Some very sad news today with the passing of Australia’s Commonwealth gold medalist, Kerryn McCann after a battle with breast cancer.
Kerryn was a dual Commonwealth Games marathon gold mealist and mother to three young children. She was only 41 years old.
Kerryn was an inspiration to many people in Australia, especially when at 38 years of age she defended her Commonwealth title in Melbourne, powering home over the final 200m to clinch gold just two seconds ahead of Kenyan Hellen Cherono Koskei.
Kerryn was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of last year during her pregnancy. She delayed having chemotherapy until after her sons birth.
They induced an early labour at 34 weeks and she begun an 18 week course of chemotherapy.
Kerryn beat breast cancer but was diagnosed four months ago with liver cancer.
She leaves behind her husband, Greg and 3 children Benton, 11, Josie, 5, and Cooper, 14 months. They were at her bedside overnight when she died at their home near Wollongong in NSW.
Kerryn showed us that the greatest power we have is to never give up even when it looks like you can’t go any further or harder. She continues to inspire.
Today we had the very unfortunate news that a work colleague lost her husband to cancer.
The absolute tragedy is that apart from being 48 years old, he had chosen to ignore the many signs leading up to his diagnosis. It wasn’t that he was unaware of his health issues but that he simply put it in the back of his mind and went on denying he had a potential problem.
The very sad reality is, had he seen a doctor when his symptoms first appeared, he may have been able to receive treatment that at the very least extended his life and at the very most, put him in remission.
He was a father to a 13 year old daughter and I am so very sad for her today.
His wife was initially angry with her husband. She had repeatedly told him to seek medical advice but he was insistent that it was nothing to worry about.
The tragedy is that he has left a wife behind who is now dealing with guilt and anger for not pushing him to see a doctor and a young woman devistated that her Dad is not with her today.
I know that for many men it is simply easier to try and ignore their health but please, take it seriously. You are Husbands, Dads, Sons and Brothers and the void you leave behind is often unbearable for your loved ones.
It is ironic that most men take the responsibility of being a parent seriously. They work hard to provide happy childhoods for their children and provide them with everything they can. Yet, so many don’t take responsibility of their health when in-fact, it’s the most important thing they should be doing.
Take care of yourself and see a doctor regularly and especially if you know or suspect there might be an issue with your health.
Today Australia lost an amazing woman, mother and wife.
Jane McGrath, 42 was married to one of our finest ever Australian fast bowler’s, Glenn McGrath.
Jane passed away after a long batter with breast cancer and leaves behind two beautiful young children and Glenn.
It’s really hard to know where to begin in trying to capture just how inspirational this woman was. She really did light up a room and in many ways outshone her super sportsman husband. It never did seem to bother Glenn McGrath. You could tell he was totally in-love with this beautiful, vibrant and strong woman.
Rather than just focus on her own battle with cancer which she was more entitled to do, Jane and Glenn campaigned tirelessly, raising money and awareness of breast cancer culminating in the foundation of the McGrath Foundation.
To try and put into words how special this lady was is almost impossible but this might help to explain. My partners Dad, Bill recently visited from Texas and one night we watched one of Australia’s finest interviewers, Andrew Denton talking with Glenn and Jane McGrath. The interview was really more about Glenn and his sporting accomplishments. But Jane just had this ability to draw your attention, not intentionally. She had this calmness about her and a beaming smile. The interview quickly went from talking to Glenn to Andrew Denton being drawn to Jane and hearing about her initial diagnosis to her ongoing fight to beat this disease.
Her strength, composure, quiet determination and will to survive was an inspiration. Bill, who knew nothing of this woman or her husband was so overwhelmed by her that he didn’t take his eyes of the TV for the entire interview. I would say that there are very few people who can be so compelling and genuine as to be able to move someone who knows nothing of them to hope with all his heart and soul that she survived. I just know he will be so sad to hear of her passing when we email him later tonight.
We have lost so many amazing women like Jane to a horrible disease. Let’s hope that Jane’s fight will inspire others to carry on and for research to continue to find a cure.
To Jane’s loving family both in Australia and England, we are so sorry for your loss.
I have included the interview Jane and Glenn did with Andrew Denton and highly recommend you watch it.
This month a new study from the UK Department of Health has some alarming results which has caused concern among many social drinkers, mostly woman.
According to the report, one large glass of wine a night can increase the risk of breast cancer by a whopping 60%.
One of the biggest issues is that wine glasses have increased in size, in the UK a standard drink is measured in units. A large glass of wine is now equivalent to three units. So woman are drinking more and increasing their risk of breast cancer plus multiple other health risks.
The news isn’t much better for men. Drinking one pint of beer or a large glass of wine a night increases the risk of bowel cancer by 10% or 1 in 20.
So there is certainly enough reason for people to either stop drinking altogether or reducing the amount they consume. My partner and I have already taken this on-board and have done away with our large glasses and replaced with smaller ones. We don’t drink at all during the week and will have 2 over the course of the weekend.
I’ve never been a big drinker and for as long as I can remember I have always felt like there was a need to defend myself. Going to parties or any social gathering, alcohol would be more or less pushed at you. The moment you say no, people look at you like you like there’s something wrong with you! Infact, some of my closest family would call me boring.
A new study conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency found that people under the age of 35 who used solariums increased their risk of forming a dangerous melanoma skin cancer by an alarming 98 per cent.
The study also found using a solarium just once increased an individual’s chance of developing the rarest and deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma by 22 per cent.
Last year, the dangers of using solariums was highlighted by a very brave and young Clare Oliver who passed away at the age of 26 from skin cancer in September.
Clare was a regular user of solariums and also sun baked regularly at the beach but after discovering a lump under her arm which was later diagnosed as melanoma.
She worked hard in her final weeks to make the public aware of the dangers of solariums and sun baking. Clare Oliver Melanoma Fund
This month a new study from the UK Department of Health has some alarming results which has caused concern among many social drinkers, mostly woman.
A new study conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency found that people under the age of 35 who used solariums increased their risk of forming a dangerous melanoma skin cancer by an alarming 98 per cent.
Recent Comments