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Breast cancer survivors can now share mastectomy photos on Facebook

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Breast cancer survivors can now share mastectomy photos on Facebook

© David Jay, The SCAR Project.

Women who have had mastectomies can now share photos of their experience on Facebook after the social media giant caved to user pressure and clarified its nudity policy.

Previously, Facebook removed any images of mastectomy scars and banned users who posted them for 30 days, deeming the pictures to be in breach of its strict nudity policy.

In May, breast cancer sufferer Scorchy Barrington started a Change.org petition after Facebook banned photographer David Jay for posting post-mastectomy images on his page The SCAR Project.

The petition gathered more than 21,000 signatures before Facebook issued a statement clarifying its position on post-mastectomy pictures, saying the “vast majority” would comply with its nudity policy.

“We agree that undergoing a mastectomy is a life-changing experience and that sharing photos can help raise awareness about breast cancer and support the men and women facing a diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or living with the scars of cancer,” the Facebook statement said.

Despite this, the social media giant said any images of fully-exposed breasts, particularly if they’re “unaffected by surgery”, will be removed as they violate the site’s terms.

“These policies are based on the same standards which apply to television and print media, and that govern sites with a significant number of young people,” it said.

Ms Barrington said the clarification was a “victory” for everyone living with breast cancer.

“From now on, these powerful visual testaments to the real impact of breast cancer and the resilience of breast cancer survivors will be welcomed on Facebook, as they should be,” she told the New York Daily News.

“These photos document the physical and emotional toll of women and men who have undergone mastectomies,” she said. “As a woman living with Stage IV breast cancer, photos like The SCAR Project help me feel a little less alone in what I’m going through.

“By removing the photos, Facebook is sending us a message that our struggle with this disease should be kept in the dark.”

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Deadly Dinner: ‘My gran’s curry nearly killed me!’

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Deadly Dinner: 'My gran’s curry nearly killed me!'

Shane hopes to be back home with his family soon.

A family favourite is firmly off the menu for this shell-shocked Aussie dad, writes Letitia Rowlands.

It was a delicious dish that Margot Green had cooked for her family countless times. But eating his grandmother’s chicken nasi goreng almost killed Shane Barnbrook when a small bone he swallowed perforated his bowel, causing a catastrophic infection.

Shane, 34, was left in a coma and paralysed from the neck down. While hospitalised for more than a year he also missed the birth of his daughter Aurora, and any contact with his other children Seth, 5, and Katie, 3, for two and a half months.

More than a year later, Shane has some movement in his arms but can only move his legs with assistance and has to be turned every two hours when lying down. “The doctors didn’t think he would survive and told us to say goodbye,” Shane’s wife Sarah says of the night her husband came close to death.

“He was on life-support and his skin was grey. We believed he was dying so organised for a priest to come and deliver his last rites.”

Thankfully Shane held on to life that horrific night, but only just. Sarah, 33, was almost nine months pregnant when paramedics rushed her husband to hospital from their home in Seymour, Victoria, in February 2012.

“I knew I had swallowed and passed the bone, but I didn’t realise the damage it had done was so serious until the pain became unbearable and my body went into shock,” says Shane.

Shane’s last words to his wife before going into surgery in Melbourne were “Don’t have the baby.”

But the former children’s disability services worker developed profound sepsis and was on life-support when his baby arrived nine days later.

“It was a bittersweet day,” says Sarah of Aurora’s birth.

“I was excited to meet our baby, but I also knew my husband was undergoing surgery that could kill him.”

Now, 15 months later, Shane is still in rehabilitation but is slowly improving. He hopes to move home in the next few months, however the family faces a $61,000 bill to modify their house and buy the required medical equipment.

Sarah has launched an online campaign, “Bring Daddy Home” (pleasebringdaddyhome.com), in the hope of raising the money.

“I just want to be at home and enjoy life with my family,” says Shane.

“This whole experience has taught me you should never take those simple things for granted.”

As for that nasi goreng, the Barnbrooks don’t blame 77-year-old Margot, but she’s definitely retired the recipe.

“Shane’s new favourite is my breakfast pudding and I take that to him as often as I can,” she says.

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Naomi Watts is Princess Diana in new movie trailer

It's the role even acting great Naomi Watts was reluctant to take on: Princess Diana.
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Naomi Watts as Princess Diana.

It’s the role even acting great Naomi Watts was reluctant to take on: Princess Diana.

Now, a new trailer has given the world its first glimpse of Naomi playing the internationally beloved people’s princess.

