As part of Breast Cancer Trials Clinical Fellowship Program, Dr. Julia Matheson is working on a project that will continue research on the existing clinical trial called the Breast MRI Evaluation Study, which aims to establish when breast MRIs improve patient outcomes. The focus of this Clinical Fellowship project will be assessing the participant experience of undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The hypothesis is that having a breast MRI ...
Jun 05, 2023•9 min
Breast Cancer Trials International Clinical Fellowship Support aims to financially assist promising junior researchers to gain international experience and connections. Dr Julia Dixon-Douglas has been awarded support in the first year of the program and is heading to France to study novel therapies for breast cancer. Her research may help improve our understanding of which patients will have the greatest benefit from these treatments and how they are best administered to patients. We asked Dr Di...
May 29, 2023•10 min
Sham was born in Iraq in the Middle East but has lived in Melbourne with her parents and 2 children for the last 7 years. In 2019 Sham was diagnosed with breast cancer, after noticing some pain in her right breast while at work. She is a participant in the CAPTURE clinical trial, which aims to identify women and men with hormone-receptor-positive, metastatic breast cancer, who may benefit from a novel combination of drugs that may improve progression-free survival and offer a new treatment optio...
May 19, 2023•11 min
As part of the Breast Cancer Trials clinical fellowship program, Dr Adam Ofri is working on two research projects focusing on the de-escalation of treatment. His first study, called the ‘Targeted Axillary Dissection Based Study’, aims to evaluate the armpit nodes after chemotherapy, in the hopes that fewer nodes will need to be removed during surgery, whilst still providing the same control of cancer in the armpit area. His second study, called the ‘Decision RT Based Study’ focuses on Decision R...
May 16, 2023•15 min
Diane Barker lives in Sydney with her husband Mike, their daughter Eva, and their dog Boston. In December 2020, at just 44 years of age, Diane was diagnosed with locally advanced triple negative breast cancer. We spoke with Diane about her diagnosis, her decision to participate in a clinical trial and the importance of supporting breast cancer clinical trials research.
Dec 06, 2022•38 min
Since 1978, Breast Cancer Trials has conducted a number of clinical trials which have changed the way we treat breast cancer, save lives and improve patient quality of life. We spoke with one of our founders, Professor Alan Coates AM, about the ANZ8101 and BIG 1-98 clinical trials, which were practice changing research and still have relevance today. Professor Coates discusses the changes he has seen to breast cancer treatments as a result of these trials and his excitement about the future of b...
Nov 24, 2022•14 min
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common subtype of breast cancer, with 2,400 new cases each year in Australia. Patients with ILC may have a poorer outcome over time and the cancer has a tendency to metastasize to atypical sites such as the gastrointestinal tract, gynaecological organs or orbit (eye). We spoke with Dr Sokolova about her research project, which will examine a new treatment approach directed at ILC.
Oct 25, 2022•5 min
Approximately 70% of women experience moderate to high levels of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and up to 15% experience severe, disabling FCR characterised by constant, intrusive thoughts about cancer; interpretation of mild, unrelated symptoms as a sign of recurrence; a belief that cancer will return regardless of actual prognosis; and an inability to plan for the future due to cancer worry. FCR is a routine reason for seeking professional clinical support and is associated with psychological...
Oct 10, 2022•7 min
Endocrine Therapy or hormone therapy is a treatment that tries to block or reduce circulating estrogens, which is what drives the majority of breast cancers. Dr Belinda Yeo is a Medical Oncologist at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in Melbourne, who is researching the level of therapy that breast cancer patients require, to minimise toxicity in treatment. She was a guest speaker at the 2022 Breast Cancer Trials Annual Scientific Meeting, and we asked Dr Yeo to explain ...
Sep 20, 2022•7 min
Dr David Okonji is a Medical Oncologist at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand, who is researching into metastatic breast cancer, asking the question: Are we curing HER+ Metastatic Breast Cancer? He was a guest speaker at the 2022 Breast Cancer Trials Annual Scientific Meeting, and we asked Dr Okonji to explain his research on this topic.
Sep 20, 2022•8 min
Associate Professor Lesley Stafford is a clinical psychologist in psycho-oncology and women's health, with a specific interest in women with or at risk of breast cancer. She consults in the Breast Service and Familial Cancer Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as well as in private practice, and is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne.
Sep 15, 2022•15 min
Dr Shom Goel is a clinician-scientist at the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, with a strong interest in Translational Breast Cancer Research. He was a guest speaker at the 2022 Breast Cancer Trials Annual Scientific Meeting and we asked Dr Goel to explain his research in CDK4/6 inhibitors and where research is going in the future.
Sep 15, 2022•5 min
Finding My Way is an online coping program for individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer. The program is designed to support people through their cancer diagnosis, as well as help to provide strategies to live well despite this diagnosis. We talk with Associate Professor Lisa Beatty as she explains what 'Finding My Way' is and how it was initiated.
Aug 29, 2022•8 min
As part of a Clinical Fellowship project with Breast Cancer Trials, Dr Christine Muttiah is aiming to assist in the clinical conduct of the BRCA-P study in the hopes to increase recruitment across all 14 Breast Cancer Trials BRCA-P sites. We asked Dr Muttiah to provide an overview of this project and its aims.
Aug 29, 2022•7 min
As part of a Clinical Fellowship project with Breast Cancer Trials, Dr Elizabeth Blackley is working on a study that involves the collection of data and the development of a registry on breast cancer incidents, treatment outcomes, and quality of life metrics in young Australian women. The aim is to help form a streamlined model of care for young women and offer various support services to help them through their diagnosis.
