News

Prominent South Australian oncologist Professor Dorothy Keefe has been appointed the new chief executive of Cancer Australia.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the appointment came as ministerial board appointments in the health portfolio topped more than 50 per cent female for the first time.

This month began with a visit to the annual Lorne Cancer Conference. Congratulations to all who have shared in the 30-year history of the meeting, and to the organising committee for yet another successful event.  It was great to see strong representation from throughout the alliance and to share conversations and learnings across the cancer spectrum.

Underpinned by three decades of scientific determination and collaboration

A new targeted treatment option for patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) will be available from 1 March 2019 through the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Major diseases have a severe impact on the quality of life for Australians and their families

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology of the Australian Government is providing more than $22 million for important early stage research that will lead to new interventions, cures and treatments of major diseases.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Anthony Carbines today launched the University of Melbourne Master of Cancer Sciences Course, in partnership with the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance.

A new specialist university Masters degree will upskill researchers and professionals working in the cancer field, and has been developed with the support of the Victorian Government.

The Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund has launched annual scholarships of up to $10,000 for the centre's nursing staff to keep them up to date with research and best practise. [paywall]

New type of super-precise radiotherapy promises to transform the way we treat certain types of lung cancer

When Maureen Chrul was diagnosed with inoperable stage-one lung cancer 10 years ago, she told her family she didn't have the patience or the ability to fight it.

Ms Chrul, who is now 76, had raised six children as a single mother after her husband died in an industrial accident in the 1970s, all while working many different roles in hospitals around the city.

Many smokers are wary of going to the doctor when they develop respiratory symptoms, because they’re worried about getting ticked off for being a smoker in the first place.

That’s especially problematic because catching lung cancer early is key.

So how can health bodies get those at risk to see a doc earlier?

Projects target functional, physical, social and emotional challenges that accompany a diagnosis of cancer

Throughout her career, Professor Mei Krishnasamy has worked to improve the evidence base for cancer nursing care, particularly for people with rarer cancers.

Deaths rates from rectal cancer are predicted to increase almost 60 per cent in Australia by 2035, while many other countries are seeing death rates fall.

On the plus side, Australia's rates of colon cancer are expected to fall by around 50 per cent by 2035.  Death rates for both colon and rectal cancer are expected to drop globally but the total number of deaths is expected to rise, due to population growth and ageing. 

Range of initiatives now underway

Increasing clinical trials harmonisation and enhancing capability across alliance partner trial sites are key initiatives to improve benefits to patients and access to cancer clinical trials.

Imperative that the conference provides innovative content that reflects the breadth and depth of our partners and collaborators

The VCCC Research Conference provides a spotlight for Victorian cancer research discoveries, education achievements and clinical translation outcomes, as well as bringing together national and international experts.

I’m very pleased to wrap up the year with the news that the first cancer clinical trial implemented through the VCCC Teletrials Program has opened in Albury, Wodonga and Bendigo.

Helping Cancer Researchers Pinpoint The Issue

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Translational Proteomic Facility is the first in Australia with the capability for protein-based assays that will complement the use of genomics in targeting cancer therapies.

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre alliance with the University of Melbourne is coordinating a new Master of Cancer Sciences 

Course coordinator Dr David Kok, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre shares his passion for the new educational program with researcher and potential student Helen Sehric.

New program to explore opportunities and collaborations

On Thursday 25 October, the Building Capability in Clinical Trials Program was kick-started at the Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service.

Congratulations to 200th CCPhD student Narelle Keating

Last month the 200th student - Narelle Keating enrolled in the program, signifying a major milestone in networking and information sharing among emerging cancer researchers.

Last week I attended the inaugural Advances in Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Symposium, jointly presented by Cancer Therapeutics CRC - (CTx), Merck Sharpe and Dohme MSD,and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre alliance.

As I was preparing to attend the World Cancer Congress last week I was struck by the authenticity and relevance of a speech happening at another world forum.

An Australian-first approach to cancer clinical trials – called registry-based randomised controlled trials or registry trials – will enhance the ability of clinicians to select the right treatments for patients.

Working with partners across the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) alliance and private health services, the first Australian cancer-focused registry trials will investigate and evaluate promising new cancer treatment strategies for bowel cancer and brain tumours.

As Australia’s only fully-fledged comprehensive cancer centre, our distributed leadership model is essential to a community that crosses institutional, organisation and expertise boundaries.