ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DOAN NGO

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown)—I would like to acknowledge Associate Professor Doan Ngo, a resident of the Charlestown electorate and HMRI-affiliated researcher, whose work was recently published in the international journal JACC: CardioOncology. Associate Professor Ngo, the lead author on the paper, has found that heart disease has become a leading cause of long-term preventable death in cancer survivors. Heart disease is on the rise for cancer patients and survivors, but they are less likely to be prescribed medicine which protects their hearts. By examining records of 320 patients admitted to the John Hunter Hospital over a six month period from July 2018, Associate Professor Ngo and her fellow researchers were able to find that, of the sixty-nine cancer patients included, 36% had established cardiovascular disease before their cancer diagnosis, and 64% developed cardiovascular disease after their cancer diagnosis. The work of Associate Professor Ngo and her fellow researchers has highlighted a clear policy and practice gap in the treatment cancer patients. This research is the first step in developing protocols to lower their risk of developing heart disease, and will no doubt help save many lives. Congratulations to Associate Professor Ngo. This is extraordinary work.

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