Lauren’s story: Living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
November 24, 2025
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"Living in a rural area of Queensland has its own set of challenges, particularly the long journeys to see my cardiologist and lung specialist every six months."
Lauren, QLD
I was diagnosed with PAH at the age of 14, nearly 15 years ago. I can vividly remember the challenges I faced shortly after I began my initial treatment. I always felt like I was missing out on what a typical teenage life should be.
In my late teens, I faced a significant turning point when I was hospitalised and found out I needed additional medication and eventually a lung and/or heart transplant. It was a lot to take in, and the uncertainty really weighed on me. I started to wonder if I could still achieve the life I had always dreamed of.
After finishing high school, I trained in aged care because I’m passionate about helping others. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to volunteer part-time, and it was a truly rewarding experience. Even though my potential employer appreciated my volunteer work, I had a hard time finding paid employment in the field because of my condition, which was really disappointing.
With the challenges my health brings, I’ve learned to prioritise my well-being and understand that my health needs to come first. I still long for the independence that comes with having a job and remain hopeful that one day I will achieve this goal.
Living in a rural area of Queensland has its own set of challenges, particularly the long journeys to see my cardiologist and lung specialist every six months. The five-hour trips can be tough, especially given the fatigue and occasional vertigo that accompany my condition. I’m grateful for my mother and father, who support me by taking time off work to accompany me on these trips, even though it adds financial strain.
This is my reality, but I strive to live my life to the fullest. I am organised and manage my time carefully to make the most of each day, always mindful of the limitations imposed by my condition.
Patients share their experiences of living with cancer
24 November 2025
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We encourage patient communities to become their own health advocates, make informed decisions and be partners in engaging with the health care system.
AU-NON-00719 Updated November 2025
Paul’s Story: Living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
November 20, 2025
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“I always saw myself as the father who provides for and protects the family – which unfortunately has not been the case, ever since my diagnosis."
Paul, QLD
I will always remember the day I received my diagnosis at the age of 31. It was a significant moment, especially as my wife was pregnant with our second daughter.
At the time, I was working as a firefighter when a routine blood test, led to further investigations. The results indicated an abnormal antibody, and after an echocardiogram and further tests, a pulmonary specialist diagnosed me with PAH. It was a challenging moment, that marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life.
Throughout my life, I had always prioritised fitness, having played professional rugby league in my younger years. Until my diagnosis, I was living my dream—working as an electrician and serving as a part- time firefighter. However, I had started to notice that I was becoming increasingly breathless over the years.
Living with PAH has brought its challenges, including financial hardships. I made the difficult decision to retire from both of my jobs, and now work as a part-time mentor at a local school three days a week. This role allows me to stay engaged with my community and continue to make a difference in the lives of young people.
I travel four times a year from Ingham, a regional town in Queensland, to Brisbane to see my specialist. These trips can be costly, so I choose to make them alone. I recognise the sacrifices my wife has made to care for our family, and I am grateful for her continuous support.
I always saw myself as the father who provides for and protects the family – which unfortunately has not been the case, ever since my diagnosis. My love for my family remains strong, and I have set a personal goal to see my daughters graduate from school and support them as they pursue their own dreams.
AU-SOT-00145v4. Updated November 2025
Celebrating the freedom to be ourselves
MSD recognises Pride Month and our LGBTQIA+ community in June and beyond
November 18, 2025
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As Pride Month is recognised around the world, we are celebrating the diversity of our colleagues in our own unique way and will come together at the end of June for company-wide events across the organisation.
Led by the co-chairs of the Australian and New Zealand chapter of MSD’s Rainbow Alliance, Martin Tanudjaja and Theo Orfanos from the Global Clinical Trials Operations team – self-described as a “couple who work together”- are passionate about their leadership of the Rainbow Alliance and about recognising Pride beyond June.
“Working in an accepting environment allows everyone to excel. Through our involvement with the Rainbow Alliance, we are looking to foster an already present level of acceptance at MSD Australia and New Zealand, where everyone has the psychological safety to be themselves and be able to bring their whole self to work,” says Theo.
Martin and Theo lead an 18-strong Rainbow Alliance group, which meets monthly to discuss initiatives and raise issues, with the aim to quickly resolve any concerns or unintended misconceptions related to the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace. Ultimately, it is a safe space for any employee to ask questions or for help, break down barriers and challenge societal stigmas in a respectful manner.
“At MSD, we already operate within a global community – we all come from different backgrounds, from all walks of life. It’s important that everyone we work with are proud to be our colleagues and celebrate the diversity we contribute to the work we do."
Theo Orfanos
A diverse and inclusive workforce inspires innovation and is fundamental to our company’s success. Having an environment comprised of people from different dimensions of diversity also helps us better understand the unique needs of the customers, health care providers, communities and patients we serve.
As Martin says, “Our company has an impact on the lives of patients, so it’s important for patients to know that our company truly values people for who they are.”
Melinda’s Story: Living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
November 10, 2025
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"Each day is unique, and while the unpredictability can be dauting, I strive to make the most of every moment."
