The Leaf THE LEAF July-August 2017 | Page 17

Australia could show their support by continuing to donate to the Olivia Newton- John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, which launched in 2012 after many years of fundraising and lobbying . “Olivia gives so much back,” “She’s continually working on her Cancer and Wellness Centre, raising money for the continual expansion of it. It is an extraordinary foundation that she set up a long time ago. Cancer is very prolific in Australia, we are very progressive from a medical perspective and the public need to support her centre because cancer affects everybody.” Molly Meldrum is impressed with how much of her time Newton-John gives to her Wellness Centre. “She works tirelessly for that centre,” he said. In 2012, the star created the Olivia Newton- John Wellness and Research Centre in Australia. Newton-John makes frequent trips back to Australia to promote her Cancer and Wellness Centre. “I decided on my direction of therapies after consultation with my doctors and natural therapists and the medical team at my Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia,” Newton-John said in the statement announcing her diagnosis. Newton-John will undergo “a short course of photon radiation therapy” in addition to natural wellness remedies. The star said she’d be “back later in the year, better than ever.” Olivia Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi has asked for “healing prayers”. “I love u mama. Miss U so much. Will all of u send healing prayers for my mama please” She added: “I believe in the power of positive thinking and energy. Love u all.” The star first battled breast cancer 25 years ago and has since used her own experience to promote awareness about the disease. A statement from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre was also issued today, saying: “The staff, students and Board of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, a partnership between Austin Health and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, send Olivia their well wishes as she undergoes treatment following the relapse of her breast cancer, and are sending her positive thoughts for a speedy recovery.” “Olivia, as the founding champion of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre (ONJ Centre), has long been committed to supporting wellness programs and improving the treatment and care of people with cancer through innovative research.” Professor Jonathan Cebon, the medical director of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and of Cancer Services at Austin Health, said he was saddened to hear Olivia’s cancer had returned. “Late relapses from breast cancer can occur, especially for women with ‘hormone receptor-positive’ breast cancer,” Professor Cebon said. “These relapses can occur sometimes even decades after initial treatment for early breast cancer. This unpredictability of breast cancer, and its ability to return after many years, is an area of active research at the institute through our Translational Breast Cancer Program.”