Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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Parkville, VIC
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Australia's only public hospital solely dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education.

Peter Mac is one of the world’s leading cancer research, education and treatment centres globally and is Australia’s only public hospital solely dedicated

27/10/2025

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗘𝗫𝗛𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝟳

We are please to announce the opening of ART YOU OK™ x Peter Mac - an exhibition celebrating the creativity and resilience of Peter Mac patients, families and staff.

Many of the artworks were created on the wards during chemotherapy treatment as part of a special art therapy project with ART YOU OK™ .

Patients, their families and some staff found moments of calm and connection, expressing feelings that words couldn’t capture – many rediscovering their artistic voice for the first time in decades.

It became a way to step beyond the hospital walls and into another world, with curator and art therapist Xiang Li, providing safe, supportive spaces for people to explore their emotions and creativity.

Each piece on display is a testament to courage, hope and the power of art to support mental wellbeing during care and recovery.

27/10/2025

"𝗜𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗰 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹."

Those are the words of Peter Mac’s Head of Spiritual Care Reverend David Dawes who led our annual commemoration service late last week.

Held for family and friends of Peter Mac patients who have passed in the past 12 months, it’s an opportunity for remembrance and reflection, alongside others who share similar experiences.

The commemoration service, which has been run by the Spiritual Care team for the past 20 years, is part of our commitment to building strong connections with our community, providing continued support not only to our patients but to their families as well.

Each year, attendees are invited to bring a framed picture or memento to be placed on a table, creating a heartwarming display to those who have passed. They can then drop a pebble into the memory bowl and light a candle in remembrance.

A big thanks to our Spiritual Care and Music Therapy teams (pictured bottom left) for putting this special service together and to all those who attended.

23/10/2025

Peter Mac is proud to be recognised as a finalist in two categories in 2025 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.

🏥 Supporting young people through cancer transitions
In partnership with the Victorian Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Service, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, the Victorian & Tasmanian Youth Cancer Action Board and the Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service — our team co-designed a program to support young people moving from children's cancer services to adult care at Peter Mac.

This youth-centred, multidisciplinary project includes a video resource with advice from clinical experts and young people to make this emotional transition clearer and less daunting.

📚 Health Volunteer Team of the Year – Peter Mac Archivists
Congratulations to volunteer archivists Lyndel Wischer and Bridget Slattery (top image), whose incredible work researching and curating our 75th anniversary exhibition, timeline and video has preserved the rich history of Peter Mac for future generations.

💬 CEO Professor Jason Payne said:

“Both projects highlight the collaboration, creativity and compassion that makes Peter Mac so special.”

This year’s nominations follow on from the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards where Peter Mac was named the Premier’s Large Health Service of the Year.

🏆 Winners will be announced on 26 November — wish our teams luck!

Read more: https://www.petermac.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/details/two-peter-mac-finalists-in-the-victorian-public-healthcare-awards

22/10/2025

𝗰𝘁𝗗𝗡𝗔 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

New research led by Peter Mac’s Professor Jeanne Tie shows circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood may reveal exactly who needs chemotherapy after surgery—and who doesn’t.

Read more about this new research, just published in Nature Medicine: https://www.petermac.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/details/colon-cancer-dna-detectable-in-blood-can-guide-chemo-decisions

21/10/2025

Happy Children’s Week!

This week, we’re celebrating the joy, creativity, and resilience of kids everywhere — especially our amazing young patients and the kids who have parents going through a cancer experience.

This year we’re sharing the joy of music in conjunction with our Music Therapy Department.

Led by our Child Safe Program Project Manager Natasha Sergent snd Music Therapist Hayley Miller, our team has sent out musical instrument packs along with a special playlist from our Music Therapy department to kids all around Victoria.

Once they receive the packs in the post, the kids can hit play on the playlist and bop along to some feel good tunes.

Children’s Week is a special reminder to celebrate the wonder of childhood, to support kids in being themselves, and to make space for joy, play, and creativity, even in a hospital setting.

20/10/2025

Across the media today, a groundbreaking study led by Professor Sherene Loi, published today in Nature Portfolio, has revealed why having children and breastfeeding lowers a woman’s long-term risk of breast cancer.

The research shows that breastfeeding triggers the development of specialised CD8⁺ T cells that remain in breast tissue for decades after childbirth.

These long-lived immune cells act as local surveillance – ready to recognise and destroy abnormal cells before they can become cancer.

“These cells act like local guards ready to attack abnormal cells that might turn into cancer," says Professor Loi.

"This protection may have evolved to defend mothers during the vulnerable post-pregnancy period, but today it also lowers breast cancer risk, especially the aggressive type called triple-negative breast cancer.”

This discovery shifts the focus from hormonal changes to the immune system and could pave the way for new prevention and treatment strategies.

Congratulations to Prof Sherene Loi and co-first authors Dr Balaji Virassamy, Dr Peter Savas and Dr Michael Harris, with contributions from Professor Laura Mackay at the The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, and the Darcy and Neeson labs at Peter Mac.

Read more and access the full paper: https://www.petermac.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/details/breastfeeding-linked-to-lasting-immune-protection-against-breast-cancer

This study was supported by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

18/10/2025

After first sharing her story with us earlier this year, Peter Mac nurse Vanessa Furci has gone from strength to strength on The Great Australian Bake Off — making it all the way to the grand final of the 2025 season.

1000 people applied for the show, 12 made the cut, and Vanessa made it to the final three!

