Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation

08/04/2026

When players visit Peter Mac, it’s a reminder that this game goes beyond the field.

This past week, we welcomed Carlton Football Club players Nic Newman, Adam Saad, Elijah Holland and Collingwood Football Club players Lachie Schultz, Wil Parker and Jack Buller to our Parkville centre ahead of the Peter Mac Cup on the 16th.

The players spent time with patients, families and staff, and bringing plenty of energy (and a few laughs) along the way.

Rivals on the field. United against cancer.

Join the club that stands against cancer. Donate now. Attend the match. Support cancer research.

https://foundation.petermac.org/peter-mac-cup

07/04/2026

When Dr Lavinia Tan processes the blood samples of cancer patients, she sees more than just the data. She sees the stories of people with lung cancer fighting to live longer.

Her work at Peter Mac is revealing how lung cancer changes and resists treatment, and how we can outsmart it.

💬 “Every patient’s cancer is different. By studying tumour and blood samples, we can see how cancers evolve. This helps us design more personalised treatments so patients can stay well for longer,” says Dr Tan.

In 2025, Dr Tan received a prestigious Discovery Partner Fellowship, which provides dedicated time and resources for her to spend on research. Funded by Discovery Partners – the generous monthly donors across Australia powering this research – she’s able to pursue ways to outsmart lung cancer.

💜 Thanks to our community of donors, researchers like Dr Tan can turn bold ideas into real-world progress for people with cancer.

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/drlaviniatan

04/04/2026

Last year, we asked Peter Mac Cup donors why they chose to give.

Here’s are some of the messages they left 💜

02/04/2026

Someone special is coming to Peter Mac.

Beyond the rivalry.
Beyond the game.

👀 Stay tuned.

01/04/2026

For more than 30 years, two legendary rivals have come together for something bigger than footy.

The Peter Mac Cup is the longest-running charity match in VFL and AFL history, played between Collingwood and Carlton to raise vital funds for cancer research and care at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. What started as a single match has become one of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation’s largest annual fundraising events, uniting footy fans behind a powerful cause.

In 2026, the tradition continues.

Circle it, lock it in and don’t miss it. The Peter Mac Cup returns on April 16.

Carlton Blues vs Collingwood Magpies.

April 16, 7.30pm at the MCG.

Legendary rivals on the field. United against cancer off the field.

Will you be there? 💜🖤💙

24/03/2026

Bringing together the ‘best of both worlds’ in prostate cancer treatment could significantly improve the treatment experience for many patients.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting males, and the number of new cases globally is expected to rise by over 100% from 2020 to 2040. Developing effective and efficient new ways to treat prostate cancer is crucial.

This is exactly what A/Prof Sarat Chander and Dr David Chang hope to achieve with the support of a 2025 Peter Mac Foundation Grant.

Currently, high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) are some of the most convenient options available for localised prostate cancer, the stage when most prostate cancer cases are caught. Both options have benefits and drawbacks: HDR brachytherapy involves fewer sessions but is more invasive, while SABR is less invasive but requires more visits.

Their trial is investigating a hybrid approach that streamlines the treatment process, making it both less invasive and time-consuming. This approach would make treatment more convenient and more accessible for regional and rural patients. It would advance outcomes, reduce costs for patients, and improve the quality of life for patients with early-stage prostate cancer.

Because of your generosity, researchers like A/Prof Chander and Dr Chang can explore new and improved ways of treating cancer. Thank you for helping to create a better future for all people affected by cancer.

18/03/2026

Cam loved the feeling of being unstoppable – until one day, he wasn’t.

It began as pain on the side of his face. And headaches. At first, doctors diagnosed a sinus infection, then cluster headaches. But the pain worsened, until Cam was in agony.

It was rhabdomyosarcoma: a rare and aggressive tumour near Cam’s brain.

Within 48 hours, Cam was at Peter Mac beginning intensive treatment. At just 18, when most young people are dreaming about their future, he was fighting to have one.

His mum, Judy, felt helpless as treatment took its toll.

💬 “The first rounds of chemo were the strongest and resulted in trips to the ED and subsequent hospital stays. It was not only physically taxing, but also emotionally depleting on Cam, as well as his dad, brother and me... it was the toughest year of my life” – Judy, Cam’s mum.

Cancer treatment still looks like this for too many families.

But at Peter Mac, researchers are working to unlock new treatments for all cancers. So people like Cam can survive cancer and get back to the lives they love.

