Targeting Cancer is celebrating the stories of cancer survivors to mark World Cancer Day on Sunday 4 February.
The theme for World Cancer Day 2024 is Close the Care Gap.
Organisers have called on leaders worldwide to prioritise cancer and invest in resources to achieve better outcomes for all, aiming for a cancer-free world.
Targeting Cancer is working to Close the Care Gap by highlighting the inspiring journey of people who have benefited from radiation therapy – a life-saving cancer treatment.
Sydney-based sports journalist Clinton Payne has been living with advanced lung cancer for over three years.
“The cancer started with sudden chest and hip pain, and then one day I coughed up blood.”, said Clinton.
“I rushed myself to hospital and had a scan which looked like a Christmas Tree because the cancer had spread so fast.”
“After three rounds of radiation therapy, I am very happy to say I have now been cancer-free for a year-and-a-half.”
“I still have regular checks and have recently been given the all-clear for another six months. My story shows you that with the best possible treatment, you can get back to living a normal, healthy life.”
Dr Lucinda Morris is co-chair of Targeting Cancer and a radiation oncologist (radiation cancer specialist) at St George Hospital in Kogarah and has treated Clinton over a three-year period.
“We used an advanced radiation therapy technique known as stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) to treat Clinton.”, said Dr Morris.
“SABR is a highly targeted treatment which allows us to deliver very high doses of radiation with millimetre accuracy to the cancer whilst avoiding the healthy lung.”
“It also allows us to treat patients quickly, typically in one to five days, with each visit only taking around 30 minutes.”
“The treatment worked wonderfully for Clinton. He’s had no side effects, and I am happy to say he’s now back to his old self, working as a busy journalist and doing all the things he loves to do including playing lots of sport!”
“It is timely that we share Clinton’s story today on World Cancer Day as we look to Close the Care Gap by making sure everyone gets life-saving radiation therapy when they need it.”
