Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

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Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is a not-for-profit, comprehensive cancer hospital based in Sydney, Australia When it comes to cancer care, choose hope

19/12/2025

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬

Our Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Pharmacy, Café, Day Therapy Unit and Patient Shuttle Bus will all operate at reduced hours over the holiday season.

Please see above for trading times. Normal hours will resume from Monday 5th January.

We look forward to serving you in 2026!

10/12/2025

Professor Chris O’Brien loved music. He played the guitar, sang, and was always the life of the party. A slight trouble with hand coordination while playing guitar was one of the first signs of the brain cancer he would later face.

Through his illness and treatment, Chris kept on playing and singing. Music was his way of coping with stress, uncertainty, and life's challenges.

At Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Music in Health brings the same hope, connection and comfort to patients. Music therapy fits beautifully into the vision of care he championed: holistic, compassionate, and deeply human.

💛 This Christmas, you can help bring music into the lives of people with cancer.

🔗 https://donate.mylifehouse.org.au/XMAS

08/12/2025

𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤

This Nurse Practitioner Week, we’re celebrating all our Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and NPs in training for the expertise, leadership, and compassionate care they bring to our patients every day. Becoming a NP represents years of advanced study, clinical experience, and commitment to the highest standards of practice.

At Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NPs play a vital role in delivering truly integrated and expert cancer care. They help patients navigate the complexity of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, bringing together specialists, coordinating appointments, and providing highly personalised support.

With the ability to assess patients, prescribe treatment, order and interpret investigations and make referrals, they often spare patients an additional visit to their GP or the emergency department.

Every day, NPs make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and families by providing integrated, expert care that is compassionate and guided by innovation and expertise.

Australian College of Nurse Practitioners

05/12/2025

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲

If you’ve ever come through the doors of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, chances are you’ve been greeted by music. 🎶

Our incredible Live Music volunteers play piano, guitar and harp to bring comfort, calm and a touch of joy to everyone who passes through our doors.

For many patients, live music brings moments of peace and help ease the anxiety that often comes with treatment and appointments.

This International Volunteer Day, we celebrate all of our wonderful volunteers who make Chris O'Brien Lifehouse feel a little less like a hospital, and a lot more like home. 💛

🔗 Learn more about our Music in Health program here: https://donate.mylifehouse.org.au/music?utm_medium=META&utm_source=SOCIAL&utm_campaign=XMAS25&utm_content=post+3

04/12/2025

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

Ella was living in a small town, hundreds of kilometres from Sydney, when she was diagnosed with cancer. She felt overwhelmed, lost, and unsure where to start.

During her treatment, Ella met Gail O’Brien AO, Patient Advocate. Gail helped Ella and her family navigate appointments, find support, and access services that made treatment manageable. For the first time, they didn’t feel alone.

“Having a patient advocate meant I didn’t feel like I was going to fall through the cracks.” – Ella

At Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, advocacy is part of our mission to minimise the burden of cancer by providing expert care with compassion. Stories like Ella’s show just how much of a difference guidance and support can make.

Read the full story to see how Gail helped Ella and her family feel informed, supported, and confident every step of the way.
https://annualreport.mylifehouse.org.au/bridging-the-gap-patient-advocacy/

03/12/2025

𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝: 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧

Congratulations to Professor Peter Grimison on his appointment as Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney.

Professor Grimison is medical oncologist a Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, where he specialises in treating sarcoma and testicular cancer. He focuses on improving supportive care for people suffering cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.

Professor Grimison is involved in clinical and translational research and hold key roles in several national and international trials through ANZSA and ANZUP. He also serves on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and other government committees, chairs two data safety monitoring committees, and sits on the editorial boards of the Annals of Oncology and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

‘This position will give me greater capacity to supervise and mentor the next generation of oncologists and researchers, and secure grant funding to do pioneering patient-focused research at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, nationally, and internationally.’

Congratulations once again to Professor Grimison on this well-deserved achievement and recognition of his dedication to improving patient outcomes for people with sarcoma and testicular cancer.

01/12/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬

Hala Musa’s connection to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse began as a student volunteer. Recently, she has been recognised nationally with the 2025 Dr Erica Sainsbury Hospital Pharmacist Supervisor Award, presented by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

This award honours pharmacists who make a lasting impact on the next generation of clinicians. Hala was nominated by one of her interns, who described her as compassionate, dedicated and deeply committed to patient care.

Hala shared that she is inspired by the legacy of the late Dr Erica Sainsbury, a respected University of Sydney educator who taught her pharmacy law and ethics and left a lasting impression on her approach to mentoring.

“I am inspired every day by the patients I encounter and the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team to provide patient-centred care. I also take great joy in mentoring pharmacy interns and students,” Hala said.

Her achievement reflects the heart of our mission to deliver expert, compassionate, research-driven cancer care. This is an incredible accomplishment, and we commend Hala for her dedication to training the next generation of pharmacists.

28/11/2025

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

November is both Stomach Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. In our latest episode of Ask Our Experts, we were joined by Dr Sara Wahlroos, a medical oncologist who specialises in treating upper GI cancers.

Dr Wahlroos explained what stomach and pancreatic cancers are, as well as their symptoms, which are often difficult to recognise and diagnose because they are fairly nonspecific. She also highlighted the importance of raising awareness of these cancers due to their high mortality rates and the need for further research.

👉 Watch the video to hear from Dr Wahlroos and stay tuned for the next edition of Ask Our Experts.

Knowledge is power when it comes to your health.

27/11/2025

𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬: 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Our annual ChrisChats panel brought together leading voices in lung cancer at a time when advances in screening, staging and treatment are reshaping outcomes.

