The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping; winter is here.

During the colder months, there is a greater tendency to rug up and stay in the warm indoors and eat comfort foods.

But with it, winter brings an increased chance of illness, so here are some tips to keep away the winter blues!

One, boost your diet. Fill your plate with plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables so your body has adequate amounts of nutrition and energy, therefore keeping your immune system strong. Vegetables soups or stews are an easy way to get a large quantity of vitamins, minerals and fibre to keep you strong and healthy throughout the season.

Two, stay hydrated. Unlike summer, dehydration is less noticeable during the colder months. It’s important to ensure you are still drinking plenty of water each day. Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue and problems with concentration. If cold water is too much handle in the cold weather, try mixing it with some boiled water with lemon.

Three, keep exercising. The chilly mornings and evenings can make it easier to rug up and stay indoors, but it’s important to maintain regular exercise throughout winter. Make your physical activity social and fun – go for a brisk walk with family or participate in some indoor fitness classes. Regular exercise naturally improves your health and fitness, putting your body in a better position to fight off any potential colds or infections.

Four, sleep well. Studies show that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to bacteria or viruses, such as the common cold. How much sleep you get also affects how quickly you recover from your sickness. The average adult needs about eight hours of sleep to fully recharge. Set a regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeinated drinks in the afternoon or evening, limit screen-use before bed and ensure your room is a comfortable temperature. Being too cold (or too hot!) can affect your brain’s ability to switch off.

Five, consider hygiene and be careful around people. Wash your hands often, especially before you eat and before you touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitiser in your bag can assist with cleaning your hands when you are in a public place. Don’t share the same glass, utensils or towels as other, and be careful anyone who has who has as fever, cold or flu.

It is imperative we do all we can to stay healthy this winter, not only for yourself, but also for those who have lower immunity, such as young children, the elderly and those who have health conditions such as cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also important for those living with cancer, as it can assist through and after treatment and help with your mental and physical well-being.

When single mum of two, Nat Hunter, went to the emergency room with stomach pains in February 2023, the last thing she expected was to be told she had bowel cancer.

Like most young people, Nat had no idea bowel cancer claims more lives between 25-44 year-olds than any other cancer.

Tests quickly discovered she was one of the 3000 Queenslanders affected every year. A tumor in Nat’s bowel had spread to her liver, meaning she had stage 4 cancer.

Nat was rushed in for colostomy surgery where surgeons removed the tumor from her colon, which had been growing undetected for six-to-twelve months. Unfortunately, the tumors in her liver were too large to remove straight away and they needed to be shrunk with chemotherapy first.

“You always think cancer will happen to someone else,” Nat explained, “but it doesn’t discriminate. Particularly with bowel cancer, you just assume that’s an older person’s disease. But anyone can get it.”

Since February 2023, Nat has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and has had six surgeries. Like many, her cancer journey has been marked by complications, obstructions caused by scar tissue. infections, and long stays in hospital.

Looking back, Nat says there were symptoms – primarily thinned dark stools – but bowel cancer was the last thing on her mind.,

“In retrospect there were clues but it’s the last thing on your mind. You’re not thinking I have bowel cancer. A lot of people have tumors in their bowel, and they don’t know, so it spreads everywhere. I’m so grateful I had the obstruction. It was still stage 4 and I’m not out of the woods, but they got it in time before it had spread to my lungs when it wouldn’t be very treatable.”

To document her journey, Nat started writing a journal. But she quickly realised she wanted to reach and educate more people about bowel cancer, so she started a TikTok where her video diary has reached over half a million people.

“I want to make it my mission, it’s great how many messages I started getting after I just had my operation. It’s really cathartic to be able to help other people.”

That help is now taking Nat to Parliament.

“I’ve been asked by Bowel Cancer Australia to be a representative in Parliament this June, because bowel cancer has the highest death rate for those between the ages of 25 and 44. It goes unnoticed, people just think they have a funny tummy.”

When detected early, bowel cancer is curable in 90% of cases. The Never 2 Young campaign Nat represents aims to lower the screening age, as well as increase awareness, improve pathways and further research.

