Our Governor, Kate Warner, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and we are joining her staff at Government House and Tasmania’s government in wishing her well as she undergoes treatment.
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As the patron for Cancer Council Tasmania, Her Excellency has developed an extensive knowledge about this disease – one she will no doubt draw on for her own personal purposes in the coming months.
On average, more than nine Tasmanians are diagnosed with cancer each day, according to Cancer Council Tasmania, with non-Hodgkin lymphoma the more common types of the disease.
Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system and includes the various lymph glands around the body, Cancer Council Tasmania’s website states.
“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma most commonly occurs in a lymph node but it can also occur in the liver, spleen, stomach or bones,” the website said.
“There are more than 60 sub-types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and they vary in how fast they grow and spread, and how sick people feel.”
B-cell lymphoma, which is the specific type our Governor has been diagnosed with, accounts for around 80 per cent of lymphomas and is easier to cure than T-cell lymphomas.
“In general the B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas have a higher chance of cure, but for just about every type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, even if it can’t be cured it can generally be controlled for many years, with bursts of treatment when required,” Cancer Council Tasmania said.
The fact the Governor’s cancer was discovered through investigation into ongoing hip soreness emphasises the importance of following up those niggling aches and pains, especially for those aged over 60 years, which is one of the risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma highlighted by Cancer Council Tasmania.
We wish the Governor a speedy recovery from her non-Hodgkin lymphoma and hope her treatment does not interfere too much in the job she obviously loves.
