January 28, 2025 • 19 mins
Claudia Tolhurst's journey from melanoma survivor to passionate advocate with the Hunter Melanoma Foundation is an inspiring tale of resilience and purpose. Claudia takes us through her personal story and highlights the urgency of raising awareness about this preventable disease. This episode brings to light Bec's heartwarming success story—a testament to the power of early detection after being motivated by a patient story at a fundraising event. We navigate the landscape of skin checks, stressing the importance of regular monitoring through general practitioners, specialized skin clinics, and dermatologists. Claudia offers practical advice to combat the lengthy waiting times for appointments, urging timely actions through a GP when concerns arise.
Scott Polglase's legacy lives on through the Hunter Melanoma Foundation's impactful Five Cent campaign, which has amassed over $80,000 in support of melanoma awareness and prevention. His wife, Kiralee, continues to champion this cause, recently trekking to Mount Everest to raise funds. We outline the foundation's ambitious goals for the next five years, emphasizing initiatives like the Spot Check campaign and education sessions aimed at high-risk groups. Through this episode, we reflect on the powerful combination of small actions and community support, and express our deep gratitude to listeners for helping to spread the crucial message that melanoma is both preventable and treatable when caught early.
Thank you for listening!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Leon Goltsman (00:00):
Hello and welcome back to Engaging Conversations
wherever in the world you'retuning in from.
I'm your host, leon Goltsman,and I'm excited to bring you
Episode 18.
Isn't it incredible how ourcommunity has grown, and I can't
thank you enough for yourcontinuous support and
enthusiasm.
It truly drives us to keepspotlighting people and projects
(00:23):
that spark positive change.
Now, before we jump in, I'dlike to give a big shout out to
our outstanding sponsor NiazCannoth, .
As principal and lendingspecialist and founder of Invest
Intelligence, niash focuses onsocially responsible strategies,
particularly in disabilityaccommodation.
(00:43):
Thank you, Niaz, for enablingus to keep these meaningful
conversations going.
In this episode, we'rerevisiting a topic that deeply
resonated with many of youearlier this summer melanoma
awareness.
Backed by popular demand is theremarkable Claudia Tolhurst
from the Hunter MelanomaFoundation.
The overwhelming response toher first appearance reminded us
(01:05):
how vital it is to promoteregular skin checks, champion a
national screening program andembrace emerging technology that
could save lives.
With two-thirds of summerbehind us, there's no better
time to pick up this essentialconversation.
Claudia's passion, expertiseand commitment continue to make
(01:25):
her an absolute force in thefight against melanoma.
So, whether you're relaxing athome or savouring the sunshine
outdoors, grab your sunscreenand join me in welcoming Claudia
Tolhurs back to EngagingConversations.
So thank you very much forcoming back.
I mean the response wasfantastic.
So many people have respondedin such a positive way.
(01:45):
So thank you very much forjoining us on today's show.
Claudia Tolhurst (01:49):
It's my pleasure, leon Great, to be here
.
Leon Goltsman (01:51):
Can you just again, for people who may not
have heard the first podcast, doyou want to just briefly
introduce yourself?
Claudia Tolhurst (01:58):
Yeah, my name's Claudia Tolhurst.
I'm the Executive Officer ofthe Hunter Melanoma Foundation.
Leon Goltsman (02:03):
Claudia, what drives you personally to
continue your work in melanomaawareness and prevention?
Claudia Tolhurst (02:09):
The thing that drives me personally to raise
awareness is A I'm a melanomapatient.
I'm a melanoma survivor.
I see people and hear storiesevery single day, horrific
stories of people who arefighting this disease because it
has spread to their organs andthey're fighting for their life.
(02:32):
I do this job because we canmake a difference and because
this is such a preventablecancer.
If we can just get the messageout, it is so preventable.
Leon Goltsman (02:44):
Yeah, and we did cover it in the previous podcast
.
Prevention is better than cureand we've seen the difference it
makes.
Can you share a success storyfrom your organisation that has
a significant impact on melanomaawareness or prevention?
Claudia Tolhurst (02:59):
Yeah, I sure can, and there are so many to
choose from, but one thatsprings to mind we often do
fundraising events at eventcinemas at Katara and we show
movies and we sell the ticketsand we have a raffle.