If you, or someone you know, has been impacted by bowel cancer, Cancer Council Queensland offer practical and emotional support services such as transport, accommodation, counselling and wigs and turbans. If you need help, please call our information and support line on 13 11 20, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

In June 2021, Alice Morley was just 3 years when she was diagnosed with ‘Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma’, a soft tissue cancer that affected her eye socket and optical nerve.

Although Alice was born with ‘ptosis’ – drooping eyelid – her parents noticed it was worsening. Doctors in Gladstone didn’t pick anything up during testing, so the family travelled to Brisbane to see her specialist, who immediately sent Alice to the hospital. She was then diagnosed with cancer. Five days later, Alice started her first round of chemotherapy.

6 months of chemotherapy and 28 rounds of radiation later, Alice went into remission in December 2021, only for her to relapse five months later. This time, the cancer threatened Alice’s life, and so the decision was taken to remove Alice’s eye and eye socket followed by another year of chemotherapy.

“She’d only spent five months in remission. It wasn’t worth risking another relapse. We tried our best to prepare her for the surgery, but it was really hard to know what it was going to look like. It wasn’t until after surgery that we understood what actually happened.” – Sian Morley, Alice’s mum

Now Alice is out of treatment, the family are trying to return to normal but it’s hard when you feel like the security blanket of treatment has been removed.

“We just have to have faith the cancer won’t come back now. That’s scary for a family like ours who have already had her relapse once. She’s made it longer than she did last time, but we know statistically it very well could and the likelihood is high. We just try to make the most out of every day.”

When it comes to research and information about childhood cancer, Sian says, “childhood cancer doesn’t get a lot of funding. The statistics show childhood cancer isn’t as rare as people think. As soon as you say cancer, let alone childhood cancer, people seize up, they don’t want to talk about it. But people need to know the signs and that it’s not rare, our kids are not just numbers.”

When it comes to supporting families navigating childhood cancer, Alice’s family asks for people to donate blood, “That’s the easiest way to do something to help because our kids have to have multiple blood/plasma platelets transfusions throughout treatment.”

For the Morley family, it’s now a waiting game. Or as their ophthalmologist put it at their first MRI – “the conveyor belt” – terminology Alice’s mum actually found helpful as it means there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Each year in Australia, 40 children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma, with only two or three, on average, affecting the eye. The signs for different childhood cancers vary from child to child; it could be a subtle lump or swelling that doesn’t go away, or maybe persistent headaches or trouble urinating.

If you, or someone you know, has been impacted by cancer, Cancer Council Queensland offer practical and emotional support services such as transport, accommodation, counselling and wigs and turbans. If you need help, please call our information and support line on 13 11 20.

At just 12 years old, Sophia has experienced more medical issues than most of us will face in a lifetime. Like many who have survived cancer, her journey hasn’t been straightforward.

Diagnosed with ‘Ewing’s sarcoma’ at 9, Sophia went through 6 rounds of chemo, had surgery that removed large parts of her ribs and back muscle and caused her to lose function of a large part of a lung. She then did 11 more rounds of chemo and 30 rounds of radiation. A few months into her remission, she was diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced leukemia. The treatment? More intensive chemo, followed by a bone marrow replacement. Now, although she is in remission, Sophia lives with fibrosis of the lung, which was also treatment-induced.

But, when you speak with Sophia, you realise that, in their innocence, children are capable of incredible resilience. While parents struggle with the depths of uncertainty a child’s cancer diagnosis brings, kids are profoundly different.

We sat down with Sophia and her mum Anneke to talk about what going through cancer is like for a girl like Sophia, who can’t help but find the tiny positives in just about anything.

How did you find out that Sophia had cancer?

A: It came out of nowhere. She’d jumped off the bed one morning and hurt her ribs. Later that night, her ribs still hurt, and she got worse very quickly, so we took her to hospital. At first, the doctors thought it could be kidney stones or pneumonia. But, after they did a CT scan, they said, “It’s got fluid around it, but it’s a mass. We’re going to refer you to oncology.”

I was really worried, because I have a pathology background. I thought, ‘There’s a cancer that breaks bones’, then I said to myself, ‘That’s a stupid thing to think, don’t think that.’

