Support appendiceal
cancer research 
 
Your donation makes Kate's research possible, and gives a priceless gift to her patients

Kate's research uses new technology to conduct much-needed research, giving hope to her patients and their loved ones for a brighter future with better outcomes.  

Kate an oncologist and researcher at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, working with a ‘bench-to-bedside’ approach.          

 Appendiceal cancer is rare, and doctors do their best, but they lack guidance in treating this disease. Often, they use treatments for other types of cancer, such as bowel cancer, because there are no alternatives. We need research to give patients with appendiceal cancer the best chance of survival.    

Kate’s research uses a new technology called transcriptomics. While genomics looks at the genes, transcriptomics explores what is being expressed from those genes.

By understanding what genes are active and what is being expressed in those genes, Kate and her team can better understand how the disease evolves and how to disrupt this process by using drugs in a more targeted way.

This technology can help Kate save lives. But it is expensive.  

“Research can be really hard, we come up against a lot of brick walls, so to do it well you have to be passionate about it. My relationships with my patients drive me to put in extra yards and I keep photos like Abe’s on my office pinboard to remind me why I need to keep going.” - Kate                                      

Renee recalls the deep trust and respect that Abe developed for Kate, she tells us,

“As an added challenge, Abe was profoundly deaf and communicated via lip reading and speech. Kate tried very hard to communicate directly to Abe and not immediately rely on me as the interpreter in our appointments.”

The deep empathy and understanding that Kate showed Abe made a big difference in his experience. 

Kate and the team at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse felt like family during his treatment for over fourteen months. They became a pivotal part of Renee and Abe’s life - with Renee accompanying Abe to appointments with Kate every fortnight.

Renee tells us that she contacted Kate on the anniversary of Abe returning to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse for the last time. She shares,

“I reached out to Kate to say hello and share memories. Despite being almost twelve months after Abe’s passing, Kate shared that Abe’s photo card is on display on her office pinboard and she often thinks of my son and me.”

Kate’s research will help us build a better understanding of cancer which can lead to better treatments and outcomes for patients. The learnings from this research will help inform how we use similar technology for treatment in other cancer types.    

Renee tells us,

“I truly hope that Kate’s research can bring better solutions to modernise cancer treatment, so people can continue to live a long life and a high quality of life after their cancer diagnosis.” 
“To my fellow supporters who contribute to Kate’s research, I want to say an incredible thank you. This research is so important. You may not know it, but you make a difference in the lives of so many.” - Renee
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