And one of the things that wehave the pleasure of doing at
those movies is, rather thanshowing ads before the movies,
(03:22):
we can show one of our patientstories.
So we have a patient story of a21-year-old female who found a
melanoma on the bottom of herfoot we were showing that and a
young girl by the name of Bec,who was in her early 30s and has
a background of Europe.
(03:44):
So her parents were both bornin Macedonia.
So Bec has beautiful olive skin, european skin.
Bec was watching the movie andshe turned to her girlfriend
that she was there with and shewent oh 21,.
That is so young.
I've never had a skin check.
Maybe I should get one.
Her girlfriend said I would behappy to book you in when I go
(04:06):
for mine and we can go together.
So her girlfriend booked themboth in for a skin check and
little did Bec know she had beenliving with a melanoma on her
scalp, right on her, the line ofher forehead, the hairline of
her forehead.
So she then had that melanomasuccessfully removed.
It was an in situ melanoma,which means it was caught very,
(04:28):
very early and on the firstlayer of skin.
But she didn't think that shewould have a melanoma ever
because she had this beautifulbronzed skin.
She always sunbaked, veryrarely wore a hat or sunblock.
You can guarantee that she nowdoes not go outside without a
hat and without sun protectionon.
(04:49):
So we've potentially saved herlife just by seeing that movie
and realizing that, hey, thiscan happen to young people and
can any doctor check formelanoma?
so your gp should be able to doa check a skin check for you If
you go to a specific skin checkclinic.
That skin check clinic thedoctors there are GPs.
(05:13):
The advantage they have at askin check clinic is they're
very experienced because that'sall they do.
They're not taking your bloodpressure or refilling your
script, they're just looking atskin day in and day out.
So they probably have a littlebit more experience in detecting
things than your GP does, butyour GP should be able to do a
(05:34):
skin check for you.
Your other option is to go to adermatologist, who also would
be more experienced in lookingat things at lesions.
However, you need a referralfrom your GP to go to a
dermatologist.
Leon Goltsman (05:49):
So, whichever option they take, it's still
taking a step in the rightdirection.
Claudia Tolhurst (05:54):
It is Now.
The thing is with skin checks.
At the moment here in theNewcastle area you could be
waiting three to 12 months,depending on the workload of the
doctors, to get in for a skincheck.
So what I tell people is bookin for your skin check with your
skin check specialist or yourdermatologist.
If you have a spot that you'reconcerned about, please don't
wait that three to 12 months Goto your GP, ask your GP to do a
(06:18):
biopsy and if the biopsy resultscome back as a melanoma or
another form of skin cancer,your GP can then refer you on to
a dermatologist or to a skincheck clinic or to the melanoma
unit where your referral will betriaged and you will get in a
whole lot quicker and have thatskin cancer treated earlier than
(06:41):
what it would be for you to getin and get your skin checked
with that doctor.
Leon Goltsman (06:44):
See, this is very good information.
Most people wouldn't know aboutthis.
Are there any recentadvancements or innovations in
melanoma treatment that you findparticularly promising?
Claudia Tolhurst (06:55):
Yeah, there are a lot.
So if we go back 15 years,there was no cure for melanoma.
There was no treatment thatworked for melanoma.
So in the last 15 years or so,immunotherapy has been
introduced to treat people thathave got stage three or stage
four melanoma.
So there's melanoma that spreadto the lymph nodes and spread
(07:16):
to the other organs Once it getsto that point.
Previously we had no treatment.
Immunotherapy, in layman terms,basically tells the DNA that
you've got a problem here andyour immune system needs to
start working.
So it actually kickstarts theimmune system into treating the
(07:37):
disease itself and we're seeing50% of people respond to that
treatment.
Of the 50% that respond to thetreatment, only 10% are we're
seeing a complete cure, but thatis a great start.
So 10% of the 50% are walkingaround cancer-free, which is
(07:57):
just the best news ever.
Researchers are still lookingat why the other people, why the
50% of people, don't respond.
But here locally, professorNicola Bowden is doing some
clinical trials at the momentand having some great results.
The people that aren'tresponding to immunotherapy she
is then treating them with threeweeks.
(08:19):
I think it is of chemotherapyand they're two chemotherapy
drugs that were used fordifferent cancers previously.
