Gordon shares his personal story
Gordon Chan
Gordon Chan has worked at Austin Health since April 1980 and has seen both sides of cancer, as a staff member and a cancer patient, after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2003.
Gordon was successfully treated for his cancer said he now counts each day as a bonus.
Read Gordon's story...
“I am lucky to have been diagnosed early because the cancer cells were starting to spread by then. The staff were incredible. No matter how busy they were - working in such cramped and less than ideal conditions in the old Day Oncology Unit - they always had a smile and never complained.”
Gordon said that he would have loved to have a Wellness Centre to go to after his chemotherapy sessions.
“It’s not just about the physical treatment ... it’s the emotional treatment as well…the Wellness Centre will be such a great benefit as part of the holistic approach to cancer treatment ... I am just happy to do whatever I can to help make this happen. Each day now is a bonus for me. Little things don’t annoy me as much anymore … there are more important things in life.”
The Austin Health is also one of the largest treatment centres for cancer in Australasia. Money raised for this Appeal will enable research facilities to be upgraded and centralised in the new Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre. The outcomes will impact on treatment of cancer world-wide.
“I know from working here that our research is world-class. Combining researchers, clinicians and wellness therapists will be so much more beneficial and will help us to work much better as a team to collaborate on vital research. There is still a lot of cancer research to be done.”