When Moving Legs Offers No Relief

Ever been in a movie or on a flight and your legs become itchy, uncomfortable or even painful? For most of us, getting up and moving your legs usually gets rid of these sensations. But for some people, these sensations can begin to affect both their waking lives and the quality of their sleep. Restless …

Lung Cancer – Not Always a Smoker’s Disease

Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in WA; nine per cent of cancers in WA are cancer of the lung.¹ In 2014, there were approximately 800 deaths due to lung cancer in WA, and more than 1100 new cases. Although Australia’s rates of smoking are low when compared to the rest of the …

Revolutionary Approach to Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

Until recently, lung cancer diagnosis and determining a patient’s stage of cancer relied on CT and PET scans, as well as a biopsy, which often required an invasive operation. Interventional Pulmonologist Matt Salamonsen from Murdoch Chest says the introduction of Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) has revolutionised the field of respiratory medicine. “EBUS is a non-surgical procedure …

Ear Infections in Children: When To Seek Help

Middle ear infections (otitis media) are a very common reason for parents taking their children to the GP.   Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon Dr George Sim from Kids-ENT says it’s quite common for children to have one or two ear infections a year that are not severe. “Children are more susceptible to …

Gestational Diabetes: Better Outcomes For Mothers and Babies

Gestational diabetes mellitus (sometimes referred to as GDM) is a transitional type of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. If you are diagnosed with GDM, it means your blood glucose levels are higher than normal. The good news however, is that for most women after they have had their baby, their blood glucose levels will …

Videos To Support Patients Through Cancer Treatment

Advances in cancer care have led to dramatic improvements in survival rates over the past three decades. Now more than 66 per cent of Australians with cancer survive more than five years. With these improvements in treatments, however, come challenges for people who live with complex and debilitating side effects from combinations of therapies and …

Healthy Living after Cancer

Would you like to improve your health and wellbeing after cancer treatment? Would you like to receive support from a Cancer Council WA nurse to help you make positive lifestyle changes? The program is easy to follow and you will be guided by your own health coach who will help you set your own goals …

Knee Arthroscopy Shows Benefits For Many

A recent study has found knee arthroscopy procedures for knee joint meniscal injuries give patients improved function and less pain, despite recent publications questioning the value of this procedure. Some recently published reviews have raised concerns about the effectiveness of knee arthroscopy, particularly in patients who have knee osteoarthritis. A retrospective study conducted by orthopaedic …

Train Your Tastebuds to Enjoy Less Salt

We seem to be in the midst of a war against sugar, with so many dietitians, writers, celebrities and politicians joining the fight. But what about salt? Is it still bad for us? Even if it’s fancy now? And are they all the same? (think Himalayan pink salt, flavoured salt, truffled salt, herbed salt, all …

Immunotherapy and Cancer – The New Frontier

Current studies trialling immunotherapy as cancer treatment are showing some amazing results, with exciting promise for patient recovery. St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s Principal Investigator and Associate Professor Kynan Feeney says it’s an area of rapid-pace research, with new generations of immunotherapy compounds and combinations of treatments being trialled on an almost weekly basis. …