywhere, bushwalking. “We were a very vibrant little community,” she says. “You just had everything going for you in this little community and I’ve never forgotten it.”
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“We had rationing and we were infused with patriotic feelings. We knitted things for the British ... socks for the soldiers. We were very, very patriotic.”
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“It was known as the New England – it was so cold up there. They were very patriotic and very pro-British,” she says.
Rita describes as a wonderful backdrop for childhood.
Growing up in the country
Rita says those war years were starkly different –food rationing and ongoing concern for relatives serving in the armed forces became part of everyday life. Despite the obvious alarm, Rita also remembers the period with affection – she describes a time of great patriotism and of her family and community coming together to support the war effort.
Rita Young
One of seven children, Rita spent her formative years, during the 1940s, enjoying the easiness of a smalltown community – school, family and the feelings of security and safety that come from a simpler life.
A returned soldier’s memorial in Torrington is a source of pride, with 11 family members honoured for their service.
Despite her generally laid-back and happy childhood, Rita recalls the declaration of the second World War in 1939.
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In the mid-1950s, Rita’s career moved into occupational health when she took a relief job across various railway workshops and then permanently at Rolling Stock, Chullora.
Rita was thrilled when, soon after penning a letter to her family friends, she received a telegram confirming that they’d help her. “She still recalls the text of the telegram. “Come when ready. Always welcome. Alma and George Trewhella.”
“I thought I’ll have to get going and do something. It (office work) wasn’t very interesting to me and I knew I wanted to go further afield,” she says.
Off to the city
It was via a family connection that Rita realised her ambition to move to Sydney to become a nurse.
Rita studied for a year (1961) for a certificate and eventually became a member of the College of Nursing. She was eventually bestowed a Fellowship. She’s now a distinguished life member of the Australian Nurses Association.
“I am forever grateful for the opportunity they afforded me,”says Rita. And so started her career as a cadet nurse. A career in nursing Proudly hospital trained, Rita held her nursing registration until she was 80.
While at Balmain Hospital, Rita achieved First Prize in Medical Nursing in 1950. Rita also spent just over 12 months in the UK, where she acquired an internationally-recognised British Nursing Registration. Throughout her career she developed a keen interest in occupational therapy and healthsparked by observation and willingness to help patients to proactively manage their health.
Rita spent the last 15 years of her working life at the apprentice training college.
“That really was a wonderful experience for me. It was very interesting. It was a very nice finale to my career”. She loved the opportunity to work with young people and to be involved in training of young people for roles in various trades.
Soon after her arrival in Sydney, Rita’s sponsors organised an introduction to the Matron of Balmain Hospital and live-in quarters for the young Rita.
Rita remembers with great clarity the introduction of the first female apprentices, starting with the “electrical girls” in the mid-1970s.
“I got around to thinking that I’d like to work in nursing that served as a preventative role as well,” she says. And so, in the 1950s, she embarked on a new path of what was then called “industrial nursing”.
“You saw industrial history happening, if you know what I mean”. She remembers that her pay was generally “somewhat limited as regards the responsibility I had”. However, Rita relished in the regular 7.30 am to 4 pm weekday work and cherished her weekends when she took to local tennis courts and enjoyed a good social life. She eventually became a member of the Professional Officers Union (with railway engineers, doctors and other professionals), which resulted in a pay rise.
As mining declined in the Torrington area, many “local folk” moved to the city.
Rita had dabbled in office work at the local shops and post office, but she had much loftier career ambitions.
“It is a very good fund. It’s always stood by me. I’ve never ever wanted to leave it.” Always active
Once a keen Bridge player, Rita had to retire her skills due to declining vision. She now enjoys writing and is collaborating on books to publish with a couple of friends.
“They still visit me. A family came to visit me two weeks ago and I recently went to one of their 30th birthday parties,” Rita says.
An advocate for private health cover, Rita says she’s the envy of her friends when it comes to health funds.
Rita now writes for enjoyment and her childhood tales and recollections are often a happy subject for her. She also enjoys an active social life and her regular contact with former neighbourhood families, where she’s had an indelible impact on the lives of others.
Rita, always one to share her knowledge and experience, tutored local children (many new immigrants) in English and in many cases formed lifelong relationships.
But no matter where’s she’s travelled, Rita appreciates home.
