Breast Cancer Trials
Breast Cancer Trials podcast shares the latest breast cancer research from the Australian and New Zealand clinical trials group. It features stories and experiences from people affected by breast cancer. The show helps explain topics around breast cancer and clinical trials research.
Episodes
What Makes Lobular Breast Cancer Different? Unlocking the Biology of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer, yet there is still much to learn about what makes this disease biologically distinct. In this episode, we sit down with Associate Professor Amy McCart Reed to explore the molecular underpinnings of invasive lobular carcinoma. Associate Professor McCart Reed discusses what researchers are learning about the biology of invas
Could Patients with Breast Cancer Safely Skip Radiation & the Potential Side Effects? Inside the ROSALIE Clinical Trial
Could Patients with Breast Cancer Safely Skip Radiation & the Potential Side Effects? Inside the ROSALIE Clinical TrialCould skipping radiation after breast-conserving surgery be safe for some patients? The ROSALIE trial is exploring this possibility. In this episode, we sit down with Professor Boon Chua, Radiation Oncologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of New South Wales, who
Neoadjuvant Now: What's Next in Pre-Surgical Breast Cancer Treatment?
Neoadjuvant Now: What's Next in Pre-Surgical Breast Cancer Treatment?More and more breast cancer patients are now receiving treatment before surgery - but what’s next for this approach? In this episode, we look at how neoadjuvant therapy is changing, the new treatments being tested, and what it could mean for patients in the future.Hear from the Head of the International Breast Cancer Centre (
Next Gen Oncology: Insights for Trainees and Early-Career Clinicians
Next Gen Oncology: Insights for Trainees and Early-Career CliniciansAre you a trainee or early career professional in oncology looking to connect, learn, and grow? In this episode, we highlight the Trainee and Early Career Day at the Breast Cancer Trials Annual Scientific Meeting. A unique opportunity to network with peers, gain insights from leading researchers, and kickstart your professional de
Caring for the Caregivers: Preventing Burnout in Oncology
Caring for the Caregivers: Preventing Burnout in OncologyWhat happens when the people caring for everyone else are running on empty? In this episode, we sit down with London-based Professor of psycho-oncology, Dame Lesley Fallowfield, to explore burnout, practical self-care strategies, and ways we can better support healthcare workers before exhaustion takes its toll.(5:22) Some of the key warning
Intimacy and Insight: Sexual Health After Breast Cancer
Intimacy and Insight: Sexual Health After Breast CancerSexual health after breast cancer is a topic too often left in the shadows - yet it profoundly affects quality of life both during and post-diagnosis. In this episode, Dr Belinda Yeo and Dr Virginia Baird open the conversation, sharing insights into how we can better support patients navigating intimacy, identity, and well-being after breast c
Choosing Your Path & Navigating Difficult Treatment Decisions
Choosing Your Path & Navigating Difficult Treatment DecisionsWhat happens when patients say ‘no’ to recommended treatments? The search for alternatives can be confronting for both patients and clinicians. Associate Professor Lesley Stafford explores why some patients take this path, what it means for their outcomes, and how the medical community can better navigate these difficult conversation
Lotjpa Yapaneyepuk (Talk Together): Bridging Communities and Cancer Research
Lotjpa Yapaneyepuk (Talk Together): Bridging Communities and Cancer Research Access to clinical trials isn't equal, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Regional Victoria, barriers in accessing treatment for breast cancer remain. Dr Monica Green and Ms Leah Lindrea-Morrison share an initiative that's breaking down those barriers by talking together, listening deeply, an
4CASTING the Future: Innovations in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
4CASTING the Future: Innovations in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Triple negative breast cancer remains one of the most challenging types to treat because it lacks the common treatment targets, grows and spreads aggressively, is highly diverse and currently has limited effective therapies - but new research is changing the story. Associate Professor Rachel Dear takes us inside the 4CAST trial, sh
Listen to Your Heart: Cardiac Care After Breast Cancer
Listen to Your Heart: Cardiac Care After Breast CancerBreast cancer treatments save lives, but sometimes it can leave the heart at risk. Professor Thomas Marwick sheds light on cardiac care for breast cancer survivors, exploring how monitoring and management strategies can protect heart health long after treatment ends. In this episode, we sit down with Thomas to discuss:(01:09) The common cardiac
Facing the Fear: Life After Breast Cancer
Facing the Fear: Life After Breast CancerFor many breast cancer survivors, finishing treatment isn't the end of the journey - it's the beginning of new fears. Fear of recurrence is one of the most common and distressing challenges patients face. In this episode, Associate Professor Ben Smith unpacks why these fears occur, how they affect daily life, and what strategies can help patients mo
