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Selfless request sees Aurora BioScience donate Ice Cold Gloves and Socks as new Supportive Care management for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Aurora BioScience, a leading and respected medical device company, recently received a generous request from a patient, wanting to purchase Ice Cold gloves and socks to donate and help alleviate the side effects and potential nerve damage for patients undergoing chemotherapy.   Alana Hugo, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, knows first-hand what undergoing chemotherapy treatment entails and the debilitating side effects that can come along with it. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology[1] revealed that onycholysis (separation of a fingernail or toenail from the nail bed) and skin toxicity occurs in approximately 30% of cancer patients treated with the chemotherapy drug Docetaxel.  The study concluded that frozen gloves significantly reduce the nail and skin toxicity, as well as potential nerve damage associated with chemotherapy treatment, therefore providing a new tool in supportive care management to improve a patient’s quality of life.   “The nausea, fatigue and hair loss associated with chemotherapy treatment is a lot to endure, but you do what you have to. The thought however of potential nerve damage especially in my hands, prompted me to take the advice of my doctor and purchase Ice Cold gloves and socks from Aurora BioScience, to wear during my infusions.” said Alana.   She continued, “I’m a maker – I use my hands bake, sew, knit, stitch and arrange flowers, but most importantly, I have the 10 chubby little toes and two squishable little thighs of my son to squeeze. How will I play ‘ring-ring’ with his leg and answer his ‘foot-phone’ if I can’t use my hands? Cancer and chemo can and will take so much from you, but not being able to play with my baby’s golden curls, even short term, is a thought I simply refuse to entertain.”   After weeks of purchasing ancillary items for her treatment such as scarves, eye pencils, sunscreens, mastectomy bras and more, Alana found herself having to prioritise these items on top of out-of-pocket treatment costs, which seemed near impossible.   “It then got me thinking about others. I decided to approach Aurora BioScience and purchase Ice Cold gloves and socks to donate so other patients going through chemotherapy could benefit from them aswell. It’s an absolute luxury to be able to try and mitigate the risk of losing a little more to this stupid disease. My hope was that by sharing these life changing gloves and socks, even if for just one other man or woman on this ‘freight train’ of a journey, it would help take the stress out of having to make a cruel choice.”    “Aurora BioScience is dedicated to sourcing and supplying innovative medical products with a goal of improving patient treatments and outcomes. By ensuring access to best medical technology, we hope to enhance the way medical professionals within Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands improve the lives of their patients.” – stated Darren Banks, Managing Director Aurora BioScience   By reaching out, Alana kickstarted a movement at not-for-profit, comprehensive cancer hospital Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Camperdown, Sydney. With the donation of a freezer from the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and The Good Guys, patients are now able to use the Ice Cold gloves and socks at the centre.   “We were so moved by Alana’s determination to help others undergoing chemotherapy treatment by selflessly purchasing Ice Cold gloves and socks to donate to those in need, that we decided to donate additional units in support of her cause. She’s an incredible inspiration.” said Nicky Woolfson, Marketing Manager Aurora BioScience.   There are many ways to pay it forward, from raising funds to help hospitals purchase the Dignitana Delta Scalp Cooling device to donating a Cancer care gift. How can you help? For more information on our products and services, visit www.aurorabioscience.com.au.       For More Information Contact Mandy Crispin, Operations Director, Aurora BioScience +61 (0)2 9629 9546 mandycrispin@aurorabioscience.com.au Nicky Woolfson, Marketing Manager, Aurora BioScience +61 (0)413 635 503 nicky@aurorabioscience.com.au   About Aurora BioScience Aurora BioScience is a leading and respected medical device distribution and marketing company that provides high tech medical devices specialising in Oncology, Blood Technologies, and Medical Innovations. For over 15 years Aurora has supported healthcare providers and patients across metropolitan and regional areas of Australia, throughout New Zealand and around the Pacific Islands. The head office is located in Sydney Australia, and the growing product range includes some of the world’s most innovative medical products and solutions. Our specialty medical devices are specifically chosen for their ability to assist clinicians in improving patient outcomes and to enhance a patient’s quality of Iife. For more information, please visit www.aurorabioscience.com.au   [1] Reference: Journal of Clinical Oncology 23:4424-4429. © 2005 by American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer.org.

Chemotherapy is one of the most common ways to treat cancer, and many health professionals will recommend it to their patients. However, some of the medication associated with this kind of treatment has the potential to cause some unwanted side effects. For instance, cancer patients often experience hair loss as a result of undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Hair loss, in particular, can be quite distressing for many people – it may serve as a constant reminder of their disease, and even affect the way they see themselves. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent hair loss from occurring during chemotherapy treatment, but there are ways in which cancer patients can manage it when it happens.   Get a Shorter Haircut One way to manage hair loss during chemotherapy treatment is to get a shorter haircut. This management strategy mainly has psychological benefits for cancer patients. For instance, when hair loss starts to occur, it may be less shocking to see short clumps of hair fall out. Additionally, having shorter hair can make the transition from a full head of hair to complete baldness less confrontational. Some people may even choose to take it one step further and shave off all their hair prior to undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This can be very empowering move, as it may help cancer patients feel in control. Instead of being a passive subject to their disease, they are able to take charge of it.   Use a Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner Another strategy for cancer patients to manage hair loss is to use a gentle shampoo and conditioner. This is because chemotherapy treatment can cause hair to become fine and brittle, as well as make the scalp more sensitive. For example, many shampoos contain harsh chemicals which dry out skin, and conditioners can upset the pH balance of hair by being too oily. A gentle shampoo and conditioner, such as the Follact Hair Care Range that Aurora Direct offers, may help cancer patients better manage their hair and scalp both during and after chemotherapy treatment. This particular hair product contains an active botanical ingredient which has been shown to act on the hair follicle and help stimulate hair regrowth.*   Use Scalp Cooling Products Scalp cooling products are quickly becoming a popular method for naturally reducing hair loss during chemotherapy treatment. The idea behind these products is that cooling the scalp will tighten and constrict the blood vessels in the scalp. This, in turn, is thought to reduce hair loss by making it more difficult for chemotherapy medication to reach the cells of hair follicles.   The Best Management Strategy Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ management strategy for dealing with hair loss during chemotherapy. Each person has a physiology which is unique to them, and they will have different experiences during the treatment process. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another. As such, the ‘best’ way for cancer patients to manage hair loss is to figure out what makes them comfortable.    Sources of Information: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/hair-loss/cold-caps.html https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/managing-cancer-side-effects/hair-loss/coping/ https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/side-effects/hair-loss-and-thinning https://www.rosettelavedette.com/en/10-questions-chemo-hair-loss/ https://www.verywellhealth.com/caring-for-your-hair-and-scalp-during-chemotherapy-581983 https://www.verywellhealth.com/prepare-for-chemo-hair-loss-582047