Publish Date: 
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 - 09:45

Conquering Cancer Documentary

For the first time in history, we have the ability to eliminate a cancer. In large part, this is due to the work of cervical cancer pioneer and founding CEO of TRI, Professor Ian Frazer.

The University of Queensland’s Professor Frazer co-developed the life-saving cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, with his UQ colleague, the late Dr Jian Zhou. He is also one of the executive producers of Conquering Cancer.

Professor Frazer is encouraging Australians to attend the documentary premier to help play a role in erasing cervical cancer and save the lives of an estimated 62 million women globally.

“The film spreads the message that cervical cancer is a curable disease which women around the world still suffer from,” Professor Frazer said.

“It’s been filmed to portray an accurate and honest point of view, but it’s also a platform to launch people into action.”

In 2018, the World Health Organization called for global action to end cervical cancer this century.

Conquering Cancer is a definitive feature documentary with a soaring ambition: to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer for every woman and girl.

The story takes us around the world, introducing us to the inspiring medical professionals championing the global push to eliminate cervical cancer; the policymakers who are bringing prevention programs to their regions; and the women who have faced cervical cancer head-on and have emerged furiously, ready to take action against this needless disease.

Among the stories featured is that of Australian woman Kirsty Browne, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer at age 26. She became one of the first Australian women to deliver a baby after having her cervix removed.

At a time when cervical cancer is on the brink of elimination but more than 300,000 women are still lost to the preventable disease each year, a global commitment is needed more than ever.

Professor Frazer is Ambassador and Chair to the TRI Foundation, as well as holding affiliations with UQ Faculty of Medicine, UQ Diamantina Institute and the Institute for Molecular Biosciences.

A preview trailer of the documentary is available on YouTube.