Jane McGrath's death from breast cancer highlighted the fact that people from all walks of life can be struck down from this dreaded disease. Jane was one of the seven women in Australia who die from breast cancer every single day. Jane has left a lasting legacy to support women with breast cancer through her rural breast care nurses' scholarships and supporters have rallied to contribute even further to help her cause.
Find out more about the foundation's work at http://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/
Women across the country have flooded the national breast screening line - phone 13 20 50 - no doubt, boosting this week's booking stats.
Last week Elisabeth (Liz) Black, our clinical services manager, finalised our own breast care nurse mentoring report to the Commonwealth. It was great to see that we have brought in more than 50 nurses (mainly from rural areas) to give them a one-week intensive at the BCI. Thanks to the many clinicians and staff who generously gave their time to support this program. The program is coming to an end but the BCI wants to continue this program, which showcases the fabulous cancer program at Sydney West Area Health Service.
John
PS: The mouth swab test reported in the New England Journal of Medicine this week is not a substitute for screening and is at the very least 10 years away from any practical implementation. One interview I did this week is highlighted at this link:
Mouth Swab press
This is the breast cancer site of Prof John Boyages, author of Breast Cancer: Taking Control
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Danes seek BCI expertise (fellowship possibility)
On Monday, 9 June, I was invted by the Danish Cancer Society to present the "BCI model of care" to a group, which included health department and medical representatives.
They were particularly concerned as their breast cancer mortality was higher in Denmark than Australia and other western countries. A particular problem in Denmark is the lack of acceptance of a national screening program and patchy uptake of multidisciplinary breast cancer care.
They were particularly concerned as their breast cancer mortality was higher in Denmark than Australia and other western countries. A particular problem in Denmark is the lack of acceptance of a national screening program and patchy uptake of multidisciplinary breast cancer care.
This followed a successful visit to Westmead Hospital whilst I was away in April this year.
Their visit to Westmead was in fact written up in the Australian newspaper and was a great credit to the delivery of cancer services in NSW and Westmead. Following discussions with Paul Harnett, one aspect I proposed was a regular cancer fellowship between Westmead and Denmark.
Their visit to Westmead was in fact written up in the Australian newspaper and was a great credit to the delivery of cancer services in NSW and Westmead. Following discussions with Paul Harnett, one aspect I proposed was a regular cancer fellowship between Westmead and Denmark.
Visit to the International Cancer Screening Network
On the 4-7th June I was invited as the Australian delegate to the Biennial Meeting of the International Screening network at the Lo-Skolen Conference Center in Helsingor, Denmark.
The first day involved a planning workshop on issues related to best-practice treatment after the detection of screen detected breast cancer.
I gave a presentation on the framework for cancer screening in Australia and associated results. I presented some of the results from the National monitoring report. The latest report can be found here:
National monitoring report
To say the least, many delegates were VERY interested in our digital roll-out strategy and thought our Myer strategy and our proposed strengthened links with treatment was very innovative. A few delegates from Italy wanted more information about our strategies.
I met with a Professor of Education, Berta Geller from the University of Vermont and we spoke about working on an analysis of the best way to provide feedback to radiologists. Berta has collected information from all over the world on this issue and presented a poster on various "visual", easy to digest options.
I also had some discussions with various delegates on the issue of annual screening - lots of research ideas but no real solutions to the "problem" of too many annual screens.
the International Screening Web site can be found at:
http://appliedresearch.cancer.gov/icsn/
The first day involved a planning workshop on issues related to best-practice treatment after the detection of screen detected breast cancer.
I gave a presentation on the framework for cancer screening in Australia and associated results. I presented some of the results from the National monitoring report. The latest report can be found here:
National monitoring report
To say the least, many delegates were VERY interested in our digital roll-out strategy and thought our Myer strategy and our proposed strengthened links with treatment was very innovative. A few delegates from Italy wanted more information about our strategies.
I met with a Professor of Education, Berta Geller from the University of Vermont and we spoke about working on an analysis of the best way to provide feedback to radiologists. Berta has collected information from all over the world on this issue and presented a poster on various "visual", easy to digest options.
I also had some discussions with various delegates on the issue of annual screening - lots of research ideas but no real solutions to the "problem" of too many annual screens.
the International Screening Web site can be found at:
http://appliedresearch.cancer.gov/icsn/
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Mastectomies for early-stage breast cancer rise after MRI
This study quoted in CBC News Canada gets to the crux of the problem with Breast MRI.
MRI and Breast Cancer
1. They have a high rate of false positives
2. We don't know if we are just picking up smaller disease that was always there and treated with radiation therapy.
3. It is feasible that having an MRI and recommending a mastectomy if a tumour is thought to be multifocal may not increase survival compared to treatment by cosnervative surgery and radiation therapy.
At the BCI, our pilot MRI study for women 50 years and under continues. Our target is 50 patients and we have NINE patients to recruit to complete the study.
Dr Nehmat Houssami, a research consultant at the BCI will be publishing a meta-analysis about MRI as part of an international collaboration
MRI and Breast Cancer
1. They have a high rate of false positives
2. We don't know if we are just picking up smaller disease that was always there and treated with radiation therapy.
3. It is feasible that having an MRI and recommending a mastectomy if a tumour is thought to be multifocal may not increase survival compared to treatment by cosnervative surgery and radiation therapy.
At the BCI, our pilot MRI study for women 50 years and under continues. Our target is 50 patients and we have NINE patients to recruit to complete the study.
Dr Nehmat Houssami, a research consultant at the BCI will be publishing a meta-analysis about MRI as part of an international collaboration
Vit D and Breast Cancer
There is more and more evidence that having normal Vit D levels is good for women with breast cancer. This new report is worth looking at (Click on the Title for more Details)
The researchers studied more than 500 women with breast cancer and found that women deficient in vitamin D were 94 percent more likely to have their cancer spread and 73 percent more likely to die from their cancer.
The findings of the study—which are expected to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, to be held May 31 to June 3, in Chicago —suggest that vitamin D deficiency is very common in women with breast cancer. The study found that only 24 percent of the patients had adequate levels of vitamin D when they were diagnosed. The researchers discovered that human breast cancer cells shriveled up and died when vitamin D was added to them.
Many women are now Vitamin D deficient as they protect themselves from the sun.
We also measure Vit D levels when a patient is on an Aromatase Inhibitor as the reduced oestrogen levels can increase the incidence of Osteoporosis.
The researchers studied more than 500 women with breast cancer and found that women deficient in vitamin D were 94 percent more likely to have their cancer spread and 73 percent more likely to die from their cancer.
The findings of the study—which are expected to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, to be held May 31 to June 3, in Chicago —suggest that vitamin D deficiency is very common in women with breast cancer. The study found that only 24 percent of the patients had adequate levels of vitamin D when they were diagnosed. The researchers discovered that human breast cancer cells shriveled up and died when vitamin D was added to them.
Many women are now Vitamin D deficient as they protect themselves from the sun.
We also measure Vit D levels when a patient is on an Aromatase Inhibitor as the reduced oestrogen levels can increase the incidence of Osteoporosis.
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