Screening Smarter: Personalised Approaches in Breast Care
Screening Smarter: Personalised Approaches in Breast CareIs it time to rethink a ‘one size fits all’ approach to breast screening? Associate Professor Sanjay Warrier joins us to discuss the future of tailored breast screening, a personalised approach that could revolutionise how we detect breast cancer earlier and more effectively.In this episode, we sit down with Professor Warrier to discuss:(01:
Advancing Care for Young Women with Breast Cancer
Advancing Care for Young Women with Breast CancerYoung women with breast cancer often face unique challenges beyond their diagnosis, including long-term survivorship issues, fertility and family planning concerns, and a higher likelihood of aggressive cancers. But are their treatment pathways keeping up? Dr Belinda Kiely explains the ground-breaking OPTIMA-Young trial, part of the larger PATH-for-
Holding It Together: Breast Cancer and the Busy Mum Life
Holding It Together: Breast Cancer and the Busy Mum LifeWhen you’re a mum of two young boys, life is full of chaos, and for Belinda, it also became a time of deep uncertainty when, in 2019, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. In this episode, we sit down with Belinda to discuss:Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis while raising a young family.The importance of having a community
Routine, Resilience, and Research: One Mum’s Cancer Story
Routine, Resilience, and Research: One Mum's Cancer StoryWhat happens when your life plans are suddenly redrawn by a breast cancer diagnosis? Emily, her husband, and their two children had moved to Australia in 2012 from the UK and was busy building a future for her family when she found herself on a very different path. In this episode, we sit down with Emily to discuss:Navigating breast canc
The Village Effect: Why Community Matters During Cancer Treatment
The Village Effect: Why Community Matters During Cancer TreatmentFor Sarah, motherhood was already a full-time job — between nippers, football, and everything in between. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she found herself navigating treatment while parenting young children and holding her family together through the uncertainty.In this episode, we sit down with Sarah to discuss:The lead-
Virtual Reality Meets Radiation: A New Era in Patient Coaching
Virtual Reality Meets Radiation: A New Era in Patient CoachingKathleene Dower is a Radiation Therapist and 2025 Clinical Fellow with Breast Cancer Trials. Her project is about piloting virtual reality (VR) coaching and education for deep inspiration breath hold, a breathing technique used during radiation therapy to move the heart away from radiation and protect it from damage. This study will exp
From IVF to Breast Cancer: Navigating a Diagnosis in Early Motherhood
From IVF to Breast Cancer: Navigating a Diagnosis in Early MotherhoodRebecca Pickering is a devoted mum to Daphne and Dorothy and wife to Matt. She loves spending quality time with her family and exploring the beauty of her hometown, Mildura. Rebecca’s journey to motherhood included a series of IVF treatments before welcoming her two daughters. Not long after their birth, she began noticing change
Beyond the Plate: Rebuilding Healthy Habits After Breast Cancer
Beyond the Plate: Rebuilding Healthy Habits After Breast Cancer Lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise have been shown to have positive impacts on clinical outcomes, including tolerance to chemotherapy, fatigue, weight maintenance, and reduced risk of cancer recurrence. However, no one intervention fits all. Maintaining healthy lifestyle activities can be challenging for some, and the r
Revolutionising Radiotherapy: The ORNATE Study and the Future of Breast Cancer Treatment
Revolutionising Radiotherapy: The ORNATE Study and the Future of Breast Cancer Treatment Dr Metz is a radiation oncologist and 2025 clinical fellow with Breast Cancer Trials. Her project, optimising radiotherapy in the neoadjuvant therapy era, also known as ORNATE, aims to refine radiotherapy for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy before surgery.In this episode, we sit down with Dr Gabr
ADCs in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Breakthroughs, Challenges, and the Future of Targeted Therapy
Understanding Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Breakthroughs, Challenges, and the Future of Targeted TherapyADCs are a breakthrough in targeted chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. While ADCs like trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) offer new hope, challenges like resistance and various side effects still remain, and can therefore limit their clinical use. In this epis
Beyond the Clinic: How ePRO is Revolutionising Metastatic Breast Cancer Care While Saving Patients Time & Money
Beyond the Clinic: How ePRO is Revolutionising Metastatic Breast Cancer Care While Saving Patients Time & MoneyElectronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO) remote monitoring is a game-changer for people living with metastatic breast cancer. Many patients on treatments like CDK4/6 inhibitors and anti-HER2 therapies remain stable for long periods, yet they still have to attend frequent check-ups.
