What is the Nordic Protocol, Magda Szubanski's cancer treatment?
The 64-year-old, known for her performances in Kath and Kim and sketch show Fast Forward, also revealed she was starting 'one of the best treatments available' – the Nordic protocol.
Here's what we know about it.
What is the Nordic Protocol?
The Nordic Protocol is a type of chemoimmunotherapy treatment. It combines chemotherapy (which slows the growth of cancer cells) with immunotherapy (which aims to restore the immune system).
According to the NSW Cancer Institute, the treatment is suitable for patients under 65 with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma. Also known as the Nordic Regimen, its name comes from a major trial that happened at the Danish-based Nordic Lymphoma Group.
What is mantle cell lymphoma?
Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare type of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system – part of the immune system which produces immune cells and protects the body from viruses and bacteria.
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, the cancer is relatively uncommon, accounting for between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
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9 News
29 minutes ago
- 9 News
Owner's battle to ban substance that almost killed beloved dog
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here It was love at first sight when Yvette Colomb spotted Elsa on a greyhound adoption site. Originally a racing dog, Elsa was almost euthanised before Colomb rescued her and gave her a second shot at life, only to see her horrifically poisoned a few years later. It was 2020 and they were on a property about an hour north of Sydney when Elsa suddenly started to vomit. Elsa the greyhound was a happy, active dog before she was poisoned in 2020. (Supplied) Colomb immediately put Elsa in the back of the car and raced to Sydney, where her daughter took Elsa straight to the emergency vet. "I remember I looked at her and it was the last time I looked at her before she was quite disabled," Colomb told By the time Elsa arrived at the vet, she'd vomited again, suffered a seizure and had to be put on life support. That's when the vet called Colomb and revealed her dog had been poisoned. Elsa had accidentally ingested sodium fluoroacetate poison baits, better known as 1080. The poison is used across Australia to cull foxes, rabbits, wild dogs and feral cats by applying it to food items which are left out for animals to find. Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@ Vets doubted Elsa would survive after ingesting a 1080 poison bait. (Supplied) Derived from a naturally occurring compound found in multiple Australian plants, some Australian animals have developed a tolerance to 1080. Dogs may also ingest these baits and be poisoned, causing frenzied running, uncontrollable vomiting, howling, confusion, coma and even death. Just a few milligrams of 1080 can be lethal to most dogs and there's no antidote, though vet treatment can aid a dog's survival. "The vet said, 'very few animals survive it and it's very unlikely that Elsa will survive,'" Colomb said. Although she didn't have pet insurance, Colomb begged the vet to do anything to save her dog – and he did. Elsa's vet bill was almost $20,000 after the poisoning. (Supplied) Miraculously, Elsa pulled through. She spent almost two weeks at the emergency vet and needed additional rehabilitation, resulting in a $20,000 bill. Colomb paid about $8000 out of her own pocket and fundraised the rest, then set up a Facebook page dedicated to Elsa's recovery and to warn other dog owners. Despite surviving the 1080 poisoning, Elsa was left permanently disabled. "When we brought her home, it was almost like having an enormous newborn baby," Colomb said. "She was totally bedridden and it was around-the-clock care for her ... it took her months to learn to walk again." Caring for Elsa was expensive – she did hydrotherapy and had to be on a special diet for months after the poisoning – but like many Aussies, Colomb said she would do anything for her dog. Elsa walked with a wobble and had mobility issues for the rest of her life, but her health really started to decline in 2025. Elsa needed hydrotherapy and a special diet to help her recover from the poisoning. (Supplied) She died at home in Colomb's arms in June. "She was like lying flat against me, and she had her head against my chest, and I just patted every very gently," Colomb said. Devastated by the loss, she took comfort from the 10,000 animal lovers who had followed Elsa's story in her Facebook group. Now she's campaigning to outlaw the baits that almost killed Elsa five years ago, left her disabled and cost the family thousands in vet care. Access to 1080 is highly restricted in Australia and its use is regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), state and territory government agencies and local land management authorities. Use of the poison varies across the country and baits are tailored to the target species and the local ecosystem. But scientists and animal rights groups disagree on how 'humane' 1080 is and after seeing how Elsa suffered, Colomb doesn't want any animal – pet or pest – to go through the same thing. Yvette Colomb has started a petition to ban 1080 baits in Elsa's memory. (Supplied) "It's a horrible way to die and I understand that foxes need to be taken care of, but I think we need to do it in a responsible and humane way," Colomb said. "I don't think we can just drop poison into our environment and hope for the best." She started a petition that has already attracted more than 3000 signatures and plans to petition Federal Parliament to reconsider the use of 1080 across the country. Colomb's only regret is not taking action and campaigning for a ban on 1080 sooner. "Why did I wait so long? I need to make Elsa's memory count." national Pets animals Poison CONTACT US Auto news: Jaguar continues testing with controversial looks.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Nurses in bins, beds duties strike