When they told us she had a tumor, my husband didn’t realise it was cancer, because the doctor said ‘mass’, but he never said the word ‘cancer’.

A biopsy revealed it was a 9 ½ cm Ewing sarcoma in the middle of her lung, and it wasn’t a ball, it had tendrils. Nobody expects a cancer to explode in their kid’s lung, but it was cancer I had first thought about.

S: I imagine it being a slimy black ball with an angry face. I named it Dingus because it’s a dingus.

A: The doctor said, “It’s a big one we’ve got to hit it now, we’ve got to start chemo this afternoon.” So, they started her on the hydration for chemo that afternoon, and she had her first round over Christmas.

Do you remember the day you first went to hospital?

S: Yeah, I fell asleep in the ambulance, so did my dad. They said daddy snores.

A: The paramedics told the hospital staff, “Just so you know, if he falls asleep it’s going to sound like he’s dying, but we checked and he’s not.”

Chemotherapy is really hard, was there anything that stands out to you from when you had your treatment?

S: I don’t have any memories of starting the treatment. I remember after my surgery that I felt really itchy.

A: I’ve had adult family members go through treatment, the real difference I noticed is how intense the kids’ therapy is compared to adult therapy. The length of it, the way they hit it, how hard they go, they use these drugs that are quite old because there’s not a lot of research compared to the adult realm. I really loved our doctors, they’re doing the best with what they have access to, but the drugs cause a lot of problems, and a lot of kids have serious aftereffects.

And she got admitted a few times throughout her treatments because she had low counts and her central line got infected. She’s had over 100 blood transfusions – there were times when she had so many transfusions I was like, “It’s almost like that’s not even your blood anymore!” She had to get weekly platelet transfusions after radiation.

S: I asked, “Can I die from it? From low platelets?”

A: And I said, “Yes! So, stop jumping off things and getting bruises!”

You went into remission, but then you got a different type of cancer. Do you remember what it was like when they told you that you had cancer again?

S: I had a feeling they would tell me I had cancer again! I remember they put my little brother with my grandparents. And they brought me into the kitchen, they had donuts. Then one of them said, “Ok, look you have another cancer.” And I just rolled my eyes.

A: We told her on Sunday night, we didn’t want her to have a crap weekend. She looked really annoyed, not sad. She said, “Am I going to have more time off school?” We’d just been given the all-clear less than a month ago, and she’d been back at school for four weeks.

What was it like spending Christmas in hospital?

S: They gave us these calendar things, and we’d get a present every day. And I got an iPad! It was dropped at the door. and I thought it was books at first, but it said ‘Pro’ on the side, and I had to ask daddy what it was.

A: My husband actually checked that it was meant for her. We were blown away, a boy named Luke, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, gave iPads to oncology kids over Christmas. It was so helpful to us; I don’t know how we would have gotten through without it.

Do you remember anything else from the second time you had treatment for cancer?

S: I didn’t like PEG [Pegfilgrastim], it’s this giant needle that goes into your leg

A: After her bone marrow transplant, Sophia had to have it every day to try and stimulate the cells to make bone marrow again. It’s really painful.

Overall, what do you think was the most challenging part of your cancer journey?

A: Sophia was in hospital for over 250 nights during treatment, and that doesn’t count the day clinics.

S: I missed the whole of year 4 and the whole of year 5. I don’t like that I missed out on so much learning and socializing. When I would text my friends in hospital, they would use the word ‘U’ for you and ‘R’ for are, and I would type the whole words. I felt like a grandma texting.

When I came back to school sometimes, I wouldn’t know things like the slang that kids have, or they would just talk about capybaras. And I was like, what? Why?

But I do get a lot of perks. At Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, people brought in cupcakes, and I got the first cupcake. I was like, a special guest – that’s a perk.

A: After 4 weeks, she went into remission. But we were told if she didn’t have a bone marrow transplant it was guaranteed she would relapse. So, for 6-7 weeks we went into hospital for the transplant.

That was her last treatment, she got through that… but she’s had lung issues since then due to the chemo, which have turned into lung fibrosis.

Now that you’re in remission, are there things you miss out on?