Over ten weeks, she impressed judges and viewers alike with her technical precision, creativity and calm approach under pressure.

From towering sponge cakes to intricate pastry sculptures, she became known for her attention to detail and her warm, down-to-earth style in the Bake Off shed.

Her journey culminated in the final episode last Tuesday, where the remaining bakers — Vanessa, Jess Synon and eventual winner Beth Hoy — faced their biggest challenge yet.

The finale featured a trio of bakes: a top-forward cake, a delicate milk chocolate and raspberry entremet, and an elaborate choux showstopper.

Vanessa’s final creation was called “Flour and Eggs” — a flour jar crafted from choux pastry with a nougatine lid, a whisk made from a choux handle and moulded pasta, and a brandy snap egg basket holding delicate choux bun “eggs.”

“The finale was epic, I’m so proud of what I created and what I was able to achieve in such a short time,” Vanessa says.

“My final bake was a heartfelt tribute to my Zio and Nonna, who both passed away from cancer, and being able to honour them on such a special platform meant the world to me”.

While the title ultimately went to Beth Hoy, Vanessa finished as a runner-up, capping off an extraordinary run that showcased her skill, creativity and resilience.

17/10/2025

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cure Cancer is shining a spotlight on Dr. Luis Lara Gonzalez from Peter Mac, whose work they support.

He's breaking new ground in breast cancer research with his work helping uncover how HER2-positive breast cancers resist treatment—and paving the way for more precise, personalised therapies.

Read the feature and discover more about his work: https://www.curecancer.com.au/blog/immunotherapy-and-precision-medicine-in-breast-cancer

17/10/2025

SURPRISE! We’re so pleased to share this beautiful moment as the staff in our Youth Cancer Centre threw a surprise 18th birthday bash for patient Jackson this week.

After nine months at Peter Mac, Jackson was still able to party surrounded by his friends and family and the many Peter Mac staff who have been by his side throughout his treatment.

Plus there was a visit from some very special therapy dogs, Baz and Pearl, who have gotten to know Jackson really well.

A big thanks to Koala Kids for supplying balloons, the amazing Volunteer Services for the cake (which had the therapy dogs on it) and all the staff from the Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service.

16/10/2025

It's - an important time to recognise all those in our community who are caring for someone with cancer.

Carers give their time, energy and love every day — often without pause or recognition — to care for someone else.

So this week we gave some care back to them.

Our Wellbeing team took on a Forest Therapy session at the Royal Botanic Gardens - a guided walk that encourages people to slow down, connect with nature and find calm - and Sound Therapy, which uses gentle tones and vibrations to promote relaxation and emotional balance.

Self-care is an essential part of being a - so please remember to take some time out for yourself. And if you need extra support, reach out to our carer support team via the link: https://bit.ly/42M0rnU

15/10/2025

We have some knitting royalty in our midst!

A huge congratulations to Mie, President of the Peter Mac Auxiliary, and Marilyn, Auxiliary member — both Volunteers were recently recognised for their incredible crochet and knitting talents.

🏆 Marilyn was awarded 1st place at the Royal Melbourne Show, plus a Very Highly Commended for her crochet square and children’s toy.

🏅 Mie took out 2nd place at the Sunbury Agricultural Society Show for her very first crochet entry!

You’ll find these talented ladies selling gorgeous handmade item on the Auxiliary stall in the foyer every Wednesday, raising vital funds for Peter Mac — nearly $70,000 this year alone.

Every stitch they craft — and every dollar they raise — helps improve patient care and experience.

Congratulations, Mie and Marilyn.

14/10/2025

The energy was electric today as Allied Health professionals from across the Parkville Precinct came together for the inaugural Parkville Precinct Allied Health Awards, held on Allied Health Professions Day.

Rachel Elliott, Chief Allied Health Officer from Safer Care Victoria, opened the event, which celebrated collaboration, innovation and care — shining a spotlight on the remarkable expertise and compassion of Allied Health professionals who help patients recover, adapt and thrive every day.

Peter Mac was proud to see several of our staff recognised among this outstanding field:

🏅 Early Career Excellence Award – Carly Brown, Exercise Physiologist
🏅 Research Impact Award – Shaza Abo, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist
🏅 Innovation & Improvement Award – Stella Salpigtidis, Senior Speech Pathologist
🏅 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award – Parkville Disability Identification Project Team (RMH, RWH, PMCC, RCH)

“These awards recognise the diverse ways our teams contribute to therapeutic interventions recovery, rehabilitation and wellbeing — and the impact they make across every corner of healthcare,” said A/Prof Alicia Martin, Director of Allied Health and Support Services at Peter Mac.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees across Peter Mac, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Royal Women's Hospital, and The Royal Children's Hospital.

Read more: https://www.petermac.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/details/stronger-together-celebrating-allied-health-excellence-across-the-parkville-precinct

Address

305 Grattan Street
Parkville, VIC
3000

Telephone

+61385595000

Website

http://www.petermac.org/

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Welcome to Peter Mac

Peter Mac is an integrated cancer research, treatment and education centre. A place where normal days are extraordinary – as are the people we care for.

We are an internationally recognised cancer centre at the forefront of groundbreaking research that leads to improved treatments, better outcomes and new hope for people affected by cancer across the globe. Through our advances in research, education and treatment we are breaking new ground and changing lives for people affected by cancer.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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Welcome to Peter Mac