Melinda, NSW
At 35 years old, I was a busy mother of two young children when I noticed that I was feeling breathless and struggling to move around my home. Initially, my GP thought these symptoms were part of my recovery from a recent hospital stay due to multiple blood clots. After seeking a second opinion and undergoing tests, my doctors diagnosed me with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) within a few months.
Living on a dairy farm in rural New South Wales, three hours from Sydney, presents unique difficulties – especially when it comes to managing my health. Before my PAH stabilised, I needed to travel every three months to see my specialist. This required my husband to take time off work and led to significant travel expenses.
My career and hobbies have been challenged by the effects of PAH. Receiving a PAH diagnosis meant closing my photogaphy business – a passion project I have always deeply cherished. It also meant that I have been unable to fully engage in our farm work the way I used to, which has been difficult, as sometimes I feel like a burden to the family.
This experience has also helped me recognise the importance of seeking support, even when it feels challenging. While I have lost some friendships along the way, I have discovered who my true friends are— those who stand by me through thick and thin.
Living with PAH has taught me that each day is unique. While the unpredictability can be daunting, I strive to make the most of every moment. I focus on the positives and cherish the time I have with my children and husband. I am grateful for the support of my family and the lessons I’ve learned through this journey. Each day offers an opportunity to embrace life, and I am thankful to still be here.
Why parental leave needs to be accessible to all parents
October 31, 2025
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We are proud of our Parental Leave Policy that enables all parents at MSD to access Parental Leave regardless of their caregiver-status. Our Policy allows colleagues to take paid parental leave flexibly to suit the different needs of parents and their families. Our equitable Parental Leave policy is an important component of our commitment to gender equality both within and outside the workplace.
Our enhanced Parental Leave policy has been in place for nearly a year, and we are proud to hear of the impact that this policy has on our employees.
Dave Cushing, IT Site Lead at our MSD manufacturing facility in Bendigo, was particularly relieved to experience the real-life impact of the parental leave provisions that he was able to access at a very difficult time for his family, as he and his wife Jo welcomed their second son, Sully.
Dave and Jo’s Story, Welcoming Baby #2
Dave & Jo’s second child Sully had a challenging welcome into the world. Early on in pregnancy, Dave and Jo discovered their baby had some kidney issues and required regular scans. Later in the pregnancy, Jo’s 36-week scan indicated significant abnormalities, and their lives were quickly turned upside down. Sully was diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, impacting roughly 1 in 2500 births in Australia per year, with roughly a 20-30% mortality rate. Doctors requested that Jo and Dave immediately relocate to Melbourne (a 2 hour drive from home) to be near the critical care that would be required for Sully. At birth, Sully required resuscitation, emergency surgery and significant care in the RCH NICU. Following his surgery, it was not known what his prognosis would be, and how long he might need specialised extended care.
Throughout this scary time as they began to face this devastating diagnosis and the move away from home, Dave felt comforted knowing that one thing he would not have to worry about was receiving support from his leader and team as he started a leave of absence.
“It was no question in my mind that MSD would be there for me, to support me and my family.”
While Sully remained in NICU, Dave began thinking about what type of parental leave he would be eligible to take and what other types of leave he could use if Sully required extended care. When a teammate reminded him about MSD’s 12-week flexible parental leave policy, Dave recalls becoming teary, and the feeling of relief that had the time and space to deal with whatever is coming without worrying about whether he had enough leave.
Dave’s Parental Leave
Carer's leave
5 weeks
Throughout their stay in Melbourne, Dave was able to take carer’s leave for the period of Sully’s birth and NICU stay.
Full-Time Paid Parental Leave
6 weeks
When they returned home from Melbourne, Dave utilised full-time Parental Leave to settle back into home with Jo and their growing family.
Part-Time Paid Parental Leave
12 weeks
Dave felt he wanted to continue to be present for his family as they continued to adjust as a family of four. Dave decided to take the remaining eligible paid parental leave part-time. This allowed Dave to be caring for Sully and Hudson (2 years old) in the mornings and working in the afternoons as he eased back into work while remaining present with his family.
Through this time returning to work, Dave felt supported by MSD through all stages. He was able to embrace as he calls it: “ultimate flex”, adapting his work style to suit his growing family.
The importance of equitable Parental Leave
“MSD doesn’t just talk about caring for people. The company’s policies and values are reflected in actions. MSD is genuinely interested in the welfare of their people” Dave Cushing, Proud Dad
Dave reflects that it is great to see the equal recognition of parenting at MSD, acknowledging the role of Dads and non-birthing partners in parenting, which enabled him to spend valuable time with his growing family.
Parental Leave doesn’t only impact the employee taking leave. The benefits of flexible, equitable paid parental leave extend to the employees family and community. For Jo, it was a welcome relief that Dave had the opportunity to spend time with family, as well as the assurance that his income would not be affected during an already challenging time with Sully, a young Hudson, all in the midst of the COVID lockdown.