Queensland hospitals are bracing for disruption as nurses escalate their campaign for a pay rise, with a new phase of industrial action actions to begin on Tuesday. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) has confirmed Stage 2 of its protected industrial action will commence from 7am on Tuesday, July 8, intensifying its campaign for better pay and working conditions. While union officials have stressed patient safety will remain a priority, the latest action is expected to have a broader operational impact across Queensland Health facilities, with thousands of workers refusing to perform various non-clinical tasks, including making beds, delivering meals and emptying bins. Queensland hospitals are bracing for disruption as nurses escalate their industrial campaign, with a new phase of industrial action actions to begin tomorrow. NCA NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia It follows the union's rejection of the government's latest wage offer of an 11 per cent pay rise over three years, in favour of a 13 per cent increase over the same period. The government's proposal includes staged increases of 3 per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in both April 2026 and April 2027, with a final 3 per cent in December 2027. Health Minister Tim Nicholls has described it as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package'. However, QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said the deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their status as the highest paid in the country, a position they've held for 15 years. 'We will not be gaslit, or taken for fools,' Ms Beaman said. QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said the Queensland Government's deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their status as the highest paid in the country, a position they've held for 15 years. Richard Walker Credit: News Corp Australia Stage 2 of the protected action, legally permitted under the Fair Work Act 2009, will see union members refuse overtime without at least four hours' notice, take their full meal and rest breaks, and step back from administrative duties including filing, data entry, stock replenishment, and internal meetings unrelated to patient care. Other disruptions include a refusal to clean beds, move furniture, handle non-clinical waste, or participate in Medicare admissions documentation. In mental health services, formal national reporting tools will be paused, although clinical observations will continue to be recorded. The first stage of industrial action began on June 5 with low-level visibility activities such as staff wearing pink or promotional shirts and email signature updates. While this initially led to two weeks of renewed bargaining, the union says negotiations broke down when the government 'pulled the rug out' on perceived progress. Health Minister Tim Nicholls described the governments offer as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package.' NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia Although wages are the headline issue, the industrial action highlights a string of longstanding grievances within Queensland's healthcare system. Nurses cite burnout, poor nurse-to-patient ratios, staff shortages, especially in regional areas, and broken promises from Covid-era commitments. Surveys have found that over 58 per cent of Australian nurses report burnout, and 71 per cent say they are asked to do more than they can manage. Almost half of QNMU members surveyed said they were considering leaving the profession. The union is also calling for improved minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, claiming current workloads are unsafe and compromise patient outcomes. Nurses cite burnout, poor nurse-to-patient ratios, staff shortages, especially in regional areas, and broken promises from Covid-era commitments. NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia A 2024 report from the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ) also raised concerns about centralised bureaucracy, with one administrator for every two nurses in Queensland, compared to a 1:5 to 1:7 ratio in Germany and Scandinavia, as well as a culture of fear, bullying and punished whistleblowing. The suicides of two midwives, one a new graduate and the other senior, at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in 2015 and 2023 were cited as tragic examples of this toxic environment. Midwife Jackie Pulleine alleged she faced retribution after raising concerns about patient safety at Redcliffe Hospital. QNMU says increasing waitlists, chronic overcrowding in emergency departments, and the death of Baby Benson amid neonatal bed shortages are all symptoms of a broken system. The state government has now referred the dispute to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the government remains committed to delivering a 'nation-leading wages deal' as part of a record $33 billion investment in the state's health system. That includes hiring 4,500 additional health workers over the next year, he said. However, the QNMU argues this investment must also be reflected in frontline wages. 'The funding necessary to recruit and retain skilled humans to care for Queensland has not been appropriately allocated,' Ms Beaman said. 'Multibillion-dollar health facilities without skilled staff are like a car without an engine.' With protected action escalating Tuesday and no resolution in sight, the QNMU warns the dispute 'could escalate if demands are not met'.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Telehealth explained: Your guide to finding the right doctor online
This is sponsored content for Qoctor. Telehealth, while it's always been available, really gained traction during the pandemic and has remained an important part of healthcare today. Not only does it remove barriers to health care like physical distance and time constraints, it's also affordable and often more readily available. Australian telehealth platform founded by GPs, Qoctor, is aiming to support the health of regional Australians by offering GP appointments, medical certificates, prescription renewals, pathology referrals and mental health support (including bulk-billed mental health plan referrals). However, the platform is not looking to replace local GPs but rather work alongside and support them. "We want people to think of online telehealth as an option if they are stuck for seeing a doctor," Qoctor CEO and GP Aifric Boylan said. "In a lot of areas GP clinics are overbooked and we want to be able to meet people in the moment when they are seeking help. If you miss that opportunity because of wait times, sometimes people stop seeking help." This is especially the case with mental health with appointments for mental health plans proving to be one of the more popular appointments. The use of telehealth to access a mental health plan can help break down one barrier to health only for patients to face another when finding a local mental health professional. This is where telehealth can also play a role but with a mental health platform like MeHelp offering bulk-billed psychology online. "Using telehealth for a mental health plan is a frictionless