Why Language Matters: Using Respectful Terms in Breast Cancer Care
Why Language Matters: Using Respectful Terms in Breast Cancer CareProfessor Fran Boyle is a highly experienced Medical Oncologist who specialises in the areas of breast cancer and melanoma. She is passionate about making advances in this field, and her practice focuses on researching new treatments as well as developing care and communication. We spoke with Professor Boyle about the importance of
Science and Hope: How Research is Changing Breast Cancer Treatment
Science and Hope: How Research is Changing Breast Cancer TreatmentElissa Simms is a mum of two daughters, 20-year-old Bryn and 17-year-old Ella, who enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dogs Kahlua and Lottie.In March 2024, Elissa noticed a strange sensation in her breast. At the time, she was seeing her GP frequently as she was dealing with a frozen shoulder and thought the two mi
Receiving a Shock Diagnosis: The Importance of Supporting Clinical Trials Research
Receiving a Shock Diagnosis: The Importance of Supporting Clinical Trials Research Tamara Dawes is a mum and primary school teacher living in NSW, who enjoys living in the country, going to the beach, and spending time with her family and their dog.Around Easter time in 2021, Tamara had been dealing with some eczema. Because of this, she had been performing frequent self-examinations, and noticed
Navigating Breast Cancer: A Patient's Perspective of the CAMBRIA-2 Clinical Trial
Navigating Breast Cancer: A Patient's Perspective of the CAMBRIA-2 Clinical TrialWendy Rolls is a wife and mum of three daughters from New South Whales, Australia who enjoys golf, quilting, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family. In October 2023, Wendy found a small lump in her breast, and after undergoing a number of tests including an ultrasound, needle biopsy, and core biopsy she w
Bridging Science and Personal Experience: The Role of the Consumer Advisory Panel
Bridging Science and Personal Experience: The Role of the Consumer Advisory PanelThe Breast Cancer Trials Board of Directors established the Consumer Advisory Panel, also known as CAP, in 1998 because it recognised the value and importance of consumer input to the planning and conduct of clinical trials research. CAP members bring their own unique experience of breast cancer and a true commitment
Improving Treatment Outcomes: Advancing Adjuvant Therapy for Early ER+ Breast Cancer
Improving Treatment Outcomes: Advancing Adjuvant Therapy for Early ER+ Breast CancerDr Erica Mayer is the director of clinical research and institute physician at the Breast Oncology Centre, Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, United States.Dr Mayer's research focuses on the role of novel therapies in the treatment of breast can
Cracking the Code: Biomarkers and the Fight Against Hormone Therapy Resistance
Cracking the Code: Biomarkers and the Fight Against Hormone Therapy ResistanceProfessor Andrew Tutt is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist in the Breast Cancer Unit at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. He is also a Professor of Oncology at King's College in London. We spoke to him about biomarkers for hormone therapy resistance and deficiency, and on targeting the Achilles heel i
Is Less More? Rethinking the Future of Breast Cancer Surgery
Is Less More? Rethinking the Future of Breast Cancer SurgeryProfessor Michael Gnant is a Professor of Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, where he also serves as President of the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group. We spoke to him about trends in surgery de-escalation and management of the axilla.Tune in for a deep dive into this important research.Donate to
How to Select the Right Patients for Volume Replacement Therapy
How to Select the Right Patients for Volume Replacement TherapyPeter Barry is a Consultant Surgeon at the Breast Unit, Royal Marsden in London. He focuses on breast oncoplastic techniques and reconstructive options following cancer surgery, as well as preventative surgery for high-risk women. We spoke with him about selecting patients for volume replacement therapy. Tune in for a deep dive into th
DCIS & The Risk of Local Recurrence: What You Need to Know
DCIS & The Risk of Local Recurrence: What You Need to KnowDr Christina Kozul is a Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Accredited General Surgical trainee at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, who aims to subspecialise in Breast Surgery.She is passionate about contributing to breast cancer research to improve outcomes for women with DCIS and breast cancer. We spoke with Dr Kozul about Ductal Carc
Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment: What’s New in the Field?
Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment: What's New in the Field?Dr Carlos Barrios is a medical oncologist from Brazil. He dedicates himself to breast cancer and clinical research, and coordinates the Latin-American cooperative oncology group in Brazil, which congregates investigators from 16 different countries in the region. His main interest is establishing collaboration between institutions acr
Why Every Breast Cancer Patient Should Have a Voice in Their Treatment
Why Every Breast Cancer Patient Should Have a Voice in Their Treatment Rebecca Angus is a Senior Podiatrist with a personal history of breast cancer, being diagnosed with the disease in 2018, at just 33 years old.She is also a member of the Breast Cancer Trials Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP), which provides a patient’s perspective on the development of trials and the conduct of our research program
Collaborating with Patients for a Successful Clinical Trial
Collaborating with Patients for a Successful Clinical TrialDr Nick Zdenkowski is a Medical Oncologist and Medical Advisor with Breast Cancer Trials. He is the Chair of the Breast Cancer Trials Scientific Advisory Committee and works on a broad range of breast cancer research, including shared decision-making, clinical trials, and patient-reported outcomes, particularly around neoadjuvant systemic
Quality of Life & Treatment Success: What You Should Know
Quality of Life & Treatment Success: What You Should Know Dr Deme Karikios is a Medical Oncologist and head of the department at Nepean Hospital in Sydney. He has a clinical and research interest in thoracic and gastrointestinal malignancies. Deme also has a research interest in the costs and value of anticancer drugs, decisions about treatment with expensive, unsubsidised anticancer drugs, an
What is Ductal Carcinoma in Situ? Understanding the Basics
What is Ductal Carcinoma in Situ? Understanding the BasicsProfessor Sunil Lakhani is the Chair of the Breast Cancer Trials Board of Directors. He is a clinical diagnostic pathologist and also heads a research team comprising scientists and clinicians, ensuring a translational focus to the program. We spoke with him about Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, and how it relates to breast cancer.Like this episo
Telehealth, Screening, and Recruitment: The Future of Clinical Trials
Telehealth, Screening and Recruitment: The Future of Clinical TrialsDr Sarah Zardawi is an early-career Medical Oncologist who has also trained in Palliative Medicine. She has a private practice in Maitland, NSW, and is a Clinical Fellow at Breast Cancer Trials.Sarah is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care for patients and their families at all stages of cancer treatment. We
Lobular Prognostic Biomarkers: Key to Advancing Breast Cancer Treatment?
Lobular Prognostic Biomarkers: Key to Advancing Breast Cancer Treatment?Associate Professor Amy McCart Reed holds a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Queensland and has undertaken a series of studies investigating the genomic landscape of breast cancer subtypes.She is passionate about breast cancer clinical research, biobanking, and precision oncology. In addition to her breast cance
Surviving Breast Cancer: Post-Treatment Challenges You Might Face
Surviving Breast Cancer: Post-Treatment Challenges You Might FaceDr Syapiq Long is an early-career Medical Oncologist. He graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and moved to Australia in 2015 to complete his training in Medical Oncology.He is currently working as a joint Fellow at the Calvary Mater Newcastle and Breast Cancer Trials, and we spoke with him about survivorship and so
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Care: Improving Breast Cancer Outcomes
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Care: Improving Breast Cancer OutcomesShavaun Wells is a Senior Fieldwork Officer on the Kulay Kalingka Study, a national cohort study aiming to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s beliefs and attitudes about cancer, engagement with cancer screening programs, and experiences with cancer diagnosis, care, and treatment, to improve experie
Can Text Messages Really Improve Endocrine Therapy Adherence?