A: She’s only got about 40% lung capacity, but you can’t actually tell. She’s dealt with it really well.

S: I don’t remember what it’s like to breath 100%. The most annoying thing is that I can’t go on the monkey bars because I can’t hold myself up. And I can’t do clarinet anymore.

A: Little things like getting up from the ground, putting on her backpack, she can’t do them.

S: I remember my friends would help me carry my backpack when I was going home. And I don’t have to do PE sometimes if I don’t want to. That’s a perk!

Are there things people say to you at school that bother you?

S: Not really, I don’t mind talking about it, but nobody even asks me about cancer anymore. I don’t like it when people tell me I’m tough or brave though, because I already know that.

What are you looking forward to for the year to come?

S: I want to go to school because it’s high school and I’ve never been to high school.

A: Sophia always has this talent where she can find the one good thing in a crap situation. If she has to stay at hospital she’ll say, “At least they have good food tonight,” or “At least we’re in a good room.’”

S: It’s easy to find the good thing.

Researchers at Cancer Council Queensland estimate 16 Australian children under the age of 15 are diagnosed with cancer every week. As they become adults, up to 80% of the children who survive their cancer will face life-altering long-term side effects from cancer or its treatment, including secondary cancers, infertility, and disability.

While these side effects are severely under researched, a new Cancer Council Queensland research project aims to shine light on the true cost of childhood cancer. The groundbreaking Late Effects of Childhood Cancer (LACE) project, which is the first of its kind, will analyse the data of over 24,500 Australian children who have been diagnosed with cancer between 1983 and 2021. LACE aims to give policymakers the missing piece of the puzzle, providing them with the information they need to better support survivors, including Sophia, throughout their lives.

In Queensland, 305 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. Sadly, the five-year survival rate for this disease is only 49%. Dr Mostafa Kamal Masud is conducting cutting edge research that aims to turn these numbers around.

Understanding the Research
Dr Masud’s pioneering project, “A nanoarchitected platform for early diagnosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer” focuses on helping GPs better identify and diagnose ovarian cancer. Employing cutting-edge nanotechnology, he aims to develop rapid, inexpensive, and easy-to-use techniques for the early detection and monitoring of this challenging cancer.

What this research means for Queenslanders
The significance of Dr Masud’s research lies in its potential to revolutionise the early detection of ovarian cancer in Queensland.

Dr Masud aspires not only to advance scientific understanding but also to translate these discoveries into practical applications for early diagnosis and personalised treatment.

Currently, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which significantly impacts how effective treatment can be. Dr Masud’s work will help by providing an automated testing platform for early-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis.

The proposed device can detect ovarian cancer-specific biomarkers in less than 2 hours. This would be a game-changer for GP clinics across Australia. Early identification would help those diagnosed get referred quicker for more intensive surveillance or treatment. It is hoped this advancement will improve survival rates, and the overall quality of life for those who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The researcher’s journey
Dr Masud, from The University of Queensland, is conducting research focused on developing a device which, using nanoengineered structures, aims to make it possible to detect early-stage ovarian cancer within 2 hours at a GP clinic.

Dr Masud’s decision to become a cancer researcher is deeply rooted in personal experiences, including the untimely loss of his aunt and grandmother to ovarian and colon cancer respectively.

This led Dr Masud to embark on a professional and personal journey to explore new and easy ways to diagnose cancer. Inspired by the strength of individuals dealing with cancer and their stories of hope, Dr Masud is committed to making meaningful contributions to cancer research and ensuring no Queenslander is left navigating cancer alone.

“As I progressed through my academic journey and gained exposure to the field, I found myself captivated by the intricate nature of cancer biology,” Dr Masud said.

“I’m also inspired by the strength of people dealing with cancer and their stories of hope. These experiences make me even more committed to cancer research. The prospect of making a meaningful impact on improving diagnosis, especially early diagnosis, proper treatment, and ultimately patient outcomes became a driving force for me.”

The rewarding aspects of his role
For Dr Masud, the most rewarding aspect of his position is that he can improve cancer diagnosis and treatment and give Queenslanders a fighting chance at life. Whilst the pursuit of innovative ideas that enhance early diagnosis, treatment, and overall outcomes brings a deep sense of fulfilment.

