‘Can’t thank her enough’: Olivia Newton-John’s life-saving legacy
Melburnians who’ve fought cancer and won have shared emotional outpourings of gratitude towards the late Olivia Newton-John today.
Olivia Newton-John sadly died after a lengthy cancer battle. The singer and actress turned activist was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. It returned in 2013 and again in 2017.
In 2014, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute began working out of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre at Austin Health.
More than 100 scientists work at the centre, trying to find a cure for cancer.
“It’s highly regarded around the world,” chair of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Richard Balderstone, told Ross and Russel.
“Being at the Austin Hospital there’s a lot of what we call translational research where there’s a lot of clinical trials working with the patients and trying to find cures.”
Press PLAY below to hear about the legacy Olivia has left behind
Dee told Neil Mitchell the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre saved his life.
“I had stage three throat cancer, and if I had have gone two weeks later it would have been stage four and there’s no coming back from that,” he said.
“What she’s done for that hospital, it saved my life, really. I can’t thank her enough.”
An emotional Julie called Neil Mitchell to reveal she “couldn’t stop crying” when she heard the news of Dame Newton-John’s death.
“I’m a five-year breast cancer survivor and my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was pregnant and she was at the Olivia Newton-John Centre and they were wonderful to her,” she said.
“She now has a four-month-old beautiful baby boy and she’s just got over chemo and radiation. She’s only 32.
“I heard the news this morning and I couldn’t stop crying. She just inspires me, then, now, always. Just an amazing, amazing lady.”
Press PLAY below to hear the emotional calls from cancer survivors
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