Visitors to frolic in joyous Year of Dog
Staying active helps heart to survive effects of chemotherapy
UP TO 25,000 international visitors are expected to converge on Cairns for one of the city’s biggest Chinese New Year Celebrations yet.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning launched the KUR-World Great Barrier Reef Chinese New Year celebrations at the Reef Hotel Casino yesterday.
The program will run from February 16 to March 3.
Now in its 15th year, the celebrations are co-ordinated by the Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc.
Event general manager Nathan Lee Long said visitors EXERCISING during cancer treatment has been found to protect the heart against accelerated ageing from the toxic had already started to arrive in Cairns ahead of the celebrations on the Cairns Esplanade next Friday.
“We are set for one of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations in Cairns’ history,” he said. but lifesaving therapy.
A trial by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute found the hearts of breast cancer patients who exercised during chemotherapy were protected.
“We’re expecting an increase in Chinese visitor numbers from mainland China and Hong Kong as well as the seasonal visitors as a result of the new direct flights.
“It makes a big difference and you can certainly see the
But the cardiac function of those who were not active aged by the equivalent of six years after three months of therapy.
And preliminary findings from a follow-up to the pilot growing number of Chinese tourists in the city compared to last year.
“On top of that we also see regulars come in from domestic flights.”
Cairns city will be at the heart of the Lunar New Year celebrations with historic China Town in Grafton Street and surrounds set to come alive with dancers, food and Chinese culture.
“Cairns is a great attraction in itself and the Great Barrier Reef is on most of the Chinese travellers’ bucket lists,” Mr Lee Long said.
“The Chinese New Year celebrations complement the attraction of Cairns and gives study show this ageing may not be reversible, further strengthening the advice that cardio and strength-based exercise is vital to safeguard the health of cancer patients. these guests a reason to stay here longer.”
Mr Lee Long said celebrations for the Year of the Dog would feature a huge program, which was expected to also attract up to 20,000 locals.
“The street festival is always a favourite, I enjoy when that kicks off and you see it take place after a year or more of planning,” he said.
“Then the fireworks and then fire crackers is something I can always keep watching each year.”
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Lead researcher Associate Professor Andre La Gerche said it was important to find ways to minimise heart damage, given that women with early disease were now more likely to die from heart disease than cancer.
The preliminary findings found that overall the heart did not pump as well after chemotherapy.