PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIGITTE LACOMBE; CATHERINE MACBRIDE/STOCKSY.COM. EDITED BY ALLEY PASCOE. ADDITIONAL TEXT BY JOY FLAMMANG. *AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS
marieclaire.com.aumarieclaire.com.au 8181HER START
“Like many Australians, I have
lost family members to cancer.
It’s their stories and struggles
that encouraged me to get into
cancer research,” says Dr
Angelica Merlot, 28, who
studied medical science at the
University of Sydney to become
a pancreatic cancer researcher.
Her work involves investigating
how the human body works in
normal and disease conditions.
“By researching the difference
between normal cells and cancer
cells, we can develop drugs to
treat the disease,” she explains.
HER RESEARCH
Because there are no symptoms
in its early stages, pancreatic
cancer has one of the worst
survival rates of any cancer, with
92 per cent of patients dying five
years after diagnosis. “It’s known
as a ‘silent killer’ because it is so
aggressive. It’s embarrassing for
humanity and researchers
because there has been limited
progress,” says Dr Merlot.
THE FUTURE
Pancreatic cancer doesn’t have
the recognition or celebrity
support of other diseases
like breast cancer, and, as
such, doesn’t receive as much
attention or funding. Dr Merlot
hopes to raise the profile of
pancreatic cancer to attract
more money for her research,
which is currently funded by
Cure Cancer Australia. “I’m
hopeful we can find a cure.”
Cancer Research Awareness
Week kicks off on May 27.
Visit curecancer.com.au.theBUZZ
INSPIRATION FROM GAME-CHANGING WOMENTHE WORKFORCE
IN NUMBERS
The fastest growing
professions in Australia
between 2011 and 2016*Sales Support
Workers154.5%
Domestic Cleaners130.2%
Early Childhood
Teachers48%
Enrolled and
Mothercraft Nurses91.3%
PREACH IT
“It is impossible to live without
failing at something, unless you
live so cautiously that you might
as well not have lived at all – in
which case, you fail by default”- J.K. Rowling
Forget Sk8r Boi; this all-female skate crew from
NYC is tearing up skateboarding stereotypes in
the semi-autobiographical film Skate Kitchen.WONDERWOMA
NDR ANGELICA
MERLOT
Pancreatic cancer
researcherCONVERSATION
“Skateboarding is kind of intimidating if you’re a girl
because it’s super male dominated. Being in a group
normalises the idea of girls skating,” explains NYC
skater Rachelle Vinberg, a member of the all-female
skate crew The Skate Kitchen (a cheeky nod to all the
men who’ve told them to get out of the skate park and
get back to making dinner). The group formed an
unbreakable bond after meeting at a skate park and
started amassing a cult following on Instagram. Now,
they’re the subjects of a new film directed by Crystal
Moselle, which premiered at Sundance this year
to rave reviews. “It’s incredible how many little
girls look up to us,” says The Skate Kitchen member
Nina Moran. “They direct message us and say,
‘Because of you I started skateboarding.’”@WORK