Fund local research

Your generous donations help us fund the brightest minds in cancer research. By working together, we can fund local research to make global breakthroughs. We make this possible by directly funding early career cancer researchers who are on the front-line of clinical innovations in cancer detection and treatment.

Learn more

Queensland is the skin cancer capital of the world. In a groundbreaking research initiative, Dr Mathias Seviiri is unravelling the genetic mysteries behind skin cancer treatment responses and risk predictions, with a focus on melanoma and keratinocyte cancer – two prevalent skin cancers that impact thousands of lives in Australia every year.

In recognition of how vital his work is to the future of all Queenslanders, Dr Seviiri has been awarded a Cancer Council Queensland Next Generation Cancer Research Fellowship.

Understanding the research
Melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, claims the lives of 1,400 Australians annually, emphasising the critical need for early diagnosis and effective treatment. Dr Seviiri’s work delves into the underlying biology of how the body responds to treatment options, which has shown promising results in advanced melanoma cases.

His goal is to decipher the reasons behind why 60% of patients do not respond to treatment or face adverse events during immunotherapy.

Dr Seviiri’s research also addresses transplant patients’ unique vulnerability to multiple and invasive skin cancers due to their bodies immune system being suppressed by drugs which stops them rejecting their new organs. Dr Seviiri has developed genetic tests capable of predicting a person’s future risk of skin cancer. This innovation could revolutionise early detection and prevention.

What this research means for Queenslanders
In Queensland, the UV is 3 and above all year around – even on overcast days. This high exposure to UV radiation increases the chance of getting skin cancers. Dr Seviiri’s research uses genetic information to personalise treatment plans. His research aims to allocate life-saving treatments to those most likely to respond positively, thereby improving survival rates.

For transplant patients in Queensland, the genetic tests developed in this research could identify individuals at ultra-high risk for multiple skin cancers. This breakthrough has the potential to reshape how we approach cancer prevention, providing a targeted approach to enhance early detection and reduce the cancer risk in those most vulnerable.

The researcher’s journey
Dr Mathias Seviiri, also from QIMR Berghofer, is tackling the complex landscape of skin cancer. His research aims to unravel the complex relationships between genetics, treatment responses, and adverse events in patients undergoing treatment for melanoma and keratinocyte cancers.

Initially drawn to cardiology, Dr Seviiri shifted his focus when Seeing cancer patients firsthand highlighted to him the need for much better survival rates.

“When I joined medical school to become a doctor, I wanted to be a cardiologist. However, my passion for cancer research grew when I started treating cancer patients on the wards,” Dr Seviiri said.

“I noticed the poor survival from a range of cancers. So, I wanted to find out the drivers of cancer risk, poor survival, and treatment outcomes.”

A Master of Public Health and a research placement at the Cancer Council Victoria paved the way for Dr Seviiri to become a clinical genetic epidemiologist with a passion for cancer genetics.

The rewarding aspects of his role
Having transitioned from clinician to researcher, Dr Seviiri finds personal and professional fulfillment in contributing to improving the lives and survival rates of melanoma and transplant patients.

The most rewarding moments come with the realisation that the genetic tools developed through his research have the potential to transform cancer treatment.

Dr Seviiri’s research promises to be a beacon of hope for Queenslanders grappling with the impact of skin cancers. By bridging the gap between genetics and treatment outcomes, his research has the potential to reshape how we deal with skin cancers.

As his research journey continues, we hope that one day soon these discoveries will become transformative treatments and prevention strategies, bringing hope to all those affected by skin cancers in Queensland and around the world.

Fund local research

Your generous donations help us fund the brightest minds in cancer research. By working together, we can fund local research to make global breakthroughs. We make this possible by directly funding early career cancer researchers who are on the front-line of clinical innovations in cancer detection and treatment.

Learn more

Each year, 326 Queenslanders are diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia. More than half of those who are diagnosed will pass away within five years of diagnosis.

Dr Jasmin Straube is leading a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at changing the outcome for everyone diagnosed with myeloid blood cancers.