Can Text Messages Really Improve Endocrine Therapy Adherence?Dr Anna Singleton is a Senior Research Fellow at the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW. Her research focuses on co-designing and implementing accessible and scalable digital health services to improve health outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer. We spoke with her about t
Genomic Testing and Targeted Therapy: The Future of Breast Cancer Care
Genomic Testing and Targeted Therapy: The Future of Breast Cancer CareDr Stephen Luen is a Medical Oncologist and translational researcher at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. His current research interests include the study of genomic and immune biomarkers in breast cancer, with a particular focus on investigating biological characteristics and developing clinical trials for high-risk subgroups
How Exercise and Diet Are Changing Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment
How Exercise and Diet are Changing Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Marina Reeves is a Professor in the School of Public Health and Deputy Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland. She is also an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian coordinating a research program that is focused on breast cancer epidemiology and the role of supportive care interv
How Structured Exercise Boosts Health: The PREFERABLE-EFFECT Study
How Structured Exercise Boosts Health: The PREFERABLE-EFFECT StudyDr Eva Zopf is an exercise physiologist whose research interest focuses on the role of exercise as medicine for the management of cancer. Aside from developing, conducting, and evaluating exercise intervention studies in cancer patients, Eva is also dedicated to improving the supportive care services available for cancer survivors.W
Overcoming Challenges in Very Early Breast Cancer Treatment
Overcoming Challenges in Very Early Breast Cancer Treatment Professor Bruce Mann is the Director of Research at Breast Cancer Trials, Professor of Surgery at The University of Melbourne, and Director of the Breast Tumour Stream at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. His research interests focus on tailored screening and treatment for early breast cancer, and we spoke to him about some of th
Oligometastatic Breast Cancer: What’s the Latest in Treatment?
Oligometastatic Breast Cancer: What's the Latest in Treatment?Professor Prue Francis is the Clinical Head of Breast Medical Oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and a consultant Medical Oncologist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. Associate Professor Steven David is an experienced Radiation Oncologist based at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, bringing a strong interest in imple
Inside the OLIO Clinical Trial: What You Need to Know
Inside the OLIO Clinical Trial: What You Need to KnowOLIO is an immunotherapy clinical trial that is examining whether the addition of olaparib to standard chemotherapy, with or without durvalumab, will improve outcomes for young, pre-menopausal women with high-risk, early breast cancer. Dr Stephen Luen is the Study Chair of the OLIO clinical trial, and we spoke to him about the aim of this resear
Become a Pink Champion: How Companies like Fugen Constructions are Supporting Breast Cancer Trials
Become a Pink Champion: How Companies Like Fugen Constructions are Supporting Breast Cancer TrialsFor more than four decades, the Cole Classic has been a cornerstone event at the iconic Manly Beach and is one of the world’s most celebrated ocean swims. The event hosts a 1km, 2km, or 5km swim option and allows participants to raise funds for a number of charities, including Breast Cancer Trials. In
Navigating a Breast Cancer Diagnosis with a Young Family
Navigating a Breast Cancer Diagnosis with a Young FamilyNaomi Richards is a wife and mum of three daughters, Mila, Lottie, and Eden, living in Wagga Wagga, Australia. In 2023, Naomi felt a lump in her left breast, and after undergoing days of testing, including a mammogram and an ultrasound, she was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 8th, 2023, which also happens to be International Women's
Prone vs Supine Position During Radiotherapy Treatment: What’s Best?
Prone vs Supine Position During Radiotherapy Treatment: What's Best?Jenna Dean is a Radiation Therapist at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, with an interest in patient-centred care, research, breast planning, and particle therapy. This is the third year of the Breast Cancer Trials Clinical Fellowship Program, and Jenna has been successful in receiving a fellowship in
Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Navigating Treatment Side Effects
Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Navigating Treatment Side EffectsNaveena Nekkalapudi is a member of the Breast Cancer Trials Consumer Advisory Panel, where members provide a patient's perspective in the development of trials and the conduct of our research program. Naveena was diagnosed with Stage 3, Grade 3, Triple Negative breast cancer on Christmas Eve in 2014, after finding a lump in her br
Improving Early Detection of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: A Key to Better Outcomes
Improving Early Detection of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: A Key to Better OutcomesDr Tivya Kulasegaran is a Medical Oncologist at the University of Queensland's Centre for Clinical Research. This is the third year of the Breast Cancer Trials Clinical Fellowship Program, and Dr Kulasegaran has been successful in receiving a fellowship in 2024. Her project involves establishing tools for the earl
Pre vs. Post Pectoral Implant Reconstruction: What’s Best for You?