So using them in conjunctionwith the immunotherapy and then
starting the immunotherapy againis having some great results
and of those trials she's hadtwo people that have had a
(08:41):
complete response.
So we're making headways allthe time.
So that's for the people thatare in those late stages of
melanoma.
We're also seeing someimprovements in the way we
diagnose melanoma.
So there are some trials goingon at the moment through the
Australian Centre of Excellencefor Melanoma Imaging and
(09:02):
Diagnostics, or ACEMID.
Now they've got 15 Vectramachines around the country.
These Vectra machines are 3Dphotography and they basically
take a photo of you in yourunderwear and they have the
ability, with all these cameras,to zoom in and have a look at
spots on your skin and they willcircle anything that they think
(09:26):
is needing a doctor to have alook at it.
But then you can go back in sixmonths and this photography can
take another photo of you andit can detect whether there are
any changes in any of thosespots.
So there's some really goodthings happening diagnostically
Now.
In the weekend I heard on thenews as well that they actually
(09:48):
developed a blood test similarto a PSA test for prostate
cancer, where, if you havehigher levels showing in your
blood tests, then there's a goodchance that you've probably got
melanoma somewhere on your skin.
So there are always, alwaysimproved treatments, improved
(10:10):
diagnosis and things happeningall the time.
Leon Goltsman (10:14):
So we see a nexus between technology getting more
advanced to what it can do inthe medical industry as well, so
obviously it's working hand inhand.
So as some other industry isadvancing, so is the medical
profession.
Claudia Tolhurst (10:28):
Yeah, absolutely.
And the other thing that's abit of an issue with melanoma is
that it's known as a nationalcancer.
It's the third most diagnosedcancer in Australia.
So in women it sits behindbreast cancer, bowel cancer,
then there's melanoma.
In men it's prostate, bowel andmelanoma.
Now those other big four thebreast cancer, the prostate
(10:53):
cancer and the bowel cancerthose three all have screening
programs and even lung cancerhas a screening program.
Now Melanoma doesn't have anational screening program.
There's nothing in place forpeople to go and get a check,
especially if they are a highrisk patient.
So the Hunter MelanomaFoundation is part of a larger
(11:16):
group called AMPSCA, theAustralian Melanoma and Skin
Cancer Alliance, and it's madeup of a group of melanoma
charities, melanomaorganisations, research
organisations, skin cancercolleges, and there are 12
members in this group.
Now together we're working on anational screening program.
(11:40):
So the project's being led bythe Melanoma Institute Australia
in conjunction with ASMID.
So they've been given $10million in four years to come up
with a national screeningprogram.
So we're hopeful that withinthe next couple of years we will
see a screening program whichwill actually increase the
(12:03):
number of melanomas beingdiagnosed.
But we're hoping that they'reall early diagnosis and we can
get them cut out, so it will inturn reduce the amount of deaths
by melanoma.
Leon Goltsman (12:14):
I was going to ask you what some of the biggest
challenges your organisationfaces in the fight against
melanoma, and you've justanswered that.
Is there anything else you'dlike to add to how you might
address them?
Claudia Tolhurst (12:26):
So one of our biggest issues here locally is
that we're a local charity andwe're a local organisation.
We get our funding locally andwe spend our funding locally, so
we don't get any ongoinggovernment funding.
We do get some grant fundingfrom the government from time to
time.
We did get state governmentfunding for our latest spot
(12:46):
check clinic but generallyspeaking, we're not government
funded.
So we rely on the community, werely on memberships, we rely on
donations, we rely on gifts inwills, we rely on the public
doing fundraising for us and werely on our own fundraising
initiatives to be able to do thework that we do.
(13:08):
So it's so important for us tohave that funding coming in so
that we can then move forwardwith the programs that we're
doing.
And we're not asking people todonate $2 million I mean, if
they do we'd take it absolutelybut we're just asking everybody
(13:28):
to give a little bit.
We have a five cent campaignthat we introduced.
About 17 years ago the communitylost a young man by the name of
Scott Polglaze.
Now Scott was 27 when he diedfrom melanoma and it was before
there were any treatmentsavailable.
Scott hated five cent piecesand used to throw them on the
(13:51):
kitchen bench.
Every time he came home he'dempty his pockets After he
passed.
His wife kept finding five centpieces in peculiar places.