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“Due to my nursing experience, I found it was very much to your advantage to have your own doctor and for your own medical welfare. Although people got very good attention, it was always good to have your own doctor.”
She proudly boasts that one of her tutored students recently gained a Distinction in Law and Commerce at Macquarie University.
Rita recounts numerous conversations and interactions, both with friends and with doctors and hospitals, about the great reputation of rt health.
A proud rt health member
Rita’s been a proud member of rt health since 1956.
“I like to live here. This is where I’m home. I’m an Aussie.”
Rita was introduced to the then Railway and Tramway Hospital Fund (now rt health) when she started doing relief work on the railways. She proudly showed us her original membership card that was issued to her in 1956 at our offices (at Petersham Station at that time).
“They all seem to think mine’s the best when I tell them of all the help I’ve had over the years.”
Not one to knock back life’s opportunities, Rita has always enjoyed travelling. She recounts a fascination with China, the beauty of Yugoslavia, the charm of the English Lakes District, and the very special beauty of Wales among her favourites.
“Due to my nursing experience, I found it was very much to your advantage to have your own doctor and for your own medical welfare. Although people got very good attention, it was always good to have your own doctor.”
She says her involvement in the medical field had a great impact on shaping her positive view of private health cover.
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“It’s very nice when something like that happens, that they take the trouble to send a thank-you letter.”
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Michael JNicholls
“I got a really lovely thank-you letter from an international visitor – an Australian couple that lived in Europe but came home for the Sydney Games – that was forwarded to me from the then Premier Bob Carr’s department. The visitor didn’t know how to reach me, so he addressed it to the Premier Bob Carr, and it was forwarded to me,” says Michael.
Michael helped both local and international visitors during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with their various transport needs, including disabled access to transport to and from the Games venues.
While his career highlights are many, Michael calls out a letter from a visitor to Sydney during the 2000 Sydney Olympics as his most memorable.
He’s a great example of the thousands of workers who invest their care and time to serve the people of NSW.
The hours were long and, while Michael himself never got to see a single Olympic event, he remembers well a letter of appreciation he received some time later.
Long-time rt health member Michael Nicholls has moulded his career around the transport industry.
A career railway man, Michael has served the NSW transport industry well for almost 50 years.
The wife of the gentleman who wrote the letter had broken her leg just before the Olympic Ceremony and needed help.
over
Later promotions saw Michael serve as storeman in roles across the Rozelle Purchasing and supply Store and Central Electrical Depot. He then progressed to the position of supervising storeman at Eveleigh, Chullora, Sydenham and Enfield.
A rewarding career in transport Michael has enjoyed a long, rewarding and successful career working across the NSW State Government transport industry. He started straight out of school, aged 15, in 1973 as a shop boy at the Chullora Workshops of the Public Transport Commission, where he worked for 6 months.
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Over his decades of service to transport across Sydney, Michael has held a frontrow seat to the changes, expansion and development of public transport.
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Today Michael’s role in Facilities Support involves managing maintenance for seven of Transport for NSW training facilities, including Petersham, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Auburn, Chullora, Eveleigh and Waterfall.
He says that every day is different and that he appreciates being able to work at different locations across the rail network.
Over his decades of service to transport across Sydney, Michael has held a front-row seat to the changes, expansion and development of public transport.
“New trains, new buses, new ferries. All of transport seems to have changed in so many years,” he says.
Still with the NSW State Government (although through a series of name and departmental changes) from 1980 to 2004 with the State Rail, Michael worked as a supervising storeman, station assistant and customer service team leader.
From 2004 to 2012 Michael worked with RailCorp as College Attendant, Records Officer and Business Support Officer at the Petersham Transport Training Centre.
As a child Michael loved spending time on a farm, owned by friends of his grandparents, near Orange. He recalls that he would have liked to have lived there. He yearned for life on the farm, yet his Sydney-based parents were firm on keeping him at home with them in HeSydney.sayshe enjoyed the time away from the business of the city and could easily see himself as a farmer if he’d been raised in the country.
“I keep putting off retirement because I love the people,” he says. “It’s great to see people out and about.”
“It was called the Railways and Tramways Hospital Fund back then, and if you worked on the railways you were strongly encouraged to join.”