Pre vs. Post Pectoral Implant Reconstruction: What's Best for You?Dr Kylie Snook is a Breast Surgeon based in Sydney, Australia, and the Vice-President of BreastSurgANZ, with an interest in implant reconstruction. We spoke with Dr Snook about the treatment changes that have occurred over recent years in breast reconstruction and radiotherapy, and the importance of giving patients a choice when
Teeing Off for a Cure: How Golfers Are Supporting Breast Cancer Research
Teeing Off for a Cure: How Golfers Are Supporting Breast Cancer ResearchEast's Leisure and Golf Club is one of the longest-supporting golf clubs in Australia of Breast Cancer Trials. The club held its first fundraising event in 1997, the inaugural year of the Tee Off fundraising program, initially referred to as ‘Chip-In’. We spoke to their Lady President, Caroline Norrie, about the event, and
Making Waves: How Aqua Aerobics is Helping Fund Breast Cancer Trials
Making Waves: How Aqua Aerobics is Helping Fund Breast Cancer TrialsAnn-Maree is an Aqua Aerobics Instructor who runs a class known as Aquafit, and has hosted a number of events to support the research of Breast Cancer Trials. This year, the event raised an incredible $3,700, and we spoke with Ann-Maree about the Aquafit community, her inspiration behind the event, and the importance of breast can
Can Multigene Assays Improve Breast Cancer Treatment for Young Women?
Can Multigene Assays Improve Breast Cancer Treatment for Young Women?Dr Belinda Kiely is a Medical Oncologist working at both Campbelltown and Concord Hospitals in Sydney, specialising in breast cancer treatment. We spoke with Dr Kiely about Multigene Assays, which look at tumour samples and genes that can predict the risk of recurrence in patients.Like this episode? Follow Breast Cancer Trials
Managing Pain After Breast Cancer Therapy: What Works Best?
Managing Pain After Breast Cancer Therapy: What Works Best?Dr Holly Keane is a Breast Surgeon at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, with an interest in the areas of pain management and tailored screening for breast cancer patients. We spoke with Dr Keane about pain after breast cancer therapy, its implications on day-to-day life for breast cancer patients, and some ways to reduce pain
Bioinformatics: The Future of Personalised Breast Cancer Treatment
Bioinformatics: The Future of Personalised Breast Cancer TreatmentDr Cristin Print is a Professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine in Auckland, New Zealand. Dr Print has an interest in bioinformatics in breast cancer, which involves taking large amounts of data and distilling clinically useful information from that data. We spoke to him about the opportunities for research in this area, and how
Finally, Some POSITIVE News for Young Women With Breast Cancer!
Finally, Some POSITIVE News for Young Women with Breast Cancer!For many young women with a breast cancer diagnosis, starting a family following their treatment can be a primary point of concern. The POSITIVE clinical trial was looking to investigate if it was safe to temporarily stop endocrine therapy in young women with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, who wanted to become pregnant after
The Power of Patients: Why Consumer-Led Research Is the Future
The Power of Patients: Why Consumer-Led Research is the FutureMs Karen Alexander has been a member of the Breast Cancer Trials Consumer Advisory Panel since 2017. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2011 and carries a BRCA1 gene mutation. We spoke with Karen about the importance of consumer-led research.Like this episode? Follow Breast Cancer Trials on Social Media: Instagram
How Are Breast Surgeons Trained? A Look at Oncoplastic Techniques
How Are Breast Surgeons Trained? A Look at Oncoplastic TechniquesDr Ben Green is a Breast Surgeon based in Brisbane, Australia, with an interest in the current oncoplastic and reconstruction capabilities in 2023 and beyond. We spoke with Dr Green about breast reconstruction, techniques to preserve the breast, and the importance of using the breast shape to your advantage during reconstruction to a
The Role of Diet in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment
The Role of Diet in Early-Stage Breast Cancer TreatmentDr Cindy Tan is a dietician working in a cancer survivorship clinic at the University of Sydney, who is researching lifestyle interventions to improve diet and exercise for cancer survivors, as well as the psychosocial aspects of cancer recovery. We spoke with Dr Tan about the importance of dietary considerations for patients with early-stage
Can We Reduce Delayed Nausea After Chemotherapy? A New Trial Investigates
Can we Reduce Delayed Nausea After Chemotherapy? A New Trial InvestigatesDr Richard Isaacs is a Medical Oncologist at Palmerston North Hospital in New Zealand, with an interest in delayed nausea after chemotherapy. His interest in this area began when he was involved in the administration of chemotherapy to his wife, who suffered from extreme nausea during her treatment. We spoke to Dr Isaacs abou
Insights From an International Breast Cancer Expert
Insights from an International Breast Cancer ExpertProfessor Sibylle Loibl is the Chair of the German Breast Group and a Professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Goethe University of Frankfurt.Professor Loibl was an International Guest Speaker at Breast Cancer Trials 44th Annual Scientific Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand and we asked her about her research in the area of Neoadjuvant Treatmen