Her work, “Identifying vulnerabilities in leukemic stem cells with poor prognostic mutations to improve myeloid blood cancer patient outcomes,” seeks to unravel the complexities of gene mutations that determine a patient’s risk of disease progression and resistance to treatment. In recognition of the lifesaving potential of Dr Straube’s research, she has been granted a Cancer Council Queensland Next Generation Cancer Research Fellowship.

Understanding the Research
Myeloid blood cancers – caused by mutations in specific genes – are shockingly aggressive cancers that are heartbreaking for both patients and their families. Dr Straube’s research uses cutting-edge technology to decipher how these gene mutations contribute to cancer development and influence the effectiveness of treatment and overall survival.

The ultimate goal of her research is to gain a comprehensive understanding of these mutations, which can pave the way for developing better drugs that will lead to more people surviving.

What this research means for Queenslanders
Medical advancements have significantly improved the survival rate for the 1 in 200 Queenslanders who are diagnosed with cancer every year. However, certain blood cancers, like myeloid leukaemia, remain aggressive and resistant to treatment. More than half of the patients diagnosed with these cancers die within a year of their diagnosis.

Dr Straube hopes to identify therapies that will provide patients diagnosed with myeloid blood cancers with a fighting chance at life. This crucial research is made possible by Queenslanders’ generous support of Cancer Council Queensland.

The researcher’s journey
Dr Jasmin Straube from QIMR Berghofer is researching vulnerabilities in leukemic stem cells carrying poor prognostic mutations. Her work will play a critical role in improving outcomes for patients with myeloid blood cancer.

Fund local research
Your generous donations help us fund the brightest minds in cancer research. By working together, we can fund local research to make global breakthroughs. We make this possible by directly funding early career cancer researchers who are on the front-line of clinical innovations in cancer detection and treatment.

Learn more

Cancer Council Queensland is excited to welcome our Viertel Cancer Research Centre’s new Director of Research, Professor Sandi Hayes. With over two decades of experience in cancer survivorship epidemiology and exercise oncology science, Sandi is determined to improve the lives of those diagnosed with cancer. We sat down with Sandi to talk about her passion for translating cancer research into better patient outcomes.

What was your inspiration for working in the cancer research sphere?
While I was completing my exercise science degree, the relationship between exercise and cardiac disease was becoming more and more well understood. I had a family history of cancer and therefore didn’t fear talking about it or looking into it. So, I started looking at what we knew about the role of physical activity in cancer prevention and recovery and quickly realised there were major gaps in the evidence base. I thought, if it makes sense to integrate exercise post-cardiac disease, surely it makes sense to integrate it post-cancer. This thought opened the door to all that has followed.

What drew you to Cancer Council Queensland?
A big driver for bringing my research to Cancer Council Queensland’s existing program of research is that it made sense. My research, mission and values are completely aligned with Cancer Council Queensland’s strategy and the existing Viertel Cancer Research Program. Importantly though, I recognise that research alone rarely creates meaningful impact; instead, it requires all relevant parties that will be influenced by change to work together to ensure that what we learn in research holds true when rolled out in the real world. Cancer Council Queensland brings all those relevant ‘stakeholders’ together.

“My research is completely focused on improving health outcomes for people with cancer. Every bit of research that I’m involved with must have that remit.“

When you look at your career so far, what are you most proud of?

There is much to be proud of. From the small moments, like hearing a participant share how being part of a study helped them during their cancer journey, to the more measurable achievements, such as reaching our recruitment target of 500 women for the ECHO clinical trial. This is a significant accomplishment for clinical trials in general, but achieving this in an exercise trial involving people diagnosed with a less common and understudied cancer makes it even more special.

On a broader scale, I am proud of my contributions to the wider field of research. When I began my research career, the common advice given to someone diagnosed with cancer was to ‘rest and take it easy’. Over the past 20+ years, consistent and convincing evidence has shown the opposite to be true – engaging in regular physical activity during and after cancer treatment is associated with reduced treatment-related morbidity, better physical function, improved quality of life, and potentially improved survival. The challenge now is to determine how best to get people with cancer active and keep them active.

Learn more about Sandi’s latest research in Exercise during Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer (ECHO).

