Latest news with #Lappin
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'While I draw breath, I will fight': how Carrington Bowlo keeps Jaci alive
At age 60, Jaci Lappin was given six to 18 months to live. That was six years ago. Ms Lappin, Carrington Bowling Club's CEO, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. She said the love of her job had kept her going. "I have a positive attitude and feel a lot of support from the club's members and staff," she said. She had a mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy, but later developed a heart condition due to cardiotoxicity from the chemo. "I didn't even know there was such a thing to be quite honest." She was rushed to hospital after suffering an acute cardiomyopathy attack. "I went into heart and kidney failure. Both were a direct result of all the chemo," she said. "I am certainly not suggesting people shouldn't have chemo. The reality is I wouldn't be alive now if I hadn't had the chemo." Ms Lappin shared her story to support Hunter Medical Research Institute's appeal for donations before the financial year's end. She was treated by HMRI professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo. They lead a team at HMRI that is developing a drug combination that treats cancer and protects the heart. In preclinical models, the drugs improved toxicity to the heart. Professor Sverdlov published research in 2023, which found cancer survivors had "an eight-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease". The research shows one in three Australians living with cancer will develop cardiovascular disease due to the cardiotoxicity of treatments and other risk factors. "Most cancer patients are unaware of the potential heart risks associated with treatment," Professor Sverdlov said in February. "Many do not receive the care needed to prevent heart disease." Ms Lappin said her heart condition was now "under control with medication prescribed by Professor Sverdlov". She also had a cardiac ablation procedure, as her heart had been experiencing atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat. "Now my heart is tracking nicely and they're monitoring my kidney function." When she first got the job at the bowling club, it was "badly in debt". She discovered this around the same time she was diagnosed with cancer. "When I came in we had 200 members. We've now got 7500," she said. "We've now had 11 years of profit in a row. We've tried to make it a venue that's all about community, diversity and inclusivity. "I just feel nestled and loved by my tribe. Nothing will stop me from fighting for them." This month, Ms Lappin learned her cancer had returned. "When they did an X-ray, they found two broken ribs," she said. The cancer in her bones has started to move, so she will soon start more radiation treatment. "We're about to have another dance," she said, adding that "a dash of humour is the only way to approach it". "I've changed to a different type of medication that hopefully won't turn me into Godzilla. "I've been in this position before and managed to wangle my way around it." She plans to "keep beating it". "While I draw breath, I will fight for me and this club." Visit At age 60, Jaci Lappin was given six to 18 months to live. That was six years ago. Ms Lappin, Carrington Bowling Club's CEO, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. She said the love of her job had kept her going. "I have a positive attitude and feel a lot of support from the club's members and staff," she said. She had a mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy, but later developed a heart condition due to cardiotoxicity from the chemo. "I didn't even know there was such a thing to be quite honest." She was rushed to hospital after suffering an acute cardiomyopathy attack. "I went into heart and kidney failure. Both were a direct result of all the chemo," she said. "I am certainly not suggesting people shouldn't have chemo. The reality is I wouldn't be alive now if I hadn't had the chemo." Ms Lappin shared her story to support Hunter Medical Research Institute's appeal for donations before the financial year's end. She was treated by HMRI professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo. They lead a team at HMRI that is developing a drug combination that treats cancer and protects the heart. In preclinical models, the drugs improved toxicity to the heart. Professor Sverdlov published research in 2023, which found cancer survivors had "an eight-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease". The research shows one in three Australians living with cancer will develop cardiovascular disease due to the cardiotoxicity of treatments and other risk factors. "Most cancer patients are unaware of the potential heart risks associated with treatment," Professor Sverdlov said in February. "Many do not receive the care needed to prevent heart disease." Ms Lappin said her heart condition was now "under control with medication prescribed by Professor Sverdlov". She also had a cardiac ablation procedure, as her heart had been experiencing atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat. "Now my heart is tracking nicely and they're monitoring my kidney function." When she first got the job at the bowling