process and you can be up and running with a psychology provider very quickly," Dr Boylan said. When selecting a telehealth provider there are some important factors to consider including the platform, who you will be seeing, their qualifications and the appointment process. There are rules and regulations around telehealth delivery but not all telehealth providers offer the same level of service. "Choose your service wisely," Dr Boylan said. "The gold standard is video call, but phone calls can be OK in some cases- and you should be speaking directly to the doctor or nurse, not through SMS or a third party. "Some of this seems basic, but there are some services out there where the doctor doesn't even speak directly with the patient. "It should also be made very clear what type of health professional you will be seeing, either a doctor or a nurse and you should be given enough time to talk about your issue and not be overly rushed." An appointment with Qoctor has patients speak directly with their doctor on video call with plenty of time allocated for the type of appointment booked. To learn more about Qoctor or to make an appointment, visit the website here. This is sponsored content for Qoctor. Telehealth, while it's always been available, really gained traction during the pandemic and has remained an important part of healthcare today. Not only does it remove barriers to health care like physical distance and time constraints, it's also affordable and often more readily available. Australian telehealth platform founded by GPs, Qoctor, is aiming to support the health of regional Australians by offering GP appointments, medical certificates, prescription renewals, pathology referrals and mental health support (including bulk-billed mental health plan referrals). However, the platform is not looking to replace local GPs but rather work alongside and support them. "We want people to think of online telehealth as an option if they are stuck for seeing a doctor," Qoctor CEO and GP Aifric Boylan said. "In a lot of areas GP clinics are overbooked and we want to be able to meet people in the moment when they are seeking help. If you miss that opportunity because of wait times, sometimes people stop seeking help." This is especially the case with mental health with appointments for mental health plans proving to be one of the more popular appointments. The use of telehealth to access a mental health plan can help break down one barrier to health only for patients to face another when finding a local mental health professional. This is where telehealth can also play a role but with a mental health platform like MeHelp offering bulk-billed psychology online. "Using telehealth for a mental health plan is a frictionless process and you can be up and running with a psychology provider very quickly," Dr Boylan said. When selecting a telehealth provider there are some important factors to consider including the platform, who you will be seeing, their qualifications and the appointment process. There are rules and regulations around telehealth delivery but not all telehealth providers offer the same level of service. "Choose your service wisely," Dr Boylan said. "The gold standard is video call, but phone calls can be OK in some cases- and you should be speaking directly to the doctor or nurse, not through SMS or a third party. "Some of this seems basic, but there are some services out there where the doctor doesn't even speak directly with the patient. "It should also be made very clear what type of health professional you will be seeing, either a doctor or a nurse and you should be given enough time to talk about your issue and not be overly rushed." An appointment with Qoctor has patients speak directly with their doctor on video call with plenty of time allocated for the type of appointment booked. To learn more about Qoctor or to make an appointment, visit the website here. This is sponsored content for Qoctor. Telehealth, while it's always been available, really gained traction during the pandemic and has remained an important part of healthcare today. Not only does it remove barriers to health care like physical distance and time constraints, it's also affordable and often more readily available. Australian telehealth platform founded by GPs, Qoctor, is aiming to support the health of regional Australians by offering GP appointments, medical certificates, prescription renewals, pathology referrals and mental health support (including bulk-billed mental health plan referrals). However, the platform is not looking to replace local GPs but rather work alongside and support them. "We want people to think of online telehealth as an option if they are stuck for seeing a doctor," Qoctor CEO and GP Aifric Boylan said. "In a lot of areas GP clinics are overbooked and we want to be able to meet people in the moment when they are seeking help. If you miss that opportunity because of wait times, sometimes people stop seeking help." This is especially the case with mental health with appointments for mental health plans proving to be one of the more popular appointments. The use of telehealth to access a mental health plan can help break down one barrier to health only for patients to face another when finding a local mental health professional. This is where telehealth can also play a role but with a mental health platform like MeHelp offering bulk-billed psychology online. "Using telehealth for a mental health plan is a frictionless process and you can be up and running with a psychology provider very quickly," Dr Boylan said. When selecting a telehealth provider there are some important factors to consider including the platform, who you will be seeing, their qualifications and the appointment process. There are rules and regulations around telehealth delivery but not all telehealth providers offer the same level of service. "Choose your service wisely," Dr Boylan said. "The gold standard is video call, but phone calls can be OK in some cases- and you should be speaking directly to the doctor or nurse, not through SMS or a third party. "Some of this seems basic, but there are some services out there where the doctor doesn't even speak directly with the patient. "It should also be made very clear what type of health professional you will be seeing, either a doctor or a nurse and you should be given enough time to talk about your issue and not be overly rushed." An appointment with Qoctor has patients speak directly with their doctor on video call with plenty of time allocated for the type of appointment booked. To learn more about Qoctor or to make an appointment, visit the website here.