She folded back the bed onenight and found a five cent
piece.
So she decided to startcollecting them.
And then in talking to otherfamily members, they were having
the same thing happen, havingthe same thing happen.
(14:16):
So they spoke to us and wedecided to make these.
Give me five money boxes.
And we still hand them out atany opportunity we get Now those
five cent pieces.
People fill their money boxeswith whatever coins they want,
but generally it was five centpieces and then they take them
into a Newcastle permanentbranch and bank them.
That campaign over the last 15to 17 years has raised over
(14:38):
$80,000.
So when people say to me I canonly afford a little bit, we
love a little bit because ifeverybody gives a little we get
a lot and we raise a lot ofawareness with that money.
Leon Goltsman (14:52):
So that's honouring Scott and it is
heartwarming.
It is heartwarming when youhear stories like that.
Claudia Tolhurst (14:58):
It is.
So we still have a connectionwith the family Scott's wife
when he passed Kiralee.
Kiralee has moved on andremarried and she has children
of her own now, but she stayedconnected to the foundation and
she and her friend Kylierecently did a trek up to Mount
(15:19):
Everest and back down again, andit was all to raise funds for
the Hunter Melanoma Foundation.
So Scott's legacy will alwayslive on while ever we have our
Five Cent campaign and whileever Kiralee and her friends are
connected to the foundation.
Leon Goltsman (15:34):
This is very inspiring and we're going to get
thinking about what else we cando to honour Scott's legacy.
What are your organisationalgoals for the next five years in
terms of melanoma awareness andprevention?
Claudia Tolhurst (15:46):
So the goals for the Melanoma Foundation over
the next five years are tocontinue as we're doing now.
We're saving lives.
Every summer we're saving liveswith our Spot Check campaign.
So, whilst we have no nationalscreening program, we will
continue to deliver our SpotCheck campaign.
We will deliver our educationsessions because we feel like
that is a really key part to thework that we're doing to make
(16:08):
people aware of how to preventmelanoma and how to early detect
something from their skin.
So keep pushing that sun safemessage and keep pushing that
early detection message.
We'll continue to come up withnew programs based on the data
that we receive.
So we have a look at the datathat's available to us and we
say, right, where are theproblem areas?
(16:30):
So previously we've always hadour campaigns based on what is
the data telling us.
You know, we did a checkmatecampaign aimed at men over the
age of 50 because we knew that60% of melanoma deaths were from
men over the age of 50.
We do our high school campaignand our Don't Get Cut campaign
(16:51):
because that was aimed at that15 to 39 age group, where
melanoma is the most diagnosedcancer in that age group.
So we'll continue to look atthe data.
We'll continue to evolve withit.
We'll continue to do whateverwe need to do until we reach our
goal of defeating melanoma.
Leon Goltsman (17:10):
And we're all in this together once again.
So look, thank you so much foryour time.
Always a pleasure talking withyou and I look forward to
catching up with you soon.
Claudia Tolhurst (17:18):
Thanks, leon, and thanks to all our listeners
out there, because this reallyis helping us share that message
that melanoma is preventableand treatable if caught early.
Leon Goltsman (17:31):
And that's a wrap .
But before I introduce nextweek's guest, I want to extend
my gratitude to Claudia forshining such an important light
on melanoma awareness andreminding us how crucial early
detection really is.
From Bec's experience catchinga potentially life-threatening
melanoma in time to Scott's 5Cent campaign, which has already
(17:53):
raised over $80,000, it's clearthat small actions can, and
often do, add up to create atruly significant impact.
A heartfelt thank you also goesout to our listeners who have
been supporting Hannah's storyand the small steps for Hannah's
cause.
Your compassion and generosityare helping transform heartbreak
(18:14):
into lasting change forfamilies everywhere.
I'd like to thank our sponsorNiaz Cannoth as well for making
these conversations possible andfor championing socially
responsible lending strategies.
Now, as we look ahead, I'mthrilled to introduce our next
guest, Julian Day, founder ofthe Consensus Awards more than
(18:35):
two decades ago, an initiativethat's recognised groundbreaking
innovations and propelled nowglobal brands like Atlassian and
WiseTech Global toextraordinary success.
To quote former Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull, winning a
consensus award was invaluable.