club, it was "badly in debt". She discovered this around the same time she was diagnosed with cancer. "When I came in we had 200 members. We've now got 7500," she said. "We've now had 11 years of profit in a row. We've tried to make it a venue that's all about community, diversity and inclusivity. "I just feel nestled and loved by my tribe. Nothing will stop me from fighting for them." This month, Ms Lappin learned her cancer had returned. "When they did an X-ray, they found two broken ribs," she said. The cancer in her bones has started to move, so she will soon start more radiation treatment. "We're about to have another dance," she said, adding that "a dash of humour is the only way to approach it". "I've changed to a different type of medication that hopefully won't turn me into Godzilla. "I've been in this position before and managed to wangle my way around it." She plans to "keep beating it". "While I draw breath, I will fight for me and this club." Visit At age 60, Jaci Lappin was given six to 18 months to live. That was six years ago. Ms Lappin, Carrington Bowling Club's CEO, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. She said the love of her job had kept her going. "I have a positive attitude and feel a lot of support from the club's members and staff," she said. She had a mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy, but later developed a heart condition due to cardiotoxicity from the chemo. "I didn't even know there was such a thing to be quite honest." She was rushed to hospital after suffering an acute cardiomyopathy attack. "I went into heart and kidney failure. Both were a direct result of all the chemo," she said. "I am certainly not suggesting people shouldn't have chemo. The reality is I wouldn't be alive now if I hadn't had the chemo." Ms Lappin shared her story to support Hunter Medical Research Institute's appeal for donations before the financial year's end. She was treated by HMRI professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo. They lead a team at HMRI that is developing a drug combination that treats cancer and protects the heart. In preclinical models, the drugs improved toxicity to the heart. Professor Sverdlov published research in 2023, which found cancer survivors had "an eight-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease". The research shows one in three Australians living with cancer will develop cardiovascular disease due to the cardiotoxicity of treatments and other risk factors. "Most cancer patients are unaware of the potential heart risks associated with treatment," Professor Sverdlov said in February. "Many do not receive the care needed to prevent heart disease." Ms Lappin said her heart condition was now "under control with medication prescribed by Professor Sverdlov". She also had a cardiac ablation procedure, as her heart had been experiencing atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat. "Now my heart is tracking nicely and they're monitoring my kidney function." When she first got the job at the bowling club, it was "badly in debt". She discovered this around the same time she was diagnosed with cancer. "When I came in we had 200 members. We've now got 7500," she said. "We've now had 11 years of profit in a row. We've tried to make it a venue that's all about community, diversity and inclusivity. "I just feel nestled and loved by my tribe. Nothing will stop me from fighting for them." This month, Ms Lappin learned her cancer had returned. "When they did an X-ray, they found two broken ribs," she said. The cancer in her bones has started to move, so she will soon start more radiation treatment. "We're about to have another dance," she said, adding that "a dash of humour is the only way to approach it". "I've changed to a different type of medication that hopefully won't turn me into Godzilla. "I've been in this position before and managed to wangle my way around it." She plans to "keep beating it". "While I draw breath, I will fight for me and this club." Visit At age 60, Jaci Lappin was given six to 18 months to live. That was six years ago. Ms Lappin, Carrington Bowling Club's CEO, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. She said the love of her job had kept her going. "I have a positive attitude and feel a lot of support from the club's members and staff," she said. She had a mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy, but later developed a heart condition due to cardiotoxicity from the chemo. "I didn't even know there was such a thing to be quite honest." She was rushed to hospital after suffering an acute cardiomyopathy attack. "I went into heart and kidney failure. Both were a direct result of all the chemo," she said. "I am certainly not suggesting people shouldn't have chemo. The reality is I wouldn't be alive now if I hadn't had the chemo." Ms Lappin shared her story to support Hunter Medical Research Institute's appeal for donations before the financial year's end. She was treated by HMRI professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo. They lead a team at HMRI that is developing a drug combination that treats cancer and protects the heart. In preclinical models, the drugs improved toxicity to the heart. Professor Sverdlov published research in 2023, which