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/cam

16/03/2026

Income protection, check.
Superannuation, check.
Finally returned that regrettable late-night online shopping impulse purchase, check.

But your Will?

If it’s still sitting on the life admin list, we’ve just made it a whole lot easier.

Peter Mac has partnered with Safewill to offer our supporters the chance to create a free, legally valid Will during Charity Wills Week (16–30 March). It only takes around 20 minutes online and gives you peace of mind knowing your wishes are clear and your loved ones are protected.

Many people also choose this moment to reflect on the legacy they’d like to leave. While there’s absolutely no obligation, you can choose to include a gift to Peter Mac in your Will to support life-saving cancer research and care into the future.

✔ Simple online process
✔ Legally binding
✔ Reviewed by an Australian solicitor
✔ FREE

Tick it off your life admin list before 30 March: https://safewill.com/petermac?utm_content=ptnr&utm_source=petermac&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petermac_mar_Charity_Wills_Week_MAR26

11/03/2026

This cancer type is rare, which makes it hard to study. But researchers at Peter Mac know how to tackle it.

🤝 For sarcoma and other rare cancers, collaboration is key.

When cancers are rare, there are too few patients in one place. This means few clinical trials to learn from. Not enough evidence to guide the best way forward.

Professor David Gyorki is passionate about changing this.

Prof Gyorki connects cancer centres around the world to improve treatments for sarcomas. The researchers share knowledge, compare results, and build the evidence.

💬 “Because it's a group of rare cancers, we have this group of global sarcoma experts all with a commitment to improving outcomes. We're dedicated to learning from each other,” says Prof Gyorki.

Every study, every trial, every shared dataset adds to our understanding of how to stop cancer sooner.

Cancer research is a worldwide effort. Through Peter Mac, you can help.

Read more: foundation.petermac.org/profdavidgyorki

07/03/2026

For International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate all the outstanding women in research at Peter Mac.

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation established the annual Lea Medal ten years ago to support women in the early to mid-stage of their research careers. Women awarded the Lea Medal receive $50,000 to both pursue important cancer research and continue developing as researchers and leaders during this crucial time in their careers.

This year, the Lea Medal was awarded to Dr Aparna Rao, Dr Deborah Meyran and Associate Professor Safeera Hussainy. To read more about their incredible research initiatives – which were enabled by our generous donors – visit here: https://foundation.petermac.org/about-us/news/details/celebrating-our-2026-lea-medal-recipients-on-international-women-s-day

02/03/2026

In 2019, Peter Mac Associate Professor Ben Tran was awarded a Discovery Partner Fellowship from the Foundation to investigate new and personalised treatment approaches for testicular cancer. Now, early findings show that a simple blood test may identify which patients are at risk of testicular cancer recurrence, helping doctors to improve treatment.

These findings are a shining example of how our Foundation Discovery Partners and supporters help researchers, like Associate Professor Tran, bring their promising ideas into reality. Thank you for making a difference for all people affected by cancer.

A simple blood test could soon help identify which men with early-stage testicular cancer are most at risk of recurrence, offering a more personalised approach to care.

Researchers investigated the biomarker miR-371, which is released into the bloodstream by testicular cancer cells. Early findings from the CLIMATE study suggest the test can detect tiny amounts of remaining cancer after surgery — something traditional monitoring tools can often miss.

Study investigator A/Prof Ben Tran said the blood test shows promise as a valuable tool to help doctors better identify patients who may benefit from early additional treatment, while sparing others from unnecessary therapy.

With one of the most curable cancers when detected early, this research offers new hope for more precise surveillance and improved long-term outcomes.

This work was led by the ANZUP Cancer Trials Group in collaboration with WEHI - Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Peter Mac.

27/02/2026

Understanding how ovarian cancer treatment succeeds or fails may be the key to improving outcomes for this devastating disease.

This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we acknowledge the many women and families who have faced ovarian cancer. The deadliest cancer affecting Australian women, nearly half of all women diagnosed with ovarian cancer sadly do not survive.

New treatment approaches are urgently needed. We’re proud to spotlight the Bowtell Lab at Peter Mac and its work to transform ovarian cancer outcomes, by uncovering how treatment resistance develops, what drives long-term survival, and advocating for genetic testing.

Learn more about our research to improve the landscape of ovarian cancer treatment and bring new hope for women diagnosed: https://foundation.petermac.org/about-us/news/details/finding-new-hope-for-ovarian-cancer-patients