It opened many doors for usoverseas, created media coverage
(18:56):
and validated our technology.
At the time, we were going tomarket, with nine out of ten
winners going on to achieveremarkable growth.
I can't wait to delve deeperinto Julian's journey and
uncover how his insights mighthelp transform your next big
idea into a world-class venture.
Whether you're a business owner, an entrepreneur or simply
(19:19):
someone who loves to dream big,this is the episode you won't
want to miss.
Dream big this is the episodeyou won't want to miss.
I'm Leon Goltsman and I lookforward to our next engaging
conversation.
Until then, stay safe, stayinspired and let's keep making a
difference, one conversation ata time.
Hello and welcome back to Engaging Conversations
wherever in the world you'retuning in from.
I'm your host, leon Goltsman,and I'm excited to bring you
Episode 18.
Isn't it incredible how ourcommunity has grown, and I can't
thank you enough for yourcontinuous support and
enthusiasm.
It truly drives us to keepspotlighting people and projects
(00:23):
that spark positive change.
Now, before we jump in, I'dlike to give a big shout out to
our outstanding sponsor NiazCannoth, .
As principal and lendingspecialist and founder of Invest
Intelligence, niash focuses onsocially responsible strategies,
particularly in disabilityaccommodation.
(00:43):
Thank you, Niaz, for enablingus to keep these meaningful
conversations going.
In this episode, we'rerevisiting a topic that deeply
resonated with many of youearlier this summer melanoma
awareness.
Backed by popular demand is theremarkable Claudia Tolhurst
from the Hunter MelanomaFoundation.
The overwhelming response toher first appearance reminded us
(01:05):
how vital it is to promoteregular skin checks, champion a
national screening program andembrace emerging technology that
could save lives.
With two-thirds of summerbehind us, there's no better
time to pick up this essentialconversation.
Claudia's passion, expertiseand commitment continue to make
(01:25):
her an absolute force in thefight against melanoma.
So, whether you're relaxing athome or savouring the sunshine
outdoors, grab your sunscreenand join me in welcoming Claudia
Tolhurs back to EngagingConversations.
So thank you very much forcoming back.
I mean the response wasfantastic.
So many people have respondedin such a positive way.
(01:45):
So thank you very much forjoining us on today's show.
Claudia Tolhurst (01:49):
It's my pleasure, leon Great, to be here
.
Leon Goltsman (01:51):
Can you just again, for people who may not
have heard the first podcast, doyou want to just briefly
introduce yourself?
Claudia Tolhurst (01:58):
Yeah, my name's Claudia Tolhurst.
I'm the Executive Officer ofthe Hunter Melanoma Foundation.
Leon Goltsman (02:03):
Claudia, what drives you personally to
continue your work in melanomaawareness and prevention?
Claudia Tolhurst (02:09):
The thing that drives me personally to raise
awareness is A I'm a melanomapatient.
I'm a melanoma survivor.
I see people and hear storiesevery single day, horrific
stories of people who arefighting this disease because it
has spread to their organs andthey're fighting for their life.
(02:32):
I do this job because we canmake a difference and because
this is such a preventablecancer.
If we can just get the messageout, it is so preventable.
Leon Goltsman (02:44):
Yeah, and we did cover it in the previous podcast
.
Prevention is better than cureand we've seen the difference it
makes.
Can you share a success storyfrom your organisation that has
a significant impact on melanomaawareness or prevention?
Claudia Tolhurst (02:59):
Yeah, I sure can, and there are so many to
choose from, but one thatsprings to mind we often do
fundraising events at eventcinemas at Katara and we show
movies and we sell the ticketsand we have a raffle.
And one of the things that wehave the pleasure of doing at
those movies is, rather thanshowing ads before the movies,
(03:22):
we can show one of our patientstories.
So we have a patient story of a21-year-old female who found a
melanoma on the bottom of herfoot we were showing that and a
young girl by the name of Bec,who was in her early 30s and has
a background of Europe.
(03:44):
So her parents were both bornin Macedonia.
So Bec has beautiful olive skin, european skin.
Bec was watching the movie andshe turned to her girlfriend
that she was there with and shewent oh 21,.
That is so young.
I've never had a skin check.
Maybe I should get one.
Her girlfriend said I would behappy to book you in when I go
(04:06):
for mine and we can go together.