He’s been very happy with his membership – through some major illnesses and treatments, treatments, including four operations. Michael says one of the great things about being a rt health member is that he can get help when he doesn’t understand things. Health insurance can sometimes be complicated, but he finds the staff at rt health explain anything he doesn’t understand. He’s spoken several times with rt health Key Account Manager Alison Weatherill, to ask for information or advice.
“Alison is always fantastic to speak to. She’s helped me a lot. I’ve had to use my rt health insurance a lot, with various cancers, operations and other treatments. I highly recommend rt health.”
Michael joined rt health 48 years ago when he first worked on the railways.
A proud rt health member
Michael has extended family with a sister living in the UK and a brother in the USA, both married with children. Michael says they all stay in touch, despite being so far away, and use WhatsApp to communicate with each other.
A self-confessed “people person”, Michael is a popular team member who delights in interacting with his colleagues every day. His commitment isn’t tied to work hours and he spent many hours volunteering at special events.
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A love of the simple things Michael is now settled in Sydney’s western suburbs in the Strathfield area.
He’s witnessed not only the huge transition in trains - from the Red Rattlers, to the Waratahs, to the driverless trains of Sydney Metro – but also worked through several innovations in customer service –including the introduction of Opal cards.
Socially – relationships with friends, family and partners may be negatively impacted by inability to attend family gatherings and other leisure activities. Intimate relationships may be affected by lack of quality time with a partner.
Broken down this means:
• Maintain a healthy weight – if you have trouble keeping weight off, you can use your Extras cover to see a dietician.
Shift work is necessary practice across many industries and is an integral part of the rail, transport and energy sectors. However, it can negatively impact many areas of a worker’s life and health –both mental and physical.
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Physiologically – physical health that may be adversely affected by broken sleep patterns and insomnia; poor diet and a lack of nutrition; alcohol and drug abuse – including smoking; lack of exercise; and not enough rest breaks.
Dr Watson points out that as shift work can take quite a toll on a worker’s health, due to fatigue, ill-health, depression, anxiety, or all of these, there can be a tendency to use unhealthy “coping” methods such as alcohol and drugs, cigarette smoking, or excessive caffeine – via coffee or caffeine tablets. These may seem like a short term “fix”, but in the long run they will do you a lot more harm than good.
Optimising health for shift workers
• Cut down on alcohol – try drinking light beer or diluting mixed drinks with soft drink. If you find you can’t stop after one or two drinks, you might need to talk to your GP or seek help via support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Tips to help you overcome the negative effects of working shifts
Benefits include flexibility, which may help with childcare arrangements and possible financial benefits with penalty rates and loadings.
Physiologically, psychologically and socially.”
Dr Trent Watson, Principal Consultant at Ethos Health, conducts webinars about shift work, and has this to say: “Shift work can affect all areas of a worker’s life.
• Exercise regularly – walking is great exercise whatever your age or fitness level, with most smartphones having a built-in pedometer. Even 5,000 steps a day is a great start.
• Eat well – regular meals and healthy snacks will keep you energised for longer.
• Quit smoking – the Department of Health has some great tips on breaking this dangerous habit. (You can claim benefits for over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy on your Extras Cover. Give us a call to see how we can help).
Psychologically – mental health can really suffer due to the stress caused by working shifts. This may lead to depression and anxiety, and a lessened ability to cope with life’s challenges.
For some people shift work is a blessing – but for others it’s a curse.
“Shift work can affect all areas of a worker’s andpsychologicallyPhysiologically,life.socially.”
“They (the ultrasound technicians) don’t give anything away, as they are not responsible for diagnosis, but the fact that this lady looked me in the eyes and said make sure I keep having the scans every year made it more real.
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Everyone knows someone who has suffered from breast cancer. As the second most common cause of cancer death in Australian women, breast cancer detection and diagnosis rely on vigilance and selfexamination, as well as information and education about the disease.
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Alison’s story. Vigilance is key when it comes to your health
“Next I got a phone call from my doctor, who was overseas for a family funeral, and I knew then it must be something big,” adds Alison.
