UA31301 Impact of Giving A4 Book FINAL - Flipbook - Page 7
Impact of Giving
effectively to perhaps prevent late effects.
The biobanked brain tumour samples
combined with detailed clinical data
provide a powerful population-based
tool to study brain cancer, and the team
will use this to uncover genetic and
epigenetic factors that underpin the
development of treatment side effects.
The ALCCRF Chair, Ron Skeem OAM,
said the Foundation recognised the
significance of the Paediatric Brain
Tumour Biobank and were attracted
by the possibility to have a real
impact on cancer care for children.
“We’re very excited about what
the outcomes might be – it’s
why we got involved.”
Professor Hansford expressed his
gratitude for the support and his hope
for what the project will achieve.
“We’re extremely
thankful for the support
of the Australian Lions
Childhood Cancer
Research Foundation,
without whom our
research wouldn’t
be possible.”
“Understanding the mechanisms of late
effects will lead to new approaches to
designing clinical trials and treatments
for all types of brain cancer to improve
survivorship through a reduction
in these late effects and toxicities
associated with existing treatments.”
With this funding, SAiGENCI aims to
ensure that children with brain cancer
can look forward to a future full of
possibilities, free from the limitations that
cancer and its treatments can impose.
Lifesaving
cancer research
Troy’s teenage daughter, Lucy, was diagnosed with a brain tumour two
years ago. “Her amazing surgical team successfully removed most of
it, but a portion remains due to its location and the potential risks of
removing it. Ever since, she’s been in the care of the Paediatric Oncology
team,” Troy said.
“The research that helped the team understand her
tumour and design the best treatment options is nothing
short of life-saving. Thanks to those advances, we’re
incredibly fortunate that Lucy’s prognosis is positive.
While she’ll continue to live with part of the tumour in her
head, requiring regular scans long term, we’re filled with
gratitude for the incredible progress in science that made
this possible.”
“Now, regular MRIs and reviews help us monitor what’s left of the
tumour which has been identified as low-grade, and what, if any,
future treatments might be needed. It’s a strange, long-term sense of
uncertainty – always in the background. But we feel unbelievably lucky.
So many other children and their families face far worse situations,
and the only way to better outcomes is through continued advances in
science, driven by research. And the only way that happens is through
ongoing funding and support.”
“We couldn’t be more grateful for the remarkable work these research
teams do, not only to help kids like Lucy but to better understand,
diagnose, treat, and one day – hopefully – cure cancer”, Troy said.
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