So her girlfriend booked themboth in for a skin check and
little did Bec know she had beenliving with a melanoma on her
scalp, right on her, the line ofher forehead, the hairline of
her forehead.
So she then had that melanomasuccessfully removed.
It was an in situ melanoma,which means it was caught very,
(04:28):
very early and on the firstlayer of skin.
But she didn't think that shewould have a melanoma ever
because she had this beautifulbronzed skin.
She always sunbaked, veryrarely wore a hat or sunblock.
You can guarantee that she nowdoes not go outside without a
hat and without sun protectionon.
(04:49):
So we've potentially saved herlife just by seeing that movie
and realizing that, hey, thiscan happen to young people and
can any doctor check formelanoma?
so your gp should be able to doa check a skin check for you If
you go to a specific skin checkclinic.
That skin check clinic thedoctors there are GPs.
(05:13):
The advantage they have at askin check clinic is they're
very experienced because that'sall they do.
They're not taking your bloodpressure or refilling your
script, they're just looking atskin day in and day out.
So they probably have a littlebit more experience in detecting
things than your GP does, butyour GP should be able to do a
(05:34):
skin check for you.
Your other option is to go to adermatologist, who also would
be more experienced in lookingat things at lesions.
However, you need a referralfrom your GP to go to a
dermatologist.
Leon Goltsman (05:49):
So, whichever option they take, it's still
taking a step in the rightdirection.
Claudia Tolhurst (05:54):
It is Now.
The thing is with skin checks.
At the moment here in theNewcastle area you could be
waiting three to 12 months,depending on the workload of the
doctors, to get in for a skincheck.
So what I tell people is bookin for your skin check with your
skin check specialist or yourdermatologist.
If you have a spot that you'reconcerned about, please don't
wait that three to 12 months Goto your GP, ask your GP to do a
(06:18):
biopsy and if the biopsy resultscome back as a melanoma or
another form of skin cancer,your GP can then refer you on to
a dermatologist or to a skincheck clinic or to the melanoma
unit where your referral will betriaged and you will get in a
whole lot quicker and have thatskin cancer treated earlier than
(06:41):
what it would be for you to getin and get your skin checked
with that doctor.
Leon Goltsman (06:44):
See, this is very good information.
Most people wouldn't know aboutthis.
Are there any recentadvancements or innovations in
melanoma treatment that you findparticularly promising?
Claudia Tolhurst (06:55):
Yeah, there are a lot.
So if we go back 15 years,there was no cure for melanoma.
There was no treatment thatworked for melanoma.
So in the last 15 years or so,immunotherapy has been
introduced to treat people thathave got stage three or stage
four melanoma.
So there's melanoma that spreadto the lymph nodes and spread
(07:16):
to the other organs Once it getsto that point.
Previously we had no treatment.
Immunotherapy, in layman terms,basically tells the DNA that
you've got a problem here andyour immune system needs to
start working.
So it actually kickstarts theimmune system into treating the
(07:37):
disease itself and we're seeing50% of people respond to that
treatment.
Of the 50% that respond to thetreatment, only 10% are we're
seeing a complete cure, but thatis a great start.
So 10% of the 50% are walkingaround cancer-free, which is
(07:57):
just the best news ever.
Researchers are still lookingat why the other people, why the
50% of people, don't respond.
But here locally, professorNicola Bowden is doing some
clinical trials at the momentand having some great results.
The people that aren'tresponding to immunotherapy she
is then treating them with threeweeks.
(08:19):
I think it is of chemotherapyand they're two chemotherapy
drugs that were used fordifferent cancers previously.
So using them in conjunctionwith the immunotherapy and then
starting the immunotherapy againis having some great results
and of those trials she's hadtwo people that have had a
(08:41):
complete response.
So we're making headways allthe time.
So that's for the people thatare in those late stages of
melanoma.
We're also seeing someimprovements in the way we
diagnose melanoma.
So there are some trials goingon at the moment through the
Australian Centre of Excellencefor Melanoma Imaging and
(09:02):
Diagnostics, or ACEMID.
Now they've got 15 Vectramachines around the country.
These Vectra machines are 3Dphotography and they basically
take a photo of you in yourunderwear and they have the
ability, with all these cameras,to zoom in and have a look at
spots on your skin and they willcircle anything that they think
(09:26):
is needing a doctor to have alook at it.
