Australian Politician Reveals Kidney Cancer
- Australian politician Prue Car reveals kidney cancer.
- She’s a 39 year old mother of one.
- Serves as Labor Party deputy leader.
- First discovered minor symptoms including headaches and fatigue.
- Car will take an extended leave from work for treatment.
"That is the message: Go to the doctor if you’re not feeling 100 per cent right," Car told 3AW's Ben Fordham. "In my case, it sounds like they have found it early enough to deal with it and they can hopefully operate – and then I can get back to causing trouble for the Liberals in NSW."
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‘It would be no surprise for me to tell you this was quite a shock,’ she said. ‘I look forward to being back out and about soon fighting for our community.’
‘I am buoyed by such loving support from my wonderful family, friends, colleagues and my beloved local community – thank you for your support,’ she added.
Car is a mother of one, and says the news of her kidney cancer immediately made her think of her family, then her career.
"It’s more the shock about what was going to happen, making sure you take care of everyone," she said.
"Hopefully I will be back on board, ready for the state election next year."
Car has also revealed that a member of his constituency in Sydney's northwest, called her and offered to give her a kidney.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with other fellow Labor members of parliament expressed their support and well wishes to Car.
Albanese tweeted, "Wishing you all the best Prue."
City of Sydney Labor councillor Linda Scott also tweeted, "Sending love @pruecar – we're all here for you if you need anything at all. You're strong and you've got this."
Also, Port Stephens Labor member of parliament Kate Washington wrote, "Sending you strength and love Prue," followed by Maitland Labor member of parliament Jenny Atchison who wrote, "all my love and strength to you Prue. You need to take care of you now, so you can continue your outstanding care and service to your community ASAP."
Car was elected to parliament in 2015 and became deputy leader of the NSW Labor party in June 2021. She was previously a local councillor.
What is Kidney Cancer?
According to the Mayo Clinic, kidney cancer is cancer that begins in the kidneys, which are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a person’s fist. They’re located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of your spine.
Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. Each year about 65,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease. While the rate of people diagnosed with kidney cancer has been slowly rising since the 1970s, the death rate has been slowly declining since the 1990s.
Kidney cancer is often discovered at an early stage, when the cancer is small and confined to the kidney.
In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, and doctors say it’s on the rise. One reason may be the fact that imaging techniques such as computerized tomography or CT scans are being used more often, and may lead to the indirect discovery of more kidney cancers.
The risk of kidney cancer increases as you age. Kidney cancer is uncommon before age 45. It occurs most often in people 55 or older. The average age at diagnosis is 64.
Kidney Cancer is about twice as common in men as in women.
Being overweight and having a high-fat diet increase your risk.
Exposure to certain environmental substances including asbestos, cadmium and organic solvents are among the substances that raise kidney cancer risk.
Having kidney disease or a family history of kidney cancer puts you at greater risk.
Risk for kidney cancer is elevated in people with high blood pressure.
For reasons that are unclear, African-Americans have a slightly higher rate of kidney cancer.
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