In this edition of Be Well, rt health Key Account Manager Alison Weatherill shares the story of her diagnosis and journey in tackling this insidious disease. Alison first experienced breast cancer in May 2021. With no direct family history, except a cousin on her father’s side, Alison was shocked by her diagnosis. It was an unrelated chest pain that prompted Alison to visit her doctor. She was sent for an ECG and told that her problem was most likely caused by excess stomach acid. Still wanting more assurance, Alison quizzed her doctor further and recalls asking at the time if she should have her breasts checked. She was told that early-stage breast cancer is usually Decidingpainless.toruleout breast cancer as a possible cause of her pain, Alison was sent for a mammogram and “Whenultrasound.Ihad the ultrasound, the technician looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Make sure you keep coming for yearly tests,’ and I had an idea then that there was something amiss,” says Alison.
Alison used her private health cover with rt health and went straight into Sydney Southwest Private Hospital for the operation.
Having a supportive family, friends and workmates has been a huge advantage to Alison throughout the past year on her breast cancer journey.
Alison’s aftercare includes taking a hormone treatment, Tamoxifen, for a minimum of five years and up to as long as 10 years. She’s now vigilant about yearly check-ups, which involve an ultrasound and an appointment with her specialist.
“Due to that connection I wanted to have the genetic test for the breast cancer gene, which is a simple blood test.
With the MRI strongly suggesting there was cancer in her other breast, Alison opted for a double mastectomy.
Even after a double mastectomy, there’s a one per cent chance of cancer returning in the skin in the area. As there is no breast tissue, the ultrasound takes the place of a mammogram.
Originally from Hartlepool in the northeast of England, Alison met her Australian husband, Brad, while they were both living and working in London. They made the move to Australia in 2011 and have since had two beautiful daughters. On what advice she would give to other women, Alison says: “Always trust your gut instinct when it comes to your health. Never put off having check-ups – no matter how busy life is. If something doesn’t feel right, go and get it checked out – just to be safe.” there are abnormal cells in the milk ducts, but it does not reveal or suggest the person has invasive breast cancer. from the Australian Cancer Council: www.cancer.org.au/mastectomy
Thankfully I don’t have it, so that’s great news, especially for my two daughters who are both still under 10,” she says.
Additional information
*Breast Calcifications www.melbournebreastcancersurgery.com.au/wp-content/themes/ypo-theme/pdf/breast-calcifications.pdf **A diagnosis of DCIS means
“I was in there for four days ... I then had to wear this sort of vacuum thing (vacuum-assisted wound closure) on my chest for a month to help with the recovery.”
“It was only when I started going through the processes that followed that I started to get a bit down and emotional,” says Alison.
An MRI was scheduled to examine both breasts, just to be sure. “I made the decision to have further surgery after I’d had the lumpectomy. What they do is take the lump as well as a certain diameter of surrounding tissue to test as well. And the doctor said: ‘We’re going to take a generous amount from you just to be sure that there isn’t any more cancer’.
“When I went to get the results he said, ‘It’s not good news. Unfortunately, pretty much everything we took had cancer,’ so the diagnosis at this stage was that my left breast had multiple cancerous tumours.”
“In the MRI both breasts were glowing bright white. And the doctor said dense breast tissue, which is what I had, often glows white on an MRI and unfortunately is more susceptible to breast cancer.”
“They detected breast calcifications* in my mammogram and in the ultrasound; some calcifications are benign, and some are not.”
“When the doctor said it was DCIS, I was actually quite happy and relieved. The call didn’t upset me as I knew DCIS wasn’t invasive cancer.
Alison did not see her doctor in person for quite a while as he needed to quarantine after returning from overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. “But he kept consulting with me over the phone and sent me for a biopsy,” Alison says.
A breast biopsy is an invasive process where an amount of breast tissue is removed by a large needle. The patient is conscious during the procedure.
Early in Alison’s diagnosis, the main focus was on one breast, which displayed the detected abnormalities.
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Alison had started getting updates on her cousin back in the UK – she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer and was having chemotherapy.
Alison was given a first diagnosis of DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ), which is pre-cancer or early cancer. She recalls she was relieved.
This is often recommended if the size of the cancer is large in comparison to the breast or when there is more than one cancer in the breast.
Alison used her private health cover with rt health and went straight into Sydney Southwest Private Hospital for the operation.
• Firstly, your doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms and when they occur. They may ask you about your diet and what foods you usually eat.
What is the treatment for stomach ulcers?