Aug 29, 2022•12 min
While there is no way to prevent breast cancer, there are steps that can be taken to lower one's risk of being diagnosed, particularly for women with a strong family history or those who carry a gene mutation. Dr Wanda Cui is a Medical Oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and is researching into breast cancer prevention within the risk management clinic. We asked Dr Cui to explain her research on Breast Cancer Prevention.
Aug 23, 2022•9 min
Professor Prue Francis is a Medical Oncologist and the Clinical Head of Breast Medical Oncology at the Perter McCallum Cancer Centre. Professor Francis is researching into Metastatic breast cancer, asking the question: Does Detecting Metastatic Disease Early Make a Difference? We asked Professor Francis to explain her research on this topic.
Aug 23, 2022•5 min
Dr Hope Rugo is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr Rugo is a Principal Investigator of multiple clinical trials focusing on combining novel targeted therapeutics with standard treatment. We asked Dr Rugo to explain her research topic: New Options in HR+ Breast Cancer - TROPICS-02 and beyond.
Aug 18, 2022•13 min
Health economics is used in clinical trials to ensure information is being collected in the right way so that it can be provided to the minister or committees such as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee so that they can compare new treatments with existing treatments to decide what drugs should be funded in the public system. We asked Associate Professor De Abreu Lorenco to explain what health economics is, and how it is currently used in clinical trials.
Aug 16, 2022•17 min
Radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery plays an important role in the management of early breast cancer, decreasing the risk of breast cancer returning and improving mortality rates. Dr Janice Yeh is evaluating the technical feasibility and clinical performance of the novel NASHA gel compared to standard surgical clips as a fiducial marker.
Aug 15, 2022•8 min
Madelaine Atkins was 50 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, in 2008, after finding a small lump in her right breast. Despite receiving chemotherapy, radiation and having surgery to remove her right breast, unfortunately in 2011 Madelaine was diagnosed with Advanced Breast Cancer in her shoulder, neck, and lymph nodes.After discussing further treatment options with her oncologist, Madelaine decided to participate in the FINER clinical trial. We spoke with Madelaine about her diagnose...
Aug 04, 2022•12 min
Katharine and Skye had never met each other, but they shared something in common. Both women carry the BRCA-1 gene mutation. This is an inherited gene that increases their chance of developing breast cancer by 70% and ovarian cancer by 40% throughout their lifetime. Until now, life-changing invasive surgery and regular breast screening have been the only options available for women like Katharine and Skye. However, the BRCA-P clinical trial aims to open up a new treatment opportunity for women w...
Jul 20, 2022•14 min
Ben and Michael Kavich are brothers and race car drivers, who are asking you to support lifesaving breast cancer trials research by donating to Race for a Cure. Race for a Cure was founded by Ben's wife, Toula, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer following the Bathurst 6 Hour in 2016. Toula's disease shocked the Kavich family who had already lived through the harrowing impact of breast cancer after Ben and Michael's grandmother and mother were diagnosed. The brothers are using their passi...
Jul 08, 2022•11 min
At 31 years old, Laura found a lump in her breast and was shortly after diagnosed with breast cancer. We spoke with Laura about her shock diagnosis, her decision to participate in the Breast MRI Evaluation Study, and her advice to other young women who have also received a diagnosis.
Jul 05, 2022•10 min
A side effect of some chemotherapy, and targeted therapy treatments, is Hand and Foot syndrome, also known as hand-foot syndrome, Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia, or PPE. We spoke with Senior Podiatrist Rebecca Angus about the symptoms of the side effect and how it's treated.
Dec 15, 2021•10 min
Dimity Paul knew she carried an 80% risk of developing breast cancer since she was 21 years old, although it still came as a huge shock when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 31. She spoke with us about her experience with the BRCA1 gene mutation, her participation on the OlympiA clinical trial and how being a part of a supportive workplace helped her through her treatment.
Dec 14, 2021•16 min
Samantha was 21 years old when she found out she had the BRCA1 gene mutation. This means she has a 70% risk of developing breast cancer and a 40% risk of developing ovarian cancer. She spoke with us about her decision to participate in the BRCA-P clinical trial.
Dec 14, 2021•9 min
We spoke with Professor Julia White, a tenured Professor of Radiation Oncology and Koltz Sisters Chair for Cancer Research at the Ohio State University, about partial breast irradiation. We speak about the different types of this treatment, who it is best suited for and the continuing research in this area.
Dec 05, 2021•9 min
The CAPTURE clinical trial aims to improve survival rates for women and men with ER+ HER2- breast cancer. This study will investigate the effectiveness of treatment with targeted cancer therapy (alpelisib) and chemotherapy (fulvestrant), compared to a chemotherapy (capecitabine) alone in men and women with ER+ HER2- breast cancer with a PIKC3A mutation.We spoke with the CAPTURE study chair, Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, about this important clinical trial.
Dec 05, 2021•6 min
Being able to access support services after a breast cancer diagnosis is an important part of the recovery process for some patients, as having access to meet and relate with others in a similar situation can aid in alleviating some feelings of anxiety and isolation. Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) helps to connect those with breast cancer with support services in person and online. We caught up with BCNA's CEO Kirsten Pilatti about the importance of these groups, and how to access them....
Dec 03, 2021•6 min
