Media

28 August 2023

Darwin throws the spotlight on Australia’s most common genetic disorder – haemochromatosis 

Most people know having too little iron in your body can cause anaemia, which is characterised by tiredness and lethargy, but few people know that the same symptoms can also be caused by having too much iron. The hereditary condition, haemochromatosis, which is passed on from both biological parents, is simple to detect and treat but if undiagnosed or ignored can lead to serious and life-threatening illness, including liver disease, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.

One in seven Australians carry one copy of the defective gene, while one in 200 Australians have two copies, which puts them at high risk of developing the condition.

 Haemochromatosis Australia (HA) is raising awareness of the condition by holding a Public Information Session at the Darwin Convention Centre on Thursday 31 August 2023 at 5.00pm. This free session will give members of the Darwin community, like Denise, the opportunity to find out more, speak to others with haemochromatosis and also to ask questions.

1 June 2023

Australia lightens the overload of Australia’s most common genetic disorder

Around 100 well-known buildings and landmarks across Australia, will turn red every evening from 1-7 June, shining a light on an extremely common genetic condition that most people have never heard of. It is part of a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of haemochromatosis – also known as iron overload – and to prompt people to get tested.

10 August 2022

Get Carried Away in Australia’s First Wildlife-friendly Balloon Race 

With environmental awareness now a key community consideration raising money ethically is crucial to the success of any project. A virtual balloon race has no impact on the environment or our wonderful wildlife. This virtual balloon race will help fund research for Haemochromatosis Australia, a charity that supports people with Iron Overload. Haemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in Australia affecting 1 in 200 and is linked to cancer and other chronic diseases in which the body absorbs dangerously high levels of iron. 

23 July 2022

World first Patient Registry for Australia’s most common genetic disorder

 Australia will design and host the world’s first patient registry for Haemochromatosis, a genetic disorder linked to cancer and other chronic diseases in which the body absorbs dangerous levels of iron. 

The Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program is funding the development of the cloud-based Haemochromatosis National Patient Registry which will serve as an important national and global resource for clinicians. 

The centralized database – the first of its kind – will also facilitate research into the role of iron in chronic health conditions including liver disease, arthritis, diabetes and heart conditions, as well as supporting opportunities for future research into the impact of iron on the brain.

14 MARCH 2022

Letter to the editor If you’re celebrating ‘a touch of the Irish’ in your blood on St Patrick’s Day, spare a thought for whether this means you are pumping too much iron.

26 NOVEMBER 2020

Liver cancer ten times more likely in men with haemochromatosis Findings from research led by the University of Exeter published in the internationally renowned journal JAMA reveal that men with Australia’s most common genetic disorder are ten times more likely to develop liver cancer and have prompted calls for greater use of simple detection and treatment techniques.

10 FEBRUARY 2020

Launch of Parliamentary Friends of Haemochromatosis Despite being the most common genetic disorder in Australia, haemochromatosis is often underdiagnosed because people don’t know about it and symptoms are general. One in 200 are at risk and one in seven people carry the condition, and it is equally likely in both sexes.