Stomach ulcers are a common condition that can be easily treated in most cases. However, it’s important to see your doctor for professional medical advice and treatment. For example, if the ulcer is bleeding it may need to be treated with a procedure during an endoscopy, and perforated peptic ulcers may require surgery.
If it’s determined that your ulcer was caused by Helicobacter pylori , you’ll be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Your doctor will determine the most effective antibiotic or a combination of antibiotics to best treat your ulcer.
• quitting smoking
Many people with stomach ulcers don’t experience symptoms. But when symptoms that may indicate an ulcer occur, your doctor will use a few different methods to diagnose them.
• You’ll also most likely be tested for Helicobacter pylori. The test involves blowing into a silver balloon-like device, often from the comfort of your own home, then the spittle is sent off to a lab to get results. Your doctor may also order blood tests, stool tests or an X-ray. Interesting fact Approximately 15 per cent of the population are infected with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium that can cause stomach ulcers. Many children’s stomachs contain this bacterium, which if undetected can remain for a lifetime.
Stomach ulcers can affect anyone but are more common in people aged 60 or over, with men being slightly more affected than women.
You can help reduce your symptoms by:
• making sure there is enough iron in your diet • avoiding foods that make symptoms worse, such as fatty meals, alcohol, tomatoes, spicy foods, coffee, chocolate or hot drinks
Stomach ulcers
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• losing weight if you are overweight • taking an antacid. What is a stomach ulcer?
Long-term outcomes and possible complications
Stomach ulcers – also known as gastric ulcers or peptic ulcers – are open, inflamed sores in the lining of the stomach. Duodenal ulcers occur in the upper part of the small intestine. What causes stomach ulcers?
Other ulcers may be treated with medicines that reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces, called proton pump inhibitors.
How do I know if I have a stomach ulcer and what are the symptoms?
• eating plenty of fruit and vegetables
Although it was once thought stomach ulcers were caused by stress and spicy foods, it’s now known that most ulcers are caused by a bacterium Helicobacter pylori**, which lives in the lining of the stomach. Stomach ulcers can also be caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Spicy foods can make your symptoms worse, but they do not cause ulcers.
• Stomach ulcers are commonly diagnosed via an endoscopy, when a small camera attached to a flexible tube is passed through the mouth into the stomach and the stomach lining can be examined. This is usually done in a doctor’s surgery under twilight sedation but can also be done under general anaesthetic.
Peptic Ulcer Disease* can have HealthaccordingtheAustraliansapproximatelycomplications,seriouswith276dyingofdiseasein2020totheWorldOrganization. * https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/australia-peptic-ulcer-disease **Helicobacter pylori was discovered by two Australian doctors, for which they won the Nobel Prize in 2005 in Physiology or Medicine. Additional information from www.healthdirect.gov.au/stomach-ulcers DISCLAIMER: This wellbeing message is brought to you by the health and wellbeing team at rt health – a division of The Hospitals Contribution Fund. The health information provided here is intended to be informative only and should be carefully evaluated for its source, accuracy, completeness and relevance for your purposes. It is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Always obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.
We’ve put together this quick guide to making sure your health cover changes when life does. Does your health cover match your needs and lifestyle?
Life is a journey – things change. So, it’s important to take the time to review your cover so it keeps up with your changing lifestyle and healthcare requirements and to be sure you’re covered for everything you need –and not for the things you don’t.
The best private health cover helps you live large. Whether you have Hospital or Extras (hopefully both), your cover should move with you throughout your life, supporting you through life’s big events. And that means it’ll need to be finetuned every once in a while, to make sure it’s doing its job.
You should review your health cover many times throughout your life to keep yourself and those you love protected.
With a bit of planning, you’ll always be covered
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Young and single When you’re young and single, you may not think you need health insurance at all. But, accidents happen, so it’s always good to have the peace of mind that hospital cover provides.
The young adult years are also when you establish good health habits. Extras Cover helps maintain good general health and wellbeing – like all those trips to the dentist and optometrist. Access to benefits for physio, chiro and remedial massage come in handy, too.
Whether you’re an active, outdoors couple or prefer to spend time together in the gym, Extras benefits like physio and chiro (as well as dental and optical) are a must.