“I felt relieved,it was such a weight off my shoulders knowing that we could just focus on Sully. Even after he left the NICU, he was still requiring a high level of care. I don’t know how I would have coped if Dave wasn’t around”. Jo Cushing
Why parental leave needs to be accessible to all parents
March 21, 2023
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We are proud of our Parental Leave policy that enables all parents at MSD to access Parental Leave regardless of their caregiver-status. At MSD, our colleagues can take paid parental leave flexibly to suit the different needs of them and their families. Our equitable Parental Leave approach is an important component of our commitment to gender equality both within and outside the workplace.
Our enhanced Parental Leave has been in place since 2021, and we are proud to hear of the impact that this has on our employees.
Dylan Stanyer, Production Lead Technician at our MSD manufacturing facility in Bendigo, has been able to make use of the policy in order to meet the needs of his family as they navigate parenthood for the first time.
Dylan and Jordy’s Story, Welcoming their first child
Dylan shares that when he and his wife Jordy decided they wanted to start a family, there were plenty of unknowns. He shared, ‘to prepare myself as best I could, I began reading heaps for the first time since leaving school. Not the typical what to expect… type of books, but autobiographies by professionals who were also fathers.’
One unknown for Dylan was how others around him would respond to his exciting news, however his fears were quickly allayed. ‘I was a little anxious about telling my managers about the exciting news, worried that time off would cause resentment, however my manager and the Bendigo site leaders are all strong advocates for a work life balance.’
Full-Time Paid Parental Leave
Dylan first chose to utilise paid parental leave 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the due date, to suit the nature of his role. ‘I could be in cleanrooms and not as readily accessible as one would hope to be with a baby arriving any day.’
‘We were lucky enough to welcome Theodore (Ted) in our lives close to his due date. The first few weeks were great to spend as a family, finding a routine that worked for us before I returned to work, soaking in the moments as he developed.
I returned to full time work for the following 6 months, thankfully only a handful of sleepless nights over that time and many colleagues supported me in ensuring I wasn’t spending too much excess time on site for the non-urgent issues.’
Part-Time Paid Parental Leave
14 weeks
When Jordy decided to return to work, she returned part time and transitioned to full time with Ted in day care 2 days a week. Dylan spends Wednesdays and Saturdays 1:1 with Ted, and has found this a helpful balance with a 4-day working week.
‘From my reading, I had learnt that from those leaders that they spent as much time as possible with their kids as toddlers, because that’s when they start to develop, so I wanted to make sure I used my full leave entitlement and will be continuing our ‘(Ted)nesdays’ until Ted is 2 years old. We will go for a swim or to tumble tots (movement program) in the morning, followed by catching up with some friends with their toddlers.’ One challenge for Dylan has been fully disconnecting from work one day a week. ‘I am guilty of doing a pulse check with some peers (while Ted sleeps) because it is taking some getting used to, being able disconnect from work for a whole day every week is something I might not be able to fully do, but I never let it interrupt my time with Ted.’
Dylan shares his wisdom to other expectant non-birthing parents, ‘I have 2 pieces of advice. 1. Listen to Hamish Blake’s podcast How Other Dads Dad, it will entertain you and leave you wondering if Bandit is the perfect role model & 2. Don’t be nervous about taking the leave as the non-birthing parent, it is precious time, your managers and teams will be fully supportive. The work world will keep turning and be fine; take the time to enjoy your family and watch your little ones grow.
Finally, thank you to my team and the whole Production team at Bendigo, you have all been so supportive, I cannot thank you all enough.’
AU-NON-00670Last Update March 2023
Understanding renal cell carcinoma
May 3, 2022
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What is renal cell carcinoma?
Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the kidney.1 Around 9 out of 10 kidney cancers are renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the early stages of RCC the tumour is in the kidney only but as the cancer grows it can spread to other parts of the kidney and other parts of the body like the lungs or bones.1
Around
4,300
people in Australia were diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2021.*
Some of the risk factors for kidney cancer include:1
Age (60+)
Smoking
Obesity
High blood pressure
Kidney failure
Family history
Inherited conditions
Exposure to toxic substances at work
Early detection & treatment
Most people with RCC do not have obvious symptoms and their cancer is discovered incidentally on imaging. This means that RCC is sometimes not found until the cancer is advanced. 2,3
Despite improvements in RCC diagnosis and treatment over the past two decades, it remains a serious urological malignancy. 4
If the cancer spreads or returns?
In the past five years, treatments for advanced RCC have evolved, including combination therapies, providing more options for patients.5,6
If you or a loved one are concerned about kidney cancer or renal cell carcinoma, it is important you talk to your doctor or healthcare team.
You can visit Cancer Australia for more information on the above statistics.
Capitanio, Umberto et al. “Epidemiology of Renal Cell Carcinoma.” European urology vol. 75,1 (2019): 74-84. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2018.08.036
Ged, Y. et al 2020, Nature Reviews Urology, ‘Advanced renal cell carcinoma and COVID-19 — a personal perspective’, vol. 17, pp. 425-427, DOI: https://doi.org/10.14740/wjon1279.
Schmidt, A. 2019, Asia-Pac J Clin Oncol, ‘Treatment selection for first-line metastatic renal cell carcinoma in Australia: Impact of new therapy options’, vo. 15, suppl. 10, DOI:10.1111/ajco.13289.
