BCAC supported the visit of the ASB Visiting Professor Annette Stanton in March 2011 when she presented a public lecture entitled "Survivorship in Breast Cancer What helps and hinders women?".
Following her trip to the 33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in December 2010, BCAC committee member Rowena Mortimer is convinced of the value of the associated advocacy programme.
This year the Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZ BCTG) combined its 2010 Annual Scientific meeting with COSA (Clinical Oncological Society of Australia) in early November in Melbourne, Australia.
Libby Burgess, BCAC chair, attended this conference as a member of IMPACT, the programme for Improving Participation and Advocacy for Clinical Trials associated with ANZ BCTG’s Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP).
BCAC Deputy Chair Chris Walsh and committee member Sue Ellis attended a day forum in Wellington in December organised by the Cancer Society and Central Cancer Network.
Titled ‘Survivorship – from discharge through follow up and beyond’ it attracted about 90 health professionals and survivors from around New Zealand.
Chris made the following observations:
The deeper researchers dive into the genetics of breast cancer, the more complicated their discoveries. And the latest, and deepest, dive is no exception.
The SOLE trial, involving 4,800 women worldwide, aims to determine whether taking the hormonal drug letrozole for a prolonged period helps to prevent or delay breast cancer recurring.
New Zealand women are invited to participate in the LATER study, which looks at whether a particular drug can prevent breast cancer from recurring.
More than 1,700 post-menopausal women who have been treated with hormonal therapy for more than four years are invited to take part in this clinical trial run by the Australia New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG).
By Jenni Scarlet, Research Nurse, Breast Care Centre, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are research studies where a new treatment is tested against a best available or standard treatment. Clinical trials involve people working with research staff (including doctors and nurses) to help find ways to improve health and care of people with diseases such as breast or other cancer.
Women at increased risk of developing breast cancer are needed to participate in a clinical trial which aims to identify a drug to help prevent the disease.
The IBIS-II trial is being run by the Australia New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group and Cancer Research UK and focuses on the drugs Anastrozole and Tamoxifen and whether they are beneficial in helping to prevent breast cancer.
BCAC committee member, Dr Chris Walsh, received a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women’s health in the New Year’s Honours 2010.