Facilitated by our CEO, Professor Michael Boyer AM, the conversation moved beyond the headlines to unpack what these changes mean for people facing a lung cancer diagnosis.

From the expanding role of lung cancer screening for earlier detection, the introduction of a new staging system that guides how cancer is classified, and the importance of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) in delivering coordinated care.

The panel also explored developments in radiation oncology, including stereotactic radiotherapy, which can serve as a standalone treatment in some early-stage cases.

Panellists included:
• Associate Professor Malinda Itchins, Medical Oncologist
• Professor Wendy Cooper, Senior Staff Specialist in Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
• Dr Kasia Chmiel, Head of Palliative Care
• Dr Georgia Harris, Radiation Oncologist
• Sarah McLennan, Specialist Nurse Thoracic Surgery
• Amy O’Donnell, Specialist Nurse Lung Cancer
• Michael - Patient

26/11/2025

𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

"Being away from home for cancer treatment is never easy, especially for patients travelling from rural areas.

When Toni travelled from Port Macquarie to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse for surgery, she was away from her family for eight weeks. Music therapy helped her feel closer to her family. Guided by our music therapist Netta, she wrote a song for her sons and shared the recording with them from her hospital room. 💛

This Rural Health Month, we’re celebrating the power of music to bring comfort, connection and hope - no matter the distance.

🎵 Programs like Music in Health are funded entirely by donations.

🔗 Learn more or donate today: https://donate.mylifehouse.org.au/music?utm_medium=META&utm_source=SOCIAL&utm_campaign=XMAS25&utm_content=post+2

25/11/2025

𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡

As we come to the end of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we were joined by Amy O’Donnell, Lung Cancer Specialist Nurse who has been a member of COBL since we opened our doors in 2013, in our latest episode of ‘Ask Our Experts’.

Amy explained what her role involves, including supporting lung cancer patients in ensuring all their varied needs are met. She also highlighted the value of the Lung Cancer Screening program and the impact this is having on diagnosis time, as well as stigmas surrounding smoking and lung cancer.

👉 Watch the clip to hear from Amy and stay tuned for the next edition of Ask Our Experts.

Knowledge is power when it comes to your health.

19/11/2025

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐎’𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

Today we celebrate twelve years since Chris O’Brien Lifehouse opened its doors. Guided by Professor Chris O’Brien’s belief that “Everyone needs hope. We live on hope,” we have grown to become NSW’s only independent, comprehensive cancer centre.

This milestone has been made possible by the extraordinary support of our community. To our patients and families, donors, volunteers, partner organisations, government colleagues, clinicians, researchers and advocates, thank you. Your trust and generosity have shaped who we are today.

As we look to the future, our purpose is clear. We will continue to push boundaries in research and care, invest in innovation, nurture the next generation of clinicians and researchers, and create new opportunities for partnership that advance cancer care for all.

To everyone who has walked beside us and believed in our mission, thank you for helping us build twelve years of hope.

Together, we continue to choose hope.

Address

119-143 Missenden Road
Camperdown, NSW
2050

Website

https://www.mylifehouse.org.au/

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Your cancer centre

Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is a not-for-profit, comprehensive cancer hospital. From screening to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and wellness, we specialise in advanced care for patients with cancer, including the most rare and complex cases. Each year we treat over 57,000 patients from across Australia, using the latest technology in a modern, purpose-built hospital.

Chris O’Brien

Chris O’Brien was a man of leadership, vision and courage. He inspired people, both through his work as a cancer specialist and through his own three-year battle with an aggressive brain tumour. Chris transformed his personal adversity into a national opportunity, using his experience to fight so much harder for cancer patients and their families. Chris’ vision was for an integrated cancer treatment centre, where patients will no longer have to navigate their way through all the different elements of dealing with their illness alone. His vision was realised with the opening of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse to patients on 19 November 2013.

Leading cancer care

At Chris O’Brien Lifehouse our patients are firmly at the centre of everything we do. We provide a full range of services to ensure our patients receive all the cancer care they need in a single facility: this includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation oncology, research, supportive care and evidence-based complementary therapies including acupuncture, mindfulness, reflexology, massage and exercise physiology. This enables us to develop a holistic treatment program to meet each patient’s individual circumstances. In recent research a comprehensive cancer hospital environment has been shown to improve patient outcomes from 5 to 15 per cent.

Our patients and their carers can have confidence that they are receiving the best care possible and also benefit from the convenience and continuity of being cared for by the same team of specialists in a single location, which helps to reduce travel time and stress.

Specialisation and research

Our patients are treated by multidisciplinary teams including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, psychologists and researchers, all who are able to provide peer-reviewed, tailored, personalised treatment. Patient care is also underpinned by a thriving research program that ensures we can provide the latest approaches to cancer prevention, care and treatment.

Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is the largest cancer clinical trial centre in New South Wales, giving our patients access to some of the world’s newest lifesaving drugs and breakthroughs. Research and trials are carried out by the same clinicians who treat patients, shortening the path between discovery and new treatments.

Not-for-profit and our community

As a not-for-profit hospital, all donations support the services and programs that we provide to people with cancer. This independence enables a nimble and responsive approach to patient care and cancer research. Our generous donors help drive innovation in research, improve care and make each patient’s journey as smooth as it can possibly be.

Our volunteers are the heart of our community. This team of more than 120 dedicated people enhances our patients’ experience in numerous ways. From the first moment a patient walks through the door to be greeted by our friendly concierges, to having refreshments brought to them in the wards or sitting down to a game or having a book read, our volunteers are there to lend support during every step of their treatment journey.