Jacqui de la Rue is an endorsed health psychologist who is currently working at Cancer Council Queensland. Over her 28-year career, she has talked to dozens of families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer. This International Childhood Cancer Day, Jacqui walks us through how to approach childhood cancer conversations with sensitivity and respect.

“One of the first things I like to say is, it just feels wrong. It fundamentally feels wrong to learn that your child has cancer.

Parents feel helpless because they have to sit back and watch their child go through horrendous invasive treatments, they lose their hair, they are in hospital and they start to ask themselves, ‘Why did it happen to my child? Why wasn’t it me who got sick?’. I like to say, ‘It’s okay that you feel bad that it’s happening to your child and not you.’

And, if their child does pass away, it’s important for parents to know that they can feel that it is wrong for their child to die before them. It’s outside of what we think life should be about. My child should bury me, not the other way around. And that’s something that I come across with every parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent. It’s sad. It’s very sad. We should acknowledge that sadness is the right response to death.”

“When a child passes away, everybody else says, ‘Oh my gosh I’m really sorry, how are you going? Do you need anything?’. While the people who say this may mean well, it can put parents in the position where they’re retelling their child’s story over and over again, which is traumatic.

I’ve worked with people who tell me they’re actually avoiding some situations, just so they don’t have to retell what has happened to her child.

I often help my clients prepare a letter, where they can write exactly what’s happened and what they need from their tribe right now. Having that letter just helps parents lower how many times they’ll be retraumatised by telling that story. It also puts some control back in that grieving parent’s hands, to say this is what I need, this is what I don’t need. And it is something that can be emailed, or placed in a shared social media space so that it reaches others.”

“Another way to help parents affected by childhood cancer is to keep having those regular check ins with people. When people are overwhelmed with sadness, they will withdraw. And they say things like, ‘I don’t want to be a burden. Everybody knows me as that parent who lost their child,’ or ‘I know this may sound strange; I don’t want to talk about cancer every time I see people.’

It’s okay to have a cup of coffee with a parent and not talk about the cancer. Sometimes, they just want to hear what is happening in your life. It helps to bring in other topics to the conversation.”

“We know there are a lot of long-term effects that childhood cancer and its treatment can have on survivors, but it is important for parents to know they don’t actually need to make all the lifetime decisions now. They can talk to their kids at the appropriate time when that stuff comes up.

It is common for some adult survivors to say, ‘I can’t make plans with my life anymore,’ because they have to be scanned every five years. Even though they are in remission, it’s still a stage of the cancer journey, and it can result in this condition called ‘scan-xiety.’

Sometimes making decisions is overwhelming and I like to remind people that it’s okay to deal with what’s in front of you today.”

“We are all meaning makers, and it doesn’t make sense to us that a child could die or be diagnosed with cancer. When we struggle within ourselves to make sense of it, that’s when people around the grieving parent can offer statements like, ‘Be grateful for…’, or, ‘At least you don’t have to worry about…’, or ‘Now you can put it behind you’.

What is important to know, is that you don’t need to fix anything for the grieving parent. You don’t have to have the ‘right thing’ to say to them. You don’t have to say anything. You can just listen and sit with them in their moment. You can have a cup of tea with them and that can be more helpful to a person grieving. In a therapy setting, I often say, ‘I don’t have words for you, but I’m here for you and this is a safe space to really talk about what’s happening.’”ent can have on survivors, but it is important for parents to know they don’t actually need to make all the lifetime decisions now. They can talk to their kids at the appropriate time when that stuff comes up.

“It isn’t uncommon for me to hear a person say ‘Everyone was there when my child died, and then they all left. Then it was just me and my sadness.’

I tell people that’s the time to seek out support through counselling, although you can seek help at any point of the cancer journey. When everyone is there, you don’t have to do the grief work because you’re being fully supported. But then everyone will go and it’s just you and the sadness, it’s just you and the grief. That’s when the real grief work begins.

Counselling is really valuable in that it’s not a relative or your partner. At Cancer Council Queensland, we offer counselling at no cost to anyone over 18 who has been touched by cancer. Help is available, encourage your loved ones to call our 13 11 20 information and support line to get connected with support.”