The film, titled Diana, is due for release later this year.

It focuses on Diana’s relationships with heart surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan and Dodi Fayed and also highlights the growing problem the Princess had with the paparazzi.

The one-minute teaser shows Naomi’s Diana on the red carpet, campaigning against landmines in Africa and running away from the photographers who haunted her every step.

While Naomi’s resemblance to Diana is striking, it’s her portrayal of the princess’ battle with the constant glare of the spotlight that makes the trailer so compelling.

The film’s producer Robert Bernstein has insisted the film is not needlessly salacious or sensational.

“We’re here to tell a love story and it’s very tragic,” he said. “There’s nothing sordid about the story we tell in the film.

“We’re not here for sensationalism or titillation, we just try to look at her relationship with Dr Hasnat Khan, a man who may have been the love of her life.

“We believe that she wanted to marry him. But their relationship ended and she was very wounded and upset. She was distraught sometimes, and very hurt, but not unhinged.”

During filming, Naomi told the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper that she almost turned the role down.

“I did struggle with the idea of doing it,” she said. “It’s definitely risky. But having said that, it’s a story that had to be told, I think, at some point.”

Diana is directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel and will premiere in London on September 5.

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First look: Naomi as Diana video

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Naomi Watts resembles a true image of Princess Diana on the set of the biopic Diana.

The films trailer has now been released today and the new images will send shivers down your spine, with Naomi looking every bit the beauty that Princess Diana was.

Naomi was fitted with a prosthetic nose for the role and spent six weeks with a dialogue coach. She even had access to Diana’s actual wardrobe.

The film follows the tragic story of Princess Diana’s death, following a horrific car crash in Paris in 1997, and her disquieting affair with millionaire playboy Dodi al Fayed. This is clearly the role of a life time for Naomi, with Oscar rumours already abuzz.

Flick through the images and watch the trailer here!

Naomi Watts as Princess Diana.

Naomi Watt’s recreates the famous moments in the life of Princess Diana.

Naomi gets close to Cas Anvar who plays Dodi al Fayed.

Naomi resembles the true image of Diana in gold.

Naomi is said to be honoured to play Princess Diana.

On set for the scene that tells Diana’s tragic death.

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Would you buy your wedding dress from Target?

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Would you buy your wedding dress from Target?

These Target wedding dresses retail for between $99 - $129.

Australian couples are outlaying an average of over $50,000 for their wedding day, but with discount retailers like Target entering the bridal market, those budgets could be slashed.

Earlier this year the US arm of the retail and fashion giant launched a wedding collection to mixed reactions.

Offering designer knock-offs for as little as $99, the range of white gowns has brides on a budget jumping for joy, and fashionistas turning up their noses.

Talk show Good Morning America compared some of the gowns with their couture lookalikes, and found no obvious differences.

An Oscar de la Renta dress retailing at around $50,000 seemed comparable in quality to Target’s $99 version and a strapless Amsale number was relatively indistinguishable to the budget version at a tenth of the price.

Though some people may not be able to tell the difference, bridal designer Rhonda Hemmingway says the difference between a quality couture gown and a “cheap and nasty” knock-off is clear, and could make or break the big day.

“The market has been flooded with cheap dresses and that’s just what they are, cheap and nasty,” the Sydney couturier tells aww.com.au.

“Brides are judged on what they wear. Everyone’s waiting to see the dress and the bride will look beautiful and have the best day of her life if she is comfortable and if the dress is good quality and fits properly. These cheap dresses just don’t.

But Cosmo Bride fashion editor Kayla Reid say brides are definitely willing to “pay less for their dress”.

“I think there’s definitely a trend towards people trying to do budget weddings any way they can and the dress is a great place to save,” she says.

“Not everyone has the money for an expensive gown, and brides are more willing to wear a budget dress, especially with the economy the way it is a lot of brides are responding to the cheaper options that are on offer.”

Your say: Would you be willing to pay less for a discount wedding dress?

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Deadly virus kills fourth NSW child

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Deadly virus danger declining in NSW

A boy hospitalised with enterovirus 71 during Vietnam's outbreak of the deadly virus.

A fourth child has died in an outbreak of a dangerous strain of virus currently circulating on Australia’s east coast.

NSW Health confirmed today that it had been notified of the child’s death, which is being linked to enterovirus 71 [EV71].

Of the three other children — all under the age of two — who have died since late last year, EV71 has been confirmed as the cause of death in two cases and suspected but still under investigation in the third.