But then you can go back in sixmonths and this photography can
take another photo of you andit can detect whether there are
any changes in any of thosespots.
So there's some really goodthings happening diagnostically
Now.
In the weekend I heard on thenews as well that they actually
(09:48):
developed a blood test similarto a PSA test for prostate
cancer, where, if you havehigher levels showing in your
blood tests, then there's a goodchance that you've probably got
melanoma somewhere on your skin.
So there are always, alwaysimproved treatments, improved
(10:10):
diagnosis and things happeningall the time.
Leon Goltsman (10:14):
So we see a nexus between technology getting more
advanced to what it can do inthe medical industry as well, so
obviously it's working hand inhand.
So as some other industry isadvancing, so is the medical
profession.
Claudia Tolhurst (10:28):
Yeah, absolutely.
And the other thing that's abit of an issue with melanoma is
that it's known as a nationalcancer.
It's the third most diagnosedcancer in Australia.
So in women it sits behindbreast cancer, bowel cancer,
then there's melanoma.
In men it's prostate, bowel andmelanoma.
Now those other big four thebreast cancer, the prostate
(10:53):
cancer and the bowel cancerthose three all have screening
programs and even lung cancerhas a screening program.
Now Melanoma doesn't have anational screening program.
There's nothing in place forpeople to go and get a check,
especially if they are a highrisk patient.
So the Hunter MelanomaFoundation is part of a larger
(11:16):
group called AMPSCA, theAustralian Melanoma and Skin
Cancer Alliance, and it's madeup of a group of melanoma
charities, melanomaorganisations, research
organisations, skin cancercolleges, and there are 12
members in this group.
Now together we're working on anational screening program.
(11:40):
So the project's being led bythe Melanoma Institute Australia
in conjunction with ASMID.
So they've been given $10million in four years to come up
with a national screeningprogram.
So we're hopeful that withinthe next couple of years we will
see a screening program whichwill actually increase the
(12:03):
number of melanomas beingdiagnosed.
But we're hoping that they'reall early diagnosis and we can
get them cut out, so it will inturn reduce the amount of deaths
by melanoma.
Leon Goltsman (12:14):
I was going to ask you what some of the biggest
challenges your organisationfaces in the fight against
melanoma, and you've justanswered that.
Is there anything else you'dlike to add to how you might
address them?
Claudia Tolhurst (12:26):
So one of our biggest issues here locally is
that we're a local charity andwe're a local organisation.
We get our funding locally andwe spend our funding locally, so
we don't get any ongoinggovernment funding.
We do get some grant fundingfrom the government from time to
time.
We did get state governmentfunding for our latest spot
(12:46):
check clinic but generallyspeaking, we're not government
funded.
So we rely on the community, werely on memberships, we rely on
donations, we rely on gifts inwills, we rely on the public
doing fundraising for us and werely on our own fundraising
initiatives to be able to do thework that we do.
(13:08):
So it's so important for us tohave that funding coming in so
that we can then move forwardwith the programs that we're
doing.
And we're not asking people todonate $2 million I mean, if
they do we'd take it absolutelybut we're just asking everybody
(13:28):
to give a little bit.
We have a five cent campaignthat we introduced.
About 17 years ago the communitylost a young man by the name of
Scott Polglaze.
Now Scott was 27 when he diedfrom melanoma and it was before
there were any treatmentsavailable.
Scott hated five cent piecesand used to throw them on the
(13:51):
kitchen bench.
Every time he came home he'dempty his pockets After he
passed.
His wife kept finding five centpieces in peculiar places.
She folded back the bed onenight and found a five cent
piece.
So she decided to startcollecting them.
And then in talking to otherfamily members, they were having
the same thing happen, havingthe same thing happen.
(14:16):
So they spoke to us and wedecided to make these.
Give me five money boxes.
And we still hand them out atany opportunity we get Now those
five cent pieces.
People fill their money boxeswith whatever coins they want,
but generally it was five centpieces and then they take them
into a Newcastle permanentbranch and bank them.
That campaign over the last 15to 17 years has raised over
(14:38):
$80,000.