found cancer survivors had "an eight-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease". The research shows one in three Australians living with cancer will develop cardiovascular disease due to the cardiotoxicity of treatments and other risk factors. "Most cancer patients are unaware of the potential heart risks associated with treatment," Professor Sverdlov said in February. "Many do not receive the care needed to prevent heart disease." Ms Lappin said her heart condition was now "under control with medication prescribed by Professor Sverdlov". She also had a cardiac ablation procedure, as her heart had been experiencing atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat. "Now my heart is tracking nicely and they're monitoring my kidney function." When she first got the job at the bowling club, it was "badly in debt". She discovered this around the same time she was diagnosed with cancer. "When I came in we had 200 members. We've now got 7500," she said. "We've now had 11 years of profit in a row. We've tried to make it a venue that's all about community, diversity and inclusivity. "I just feel nestled and loved by my tribe. Nothing will stop me from fighting for them." This month, Ms Lappin learned her cancer had returned. "When they did an X-ray, they found two broken ribs," she said. The cancer in her bones has started to move, so she will soon start more radiation treatment. "We're about to have another dance," she said, adding that "a dash of humour is the only way to approach it". "I've changed to a different type of medication that hopefully won't turn me into Godzilla. "I've been in this position before and managed to wangle my way around it." She plans to "keep beating it". "While I draw breath, I will fight for me and this club." Visit
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Runner who had cardiac arrest at race to compete in same event a year later
A runner who suffered a cardiac arrest after a race on Glasgow Green is returning to take part in the same event a year later. Stephen Lappin, 60, will take part in the 3k on the Green on Friday, a year after his heart stopped at the event on April 26, 2024. The father-of-two collapsed but fellow runners were able to use a defibrillator positioned nearby and gave him CPR. Less than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The same defibrillator was used to save the life of another runner, Malcolm Hughes, from Linlithgow in West Lothian, just a few weeks earlier. Both men have since joined forces to support BHF Scotland's efforts to get all defibrillators registered on the Circuit – the national network which allows emergency services to locate and direct callers to the life-saving devices. Mr Lappin, who had completed the London Marathon a year before, said: 'Because it was a short 3k race I went for it. 'When I finished, I looked at the data on my watch which said I had achieved a personal best. 'Suddenly I felt tired and the next thing I was gone. ' People told me that I collapsed spectacularly and got everyone's attention. Someone went to fetch the defibrillator, and I understand that I had several minutes of CPR and then one shock from the defibrillator. 'The fact that the defib was there, so close to me, is the reason why I am here today. What are the odds of two people and the same defib? 'It's miraculous.' The defibrillator was registered and an emergency call-handler was able to give out the code to unlock its box so it could be used. IT worker Mr Lappin has been given the all-clear to run again but this is the first time he has returned to the monthly event. He will be joined on Friday by friends and family. He said: 'I wanted to carry on running. It's a good healthy thing to do, but I recognise that I'll never be as fast or as fit as I was. 'When I run now there's a bit of trepidation, but I'm not pushing myself. 'I do gentler runs now, where the general rule is, if you find you can't talk, you are running too fast.' Mr Lappin has since had an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) fitted which will deliver a shock to his heart in the event of a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm, and also takes statins and beta blockers. Alasdair Murray, organiser of 3k on the Green, has used the event to raise more than £18,000, with the £2 entry fee donated to a range of charities since he began organising it in 2011. Mr Murray said: 'It's amazing, and a huge relief, to see Stephen back here and a testament to his recovery and determination not to let this stop him. 'I am so relieved that he came through it, and we are fortunate that there was a defibrillator close by which was registered on the Circuit – but it's not a day I would like to repeat. 'When it happened there seemed to be little sense of panic and those around chipped in to help. 'People did what they had to do, and we were fortunate that a couple of runners were off-duty medics who were also able to assist.' David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: 'Well done to Stephen for his bravery and positive attitude after what must have been a traumatic incident. 'We at the BHF have also been inspired by his efforts to raise awareness about the importance of making sure all defibs are registered on the Circuit.'