Related: Deadly virus spreads to Victoria

More than 100 children have been admitted to Sydney’s children’s hospital network with neurological complications suspected to have been caused by the virus this year.

EV71 can cause mild or no symptoms in some children but in severe cases results in complications like meningitis, brain swelling and paralysis.

Infectious diseases experts are closely monitoring the outbreak, as it is the first time the more virulent C4a strain of the virus has been dominant in Australia.

Dr Bruce Thorley, of the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, told aww.com.au EV71 had also been detected in Victoria and is likely to be in other states and territories.

He said the outbreak was “of concern” as in rare cases, it can result in polio-like paralysis. Ongoing surveillance for polio and EV71 is vital, he added, along with good hygiene such as washing hands to prevent spread of these viruses.

NSW Health said it had established a surveillance system “to monitor the increase in the number of presentations of children with severe neurological disease suspected to be due to enterovirus at Sydney hospitals”.

Related: Deadly virus puts kids in peril

EV71 is not a notifiable condition, meaning data would not be collected on infections under normal conditions. The latest weekly data from NSW Health can be read here.

“In June, NSW Health was notified of a fourth child whose recent death is being investigated in relation to enterovirus infection,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

NSW said it could not provide any additional information on the most recent fatality, such as the child’s age, location, treating hospital or date of death.

To contact us about this story, email journalist Clair Weaver now.

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More children hospitalised with killer virus

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Deadly virus danger declining in NSW

A boy hospitalised with enterovirus 71 during Vietnam's outbreak of the deadly virus.

The number of children being hospitalised with the most severe symptoms of a dangerous virus, blamed for four deaths in a current NSW epidemic, has increased in latest weekly data.

NSW Health surveillance data reveals eight children diagnosed with meningitis or encephalitis (brain swelling) — among neurological complications of enterovirus 71 (EV71) — were admitted to hospitals in the week ending June 9.

Related: Deadly virus kills fourth NSW child

Meanwhile, 41 children aged under 10 were taken to emergency departments with hand, foot and mouth disease, which can be a milder symptom of EV71, in the same week.

It brings the total number of children who have suffered severe neurological complications linked to EV71 at Sydney’s children’s hospitals this year to 124.

A child who tested positive for enterovirus and bacterial sepsis (blood infection) died early this month. It followed fatalities of three infants under the age of two in April, January and December. Two are confirmed to have been caused by EV71, while the other two remain under investigation.

A NSW Coroner’s Court spokesman told aww.com.au the deaths of one boy and two girls had been referred to the coroner in relation to suspected EV71 — while details of the most recent death were yet to be clarified.

“The infants were aged between five months and 18 months and were from metropolitan Sydney and the Hunter region,” he said.

“Post mortem and toxicology reports have been ordered and the coroner will make a determination once the information has been received.”

So far, the epidemic has peaked in the week ending March 31 — although levels of meningitis, encephalitis and hand, foot and mouth disease remain at the highest levels seen in at least five years. Numbers had dipped in the last week of May before rising again in the latest data.

This is the first time the more virulent C4a strain of enterovirus 71, which has previously circulated among and killed children in Asia, has been dominant in Australia.

While some children will suffer only mild symptoms it can cause polio-like paralysis in rare cases and is therefore being monitored closely by infectious diseases experts.

Because suspected EV71 patients weren’t routinely subject to detailed testing before NSW Health introduced its enhanced surveillance program began in mid-April, only 18 have been confirmed EV71 positive. Another 103 tested positive for enterovirus generally, while 13 had missing laboratory results, six were negative and two had results pending.

Related: Deadly virus spreads to Victoria

“The enhanced enterovirus surveillance system will be continued until enterovirus activity in the community has receded,” a NSW Health spokesperson said.

Good hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of EV71.

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Kids from Middle Eastern, Asian, backgrounds more like to be obese

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Kids from Middle Eastern, Asian, backgrounds more like to be obese

Children from Middle Eastern and Asian backgrounds are significantly more likely to be overweight or obese than those from English-speaking backgrounds, new research has found.

A University of Sydney study of NSW primary school kids found that ethnicity was a significant predictor of obesity, physical activity and cardiovascular fitness.

Researchers analysed data on 4898 kids from Australia’s largest ethnic groups, Anglo, Middle Eastern and Asian. The results showed those from Middle Eastern and Asian backgrounds were considerably less healthy.

