NEWS DESK
Candidate’s walk to help cancer research
Fears of polio making comeback
Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au
THE discovery of polio virus in wastewater in the United States and United Kingdom has raised fears that low vaccination rates may undo years of work to eliminate the infectious disease. The traces found in the US and UK and one confirmed death are alarming, according to Polio Network Victoria’s deputy chair Fran Henke. Henke, of Hastings, said the health community had worked tirelessly to eliminate polio from the world but “it appears those who have rejected or failed to access vaccination against the virus for their children, are threatening [those] years of work.” “Those of us left with the debilitating effects of polio before vaccines were available, do not wish any child or individual to go through late effects,” she said. “Survivors have been left disabled and discriminated against, especially with the emergence of the misunderstood post-polio syndrome. Some symptoms, oddly enough, are similar to those of long COVID.” Henke said members of the Mornington Peninsula Post Polio Support Group would attend this year’s Polio Day, the 35th and first for two years. “The theme of Polio Day this month, is Navigating the System to assist those struggling to access NDIS and aged care packages. “Most of us met in various hospitals and institutions as children, so this event is like a long lost family gathering. “None of us wish to see one person subjected to the effects of polio that we have borne and strongly urge vaccination for all.” Details about vaccination and polio are available from GPs and state health departments as well as at: polionetworkvichelp@gmail.com or call 0407 227 055. Polio Day is 26 October at Malvern Valley Golf Course. Bookings: trybooking.com/events/ landing/932456. Polio details: polionetworkvichelp@gmail.com or call 0407 227 055.
ELIZABETH Woolcock planned to walk 30 kilometres to raise money for her campaign as an independent candidate for the state seat of Nepean. However, she says her initial reasons for the walk “pale into to insignificance” when compared to the anguish and trauma faced by people diagnosed with cancer, particularly women with ovarian cancer. Money raised by Woolcock’s walk from Safety Beach to Sorrento on Sunday 6 November will now be split between her own election campaign needs and research into ovarian cancer. “Critical funding is needed for research to develop a detection test and save hundreds of lives a year from an aggressive and devastating killer,” she said. Sarah Doughton, who has spent the past two years undergoing numerous surgeries and treatments for ovarian cancer, will be walking alongside Woolcock. Although the money they raise will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), the women stress that the organisation is nonpolitical and the route they have chosen is the same as the foundation’s annual February Walk With Women. Doughton, 45, who lives in Sandringham but has spent time in her family home on the peninsula, describes her pre-cancer life as one where she enjoyed her job (in real estate), sailing, riding horses, travelling and the great outdoors. “The day before the fateful day that changed my world was normal. l had an early morning personal training session, worked a full and busy day, went for a short run after work before settling down for dinner and an early night,” Doughton said. “Overnight, everything changed.”
SARAH Doughton, left, and Elizabeth Woolcock are walking 30 kilometres to raise money for research into ovarian cancer and help pay for Woolcock’s election campaign. Pictures: Supplied and Yanni (Woolcock) On 10 June 2020 she went to the doctor with a distended abdomen. X-rays and ultrasounds “showed a large mass on and around my ovaries”. The following six days were a confused blur. “Fast tracked to see a specialist two days later, I was rushed to surgery on 16 June for a radical hysterectomy and de-baulking and was subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer – stage 3C. “I then underwent six months of gruelling weekly chemotherapy sessions, followed by 12 months immunotherapy and a total of 10 surgeries, with more scheduled over the coming months. “I am on a daily cocktail of medications and navigate the side effects of the rigorous treatment protocols.” Doughton now describes her body as “a roadmap of scars that each tell the story of hope, determination and survival”. Testing has revealed a gene mutation that meant she always had a high risk of developing breast and or ovarian cancer. “Given this diagnosis l have also had a preventative bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction to remove the risk of me also developing
breast cancer,” Doughton said. “Cancer has been a tough battle for both me and the family, but with that has come the blessing of knowledge of the genetic link and I am able to share that and ultimately protect my wider family and loved ones for generations to come. “After the storm comes sunshine and two and a half years on l am in remission and life is starting to take shape again. “I don’t know what my future holds, but at the moment it is looking very positive, given l responded well to treatment, am recovering well from surgeries and have had access to amazing medical intervention and some of Australia’s best medical experts.” Doughton advises women to “listen to your body and advocate for yourself”. “Unfortunately, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and the symptoms can often be missed, misconstrued and ignored.” Donations for the walk being undertaken by Woolcock and Doughton can be made at: info@ elizabethwoolcock.com.au For details about the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation’s annual walk got to: walkwithwomen.org.au/
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26 October 2022
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