Inside the Mind of a Global Breast Cancer Expert
Inside the Mind of a Global Breast Cancer ExpertAlastair Thompson is a Professor of Surgery and Associate Director of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Centre, at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Texas.Professor Thompson was an International Guest Speaker at Breast Cancer Trials 44th Annual Scientific Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand and we asked him about his research in the areas of
Game-Changing Insights From a Leading Breast Cancer Researcher
Game-Changing Insights from a Leading Breast Cancer ResearcherProfessor Philip Poortmans is a Radiation Oncologist at Iridium Netwerk and the University of Antwerp in Belgium. He completed his medical studies at the University of Antwerp and was trained as a Radiation Oncologist at the Middelheim and Vincentius Hospitals in Antwerp. Professor Poortmans was an International Guest Speaker at the Bre
Closing the Gap: Addressing Breast Cancer Outcomes in Indigenous Australians
Closing the Gap: Addressing Breast Cancer Outcomes in Indigenous AustraliansAssociate Professor Andrew Redfern is a Medical Oncologist and Translational Researcher from Western Australia, with a particular interest in understanding why breast cancer treatments may or may not work in certain population groups. Part of his focus is working with Aboriginal Australians to try and answer this question.
Why Research Nurses Are Essential to Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
Why Research Nurses are Essential to Breast Cancer Clinical TrialsJenni Scarlet is a Research Nurse and Clinical Trial Coordinator at Waikato Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. Her role involves coordinating clinical trials from their set-up stage, obtaining ethics approvals, enrolling and following up with patients, and reporting and analysis of trial information. During her career of more than 2
A Clinical Trial That Changed My Life: One Participant’s Story
A Clinical Trial That Changed My Life: One Participant's StoryJan White is a 75-year-old retired Nurse living in Auckland, who used to work in health, disability, and aged care. Since she can remember, Jan has been having 2-yearly mammograms, and like any other appointment, she went in asymptomatic, and expecting the ‘all clear’. However, the mammogram displayed a lump in her breast, and she w
Overcoming Barriers: Recruiting Indigenous and CALD Patients for Clinical Trials
Overcoming Barriers: Recruiting Indigenous and CALD Patients for Clinical TrialsDespite CALD Australians representing almost a third of the population, they are often excluded from clinical trials research within Australia. Barriers can include mistrust and a lack of comfort around the clinical trials process, a lack of information and resources, time constraints, financial burden, and geographic
What It’s Really Like to Join a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial
What it's Really Like to Join a Breast Cancer Clinical TrialLaura Yang lives in Melbourne with her husband and her 6-year-old daughter, where she enjoys listening to music, playing piano, and spending time with her loved ones. At the end of 2022, Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we spoke to her about her diagnosis and her decision to participate in a clinical trial. Like this episod
Metastatic Breast Cancer & the TUGETHER Clinical Trial: What You Need to Know
Metastatic Breast Cancer & the TUGETHER Clinical Trial: What You Need to KnowMaria Bodnar is a retired nurse, living in Victoria, Australia, with her husband. In 2013, Maria went in for her routine Breast Screen test, and the following day she received a call from one of the nurses asking her to come in so they could review her results, and Maria knew it was breast cancer. Maria is a participa
The Patient Experience: What It’s Like to Undergo a Breast MRI
The Patient Experience: What it's Like to Undergo a Breast MRIAs 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 t
How New Breast Cancer Treatments Are Impacting Tumor Biology
How New Breast Cancer Treatments are Impacting Tumor Biology 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 hel
Metastatic Breast Cancer & the CAPTURE Clinical Trial: What You Need to Know
Metastatic Breast Cancer & the CAPTURE Clinical Trial: What You Need to KnowSham 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 w
Can We Improve Breast Cancer Treatment With Fewer Side Effects?
Can We Improve Breast Cancer Treatment with Fewer Side Effects?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
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: What New Clinical Trials Are Uncovering
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: What New Clinical Trials are UncoveringDiane 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
Practice-Changing Clinical Trials: Insights from a Breast Cancer Trials Founder
Developing Breakthrough Treatments for Invasive Lobular CarcinomaSince 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
Developing Breakthrough Treatments for Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Developing Breakthrough Treatments for Invasive Lobular CarcinomaInvasive 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