“Overall, the odds of being inactive, unfit and having a less healthy diet were significantly higher among children from Middle-Eastern and Asian backgrounds living in low socioeconomic status (SES) areas,” study leader Dr Debra Hector said.

“Almost one in two low SES boys from Asian (45 per cent) and Middle-Eastern backgrounds (40 per cent) were overweight or obese, compared with 25 per cent of boys from English-speaking backgrounds.

“Similarly, overweight and obesity continues to be an issue among Middle-Eastern girls, irrespective of their SES background. These findings are of concern.”

The study pointed to several behaviours that put children at increased risk of developing weight problems including skipping breakfast, drinking too much fruit juice, being rewarded with sweets and regularly eating energy dense, nutrient poor foods.

Dr Hector says the findings suggest the government should look at public health campaigns specifically targeted at Middle Eastern and Asian families.

“Our results indicate the need for obesity prevention initiatives to target children and their families from Middle Eastern and Asian backgrounds who live in low socioeconomic areas,” she said.

“They need to reach, and be culturally appropriate for, children who are most at risk.”

The findings are published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

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Princess Mary flies flag for Aussie fashion

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Princess Mary flies flag for Aussie fashion

Crown Princess Mary in her stunning Colette Dinnigan gown.

She might speak with a Danish accent, but Crown Princess Mary showed she’s still Australian at heart on the weekend, donning a gown by Aussie designer Collette Dinnigan.

Mary attended the royal wedding of Sweden’s Princess Madeleine to US banker Christopher O’Neill in Stockholm.

It was an event attended by the cream of European royalty and Manhattan socialites — the bride and groom live in New York City — and called for a seriously stunning frock.

Collette rose to the occasion, dressing Mary in a spectacular cerise lace full-length dress with matching chiffon cape to preserve the princess’ modesty in the cathedral.

It’s a huge coup for the Australian label as Mary usually wears Danish designers in line with her position as an ambassador for Danish fashion.

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Why I am over the colour pink

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Cinderella ate my daughter

I am over pink.

Nearly four years into parenthood, and with two daughters and no sons — it is the only colour of choice in my house.

Even my own wardrobe seems to be getting pinker — Mother’s Day gifts of pyjamas are chosen by my eldest who can’t imagine anyone not sharing her favourite colour.

Miss Nearly-Four is happiest when dressed head to toe in her preferred hue: hot pink shoes, cerise leggings, fuchsia top, and pale pink headband.

That her outfit clashes is irrelevant: she’s pinkified and happy about it.

We certainly didn’t predict this pink palette dominating our household, which moves seamlessly from my daughters’ wardrobes to their toys.

We have a pink and peppermint toy kitchen, with matching pink accessories. Pink dress ups. Pink craft. You get the idea.

I would prefer the palette to be gender neutral — but my house screams little girl.

While most of the time I don’t care, this year my daughter has asked for ‘girl lego’ for her birthday and that really annoys me.

After decades of just lego, there are two types of the small plastic figurines — one blatantly pink and purple- one more in more masculine hues.

Lego Friends (as it is officially marketed) features a bunch of girls who like to talk and ‘hang out with their BFFs’. Vomit.

My kids don’t watch TV with ads in it, or read magazines that market to children. But somehow, my 3.5 year old is aware that there are toys specifically for girls, and others for boys.

We have bought her toy dinosaurs in the past. She has toy cars. But her preference is for pink.

A recent study by a PhD student in the US found toys in that country are becoming more and more gender divided. That is: toys for boys, and something completely different for the females of the species.

In the 70s, toys were less about pink or blue, and more about their functionality. Now look at any toy catalogue and toys are specifically pushed at one gender.

One of my friends has twins — a boy and a girl — and both love dancing lessons. They also both wear tutus- because her son doesn’t like missing out on dressing up. Other children have teased him for ‘dressing like a girl’, but he’s defiant.

It’s a small, but significant step that my friend and her son are taking.

Internationally, others are taking the same steps. The push to make toys gender neutral in shops is gaining traction with a non-for-profit called Let Toys Be Toys calling for toy retailers to group toys by genre rather than sex.

They have a point. If toys were categorised by race, we’d all be horrified. But tell us our daughters need a barbie doll, our sons a toy gun, and we seem to be ok with it.

In Sweden, the country’s largest toy chain has made the leap already, publishing gender-neutral toy catalogues and rearranging their stores.

I know I be accused of being overly politically correct. But kids really should be allowed to be kids. I’m all for some pink in my life, but I hate that my girls might be choosing their toys solely based on colour.

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