So when people say to me I canonly afford a little bit, we
love a little bit because ifeverybody gives a little we get
a lot and we raise a lot ofawareness with that money.
Leon Goltsman (14:52):
So that's honouring Scott and it is
heartwarming.
It is heartwarming when youhear stories like that.
Claudia Tolhurst (14:58):
It is.
So we still have a connectionwith the family Scott's wife
when he passed Kiralee.
Kiralee has moved on andremarried and she has children
of her own now, but she stayedconnected to the foundation and
she and her friend Kylierecently did a trek up to Mount
(15:19):
Everest and back down again, andit was all to raise funds for
the Hunter Melanoma Foundation.
So Scott's legacy will alwayslive on while ever we have our
Five Cent campaign and whileever Kiralee and her friends are
connected to the foundation.
Leon Goltsman (15:34):
This is very inspiring and we're going to get
thinking about what else we cando to honour Scott's legacy.
What are your organisationalgoals for the next five years in
terms of melanoma awareness andprevention?
Claudia Tolhurst (15:46):
So the goals for the Melanoma Foundation over
the next five years are tocontinue as we're doing now.
We're saving lives.
Every summer we're saving liveswith our Spot Check campaign.
So, whilst we have no nationalscreening program, we will
continue to deliver our SpotCheck campaign.
We will deliver our educationsessions because we feel like
that is a really key part to thework that we're doing to make
(16:08):
people aware of how to preventmelanoma and how to early detect
something from their skin.
So keep pushing that sun safemessage and keep pushing that
early detection message.
We'll continue to come up withnew programs based on the data
that we receive.
So we have a look at the datathat's available to us and we
say, right, where are theproblem areas?
(16:30):
So previously we've always hadour campaigns based on what is
the data telling us.
You know, we did a checkmatecampaign aimed at men over the
age of 50 because we knew that60% of melanoma deaths were from
men over the age of 50.
We do our high school campaignand our Don't Get Cut campaign
(16:51):
because that was aimed at that15 to 39 age group, where
melanoma is the most diagnosedcancer in that age group.
So we'll continue to look atthe data.
We'll continue to evolve withit.
We'll continue to do whateverwe need to do until we reach our
goal of defeating melanoma.
Leon Goltsman (17:10):
And we're all in this together once again.
So look, thank you so much foryour time.
Always a pleasure talking withyou and I look forward to
catching up with you soon.
Claudia Tolhurst (17:18):
Thanks, leon, and thanks to all our listeners
out there, because this reallyis helping us share that message
that melanoma is preventableand treatable if caught early.
Leon Goltsman (17:31):
And that's a wrap .
But before I introduce nextweek's guest, I want to extend
my gratitude to Claudia forshining such an important light
on melanoma awareness andreminding us how crucial early
detection really is.
From Bec's experience catchinga potentially life-threatening
melanoma in time to Scott's 5Cent campaign, which has already
(17:53):
raised over $80,000, it's clearthat small actions can, and
often do, add up to create atruly significant impact.
A heartfelt thank you also goesout to our listeners who have
been supporting Hannah's storyand the small steps for Hannah's
cause.
Your compassion and generosityare helping transform heartbreak
(18:14):
into lasting change forfamilies everywhere.
I'd like to thank our sponsorNiaz Cannoth as well for making
these conversations possible andfor championing socially
responsible lending strategies.
Now, as we look ahead, I'mthrilled to introduce our next
guest, Julian Day, founder ofthe Consensus Awards more than
(18:35):
two decades ago, an initiativethat's recognised groundbreaking
innovations and propelled nowglobal brands like Atlassian and
WiseTech Global toextraordinary success.
To quote former Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull, winning a
consensus award was invaluable.
It opened many doors for usoverseas, created media coverage
(18:56):
and validated our technology.
At the time, we were going tomarket, with nine out of ten
winners going on to achieveremarkable growth.
I can't wait to delve deeperinto Julian's journey and
uncover how his insights mighthelp transform your next big
idea into a world-class venture.
Whether you're a business owner, an entrepreneur or simply
(19:19):
someone who loves to dream big,this is the episode you won't
want to miss.
Dream big this is the episodeyou won't want to miss.
I'm Leon Goltsman and I lookforward to our next engaging
conversation.
Until then, stay safe, stayinspired and let's keep making a
difference, one conversation ata time.
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