And then there were two … (or three …)
While you may be in good health, it makes sense to keep Hospital cover – just to be sure you’re in good hands if the unexpected happens.
Hospital cover also safeguards you against long waiting periods in the public system, helping get you back on your feet quicker if you need it.
You may also want to claim those gym memberships –so a higher level of Extras cover may be best for you.
When you become part of a couple, you’ll think again about your health cover.
Putting your new family first A new life means new responsibility. Once a child (or children) arrives, you’ll be keen to protect them with quality care.
The teenage years often need some tender loving care. Dental and optical visits will become routine and you may also need to consider orthodontics.
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All families get older Again, as the kids get older, things will change. Make sure your cover grows with your family and their healthcare needs.
Good general health is important for busy families, and everyone will be able to access benefits for gym membership, psychology and dietetics if you select the right level of cover.
And, establishing the regular cycle of dental and optical check-ups in the early years will help you get the kids on track from the start.
Benefits like Speech Pathology, Audiology and maybe even Occupational Therapy will help you make it through those busy years of childhood.
You’ll need cover for common childhood conditions (tonsils, adenoids, grommets).
Alternative therapies, like acupuncture, remedial massage and health aids may also come into the picture. Your Hospital cover will need to support an adult family to provide you with real peace of mind. The empty nest … The ‘empty nest’ may feel a long way off, but it will be here before you know it.
Your own young adult(s)
You’ll need a Family Extension policy to keep adult dependants on your cover.
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We were one of the first private health insurers to offer cover to adult dependants – whether they’re students or working – right up until they turn 31.
Extras remain important, depending on your lifestyle. Staying on top of your general health and wellbeing with chiro, physio and alternative therapies will help you stay at your best. And, you’ll more than likely need those optical benefits.
Full-time students can remain covered for free and working kids can remain covered for an additional premium (less than the amount they’d pay for an equivalent single person cover).
With more ‘grown ups’ on your cover you’ll need a good Extras cover to make sure everyone has access to the services they need. These could range from dental and optical, chiro and physio as well as gym memberships.
Still, you’re older now so quality cover will help you take on whatever life throws at you. It’s later in life when we see the most demand for new hips and knees, so maintaining hospital cover for joint replacements is wise. And, it’ll help you dodge those public hospital waiting lists.
The kids (probably with your expert help) have moved onto their own health cover and you’re back to life on your own or as a couple.
Kids stay at home longer these days. Many study, many get their first jobs – but for the most part they’ll live in the family home for longer.
Questions?
We want you to get great value from your Extras Cover, so we’ve put together some tips on how to use your benefits to improve your general health and wellbeing this winter.
Using your Extras, you can see a dietician all year round via telehealth. Get that extra weight off If you haven’t had your twice-yearly dental check-up, the winter months are a good time for you and the kids to go to the dentist. Limits reset each calendar year, so make the most of the remaining balances for general and major dentistry.
Feeling a bit heavier than last year?
Stop those teeth chattering
2022We’ve got answers. If you want to be sure about your Extras benefits and how to claim, just give us a call. We’re here to help.
Limber up Feeling a bit less ‘sporty’ than last winter? Even if you don’t play any organised sports, it’s a great time to join a gym (just make sure you have a letter from your doctor and that your gym is registered with AUSactive if you’d like to make a claim). It also might be a good time to take up running, as the activity will warm you up on cold winter days. But please check with your doctor or healthcare professional before embarking on any new or strenuous exercise program. Get fit The same goes for optical. Maybe some new glasses, with some new fashion frames? Whether you wear glasses or contact lenses or not – it’s a good idea to get your eyesight tested anyway. Keep your eyes on the prize
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Making the most of your Extras in winter
If you do play winter sports, it’s an ideal time to see the physio, osteopath or chiropractor to check up on any muscular niggles or aches and pains and get any required treatment. You can also use your Extras to get remedial and Swedish massage.
DISCLAIMER:*www.teeth.org.au/sports-mouthguardsThiswellbeingmessageis brought to you by the health and wellbeing team at rt health – a division of The Hospitals Contribution Fund. The health information provided here is intended to be informative only and should be carefully evaluated for its source, accuracy, completeness and relevance for your purposes. It is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Always obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.
As winter sports gear up for the season – don’t forget to get your kids fitted with the right mouthguard. Just like new boots, headgear and shin pads are required for many sports, making sure your mouth and teeth are protected is also vital.
The Australian Dental Association* says that a sports mouthguard can protect you and your kids from some serious sporting injuries, such as broken jaws; fractured, cracked or knocked-out teeth; cut lips and Winter sport anyone? Make sure those pearly whites are protected tongues. If you play a sport, you’re at risk of injuring your teeth and mouth. Many sports have risk of contact and therefore serious dental injury. These sorts of injuries are often difficult to treat.
Kids’ teeth and jaws change year-on-year, so it’s important to see a dentist to get their mouthguard checked and updated every year. A well-fitting mouthguard is essential and often compulsory.
And it’s not only the obvious contact sports that can lead to these types of injuries. Even sports such as cricket, basketball, netball, touch football and skateboarding can also pose a risk.
To do their job, mouthguards need to remain in place at the time of impact, so fit and strength are vital in the mouthguard’s ability to protect a person’s mouth when playing sport. As a preventative measure it can save on painful and expensive dental and surgical treatment.
rt health members can get no-gap mouthguards to protect their teeth on all levels of Extras Cover at HCF Dental Centres.
39 be well July 2022 1 head cauliflower 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced 1 large onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1L salt-reduced chicken or vegetable stock 500mL water 500mL reduced-fat milk Pepper, to taste Chives, chopped, to serve 6 wholegrain dinner rolls, to serve Ingredients Method preparation time 10 min Creamy cauliflower soup Quantity per serving Quantity per 100g Energy 1594kJ 207kJ Protein 21.1g 2.7g Fat, total 5g 0.7g – Saturated 1.4g 0.2g Carbohydrate 55.7g 7.2g – Sugars 14.8g 1.9g Fibre 13.3g 174.5g Sodium 1343.2mg 1.7mg Nutritional Information Serveslarger6than 1cm cubes. the boil then simmer over medium heat, covered, for 20 minutes until cauliflower stalk is tender. stock and water. Place over high heat, bring to stick blender or in batches in a food processor. If desired, stir though more milk for a thinner consistency. with chives and serve with a dinner roll. 1. Roughly chop cauliflower, including stalk, to no 2. Add to a large pot with potato, onion, garlic, 3. Remove from heat, add 400mL milk, and puree with a 5. Ladle soup into bowls, season with pepper, sprinkle Adapted with permission from LiveLighter. LiveLighter® State of Western Australia 2022: www.livelighter.com.au
Adapted with permission from LiveLighter. LiveLighter® State of Western
2 Heat oil in a large non-stick frypan. on all sides (about 5 minutes) and place in a large casserole dish (best if dish has a lid). to the frypan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often until they begin to colour slightly. jam, water, stock powder and leftover flour from with a lid or foil and bake in the oven for at least fork goes easily into the pieces. Add milk and pepper and mash well with a fork or potato masher until you get the texture you like. 2 hours. Remove the casserole a couple of times during cooking, and ladle the sauce over the top of the meat to baste. After 2 ½ to 3 hours the meat should fall off the bone. the plastic bag. Stir well and bring to the boil. 1. Preheat oven to 160°C. 2. Toss lamb with flour and pepper in a plastic bag. 3. Shake extra flour off lamb and pan-fry until brown 4. Add all vegetables except tomatoes and potatoes 5. Add the tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, 6. Pour tomato-vegetable mixture over the lamb, cover 7. To prepare mash, microwave or boil potatoes till a Australia 2022: www.livelighter.com.au
rthealthfund.com.au 42 Olive or canola oil spray 1 lamb shank 1 tbs plain flour Pepper, to taste 1 onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 10 mushrooms 1 x 400g can no-added-salt diced tomatoes 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce 1 tbs dried rosemary, or 15cm if using fresh 1 tbs plum jam 1 cup water 1 tsp reduced-salt vegetable stock powder 2 potatoes, chopped 30mL reduced-fat milk Ingredients Method preparation time 15 min Lamb shank with mash Quantity per serving Quantity per 100g Energy 2103kJ 288kJ Protein 38g 5g Fat, total 18g 3g – Saturated 6g 1g Carbohydrate 39g 5g – Sugars 25g 3g Fibre 11g 94mg Sodium 685mg 2g Nutritional Information Serves
