In this issue...
- A reflection on National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre's achievement
- Cancer Australia and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre amalgamate
- Not just a woman's disease: Information about breast cancer in men
- New clinical practice guidelines on use of bisphosphonates in advanced breast cancer
- GP online learning on cancer screening
- Understanding ductal carcinoma in situ resource
- New Clinical Update: Ovarian Cancer
A reflection on National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre’s achievement
As National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) moves into a new era by amalgamating with Cancer Australia, it is timely to review the significant achievements of this organisation to date. By engaging with all stakeholders from clinicians to consumers, and from Government agencies to community organisations, NBOCC has changed the practice and culture around breast and ovarian cancer. NBOCC’s successes also reflect strong leadership and dedicated staff.
The initial achievement was the production of the first Australian clinical practice guidelines in breast cancer. This was at a time when many clinicians were unconvinced about the need for publishing such evidence-based best practice guidelines, but soon they were widely taken up both in Australia and internationally. Guidelines on ovarian cancer were to follow, and subsequently the world’s first guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer which had impact far beyond breast cancer. Resources for general practitioners were produced and the role of breast care nurses investigated.
Providing information to those diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer, and increasing the awareness of both diseases has been a key goal of NBOCC. This began with comprehensive guides for women with breast and ovarian cancer. Consumer resources developed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and translated into the five most commonly spoken languages in Australia have also been developed. Building on this information disseminated by every means; travelling road shows and high profile public events like the annual Pink Ribbon Breakfast, to clever use of the web to disseminate updated information for clinicians and consumers. As time evolved, websites highlighting niche areas like breast cancer in younger women and in men were developed.
Building data capacity to inform cancer control has been a significant area of work NBOCC over the years, including comprehensive statistical reports, a tool to estimate the number of women with secondary breast cancer and the first national data on the pathways to diagnosis and management of women with ovarian cancer have all been collected.
Most recently, NBOCC began investigating new models of care including post surgical care and shared follow-up care for women with early breast cancer to ensure clinical practice reflected changes in evidence and the needs of the Australian health system.
Within Cancer Australia the breast and ovarian cancer activities have an opportunity to be better resourced and breast cancer will undoubtedly still be the innovator, only with a greater ability for application of the advances achieved across the whole cancer spectrum.
Professor Ian Olver AM
Chairman
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre
Cancer Australia and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre amalgamate
From July 2011, Cancer Australia and NBOCC will amalgamate to form a single national agency to provide leadership in cancer control and improve outcomes for Australians affected by cancer.
During the process of amalgamation between NBOCC and Cancer Australia you may notice a new look and feel to our materials and websites. However comprehensive evidence-based information about breast and ovarian cancer will continue to be available as previously by National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, click here.
Your subscription to NBOCC News will be carried over to Cancer Australia’s quarterly e-newsletter to keep you informed on Cancer Australia’s work in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, including in breast and ovarian cancer. If you do not wish to be subscribed to Cancer Australia’s e-newsletter, please click here.
Not just a woman’s disease: Information about breast cancer in men
Although breast cancer is uncommon in men, accounting for less than one per cent of all breast cancers, it is important for men who find a change in their breasts not to let embarrassment or uncertainty prevent them following this up with their doctor as soon as possible. Finding breast cancer early means there are more treatment options and the chances of survival are improved. In addition, men who are diagnosed with breast cancer need specific information to help them deal with their experience and associated issues such as isolation and embarrassment.
The printed resource, based on NBOCC’s acclaimed online information for men with breast cancer, and including new updates, promotes increased awareness about breast cancer in men and provides specific information for men navigating the breast cancer journey. To order the new resource, Not just a woman’s disease: Information about breast cancer in men, click here.
New clinical practice guidelines on use of bisphosphonates in advanced breast cancer
NBOCC's new clinical practice guidelines, Recommendations for use of bisphosphonates for advanced breast cancer, are now available.
The new topic-specific guideline includes statements and recommendations on the use of bisphosphonates for advanced breast cancer, based on the latest available evidence. This guideline supplements the recommendations on the use of bisphosphonates in NBOCC’s Clinical practice guidelines for the management of advanced breast cancer.
The inclusion of further recommendations about zoledronic acid, ibandronate, pamidronate and clodronate will assist clinicians in assessing the use of bisphosphonates to improve bone health and reduce bone pain for women with advanced breast cancer and bone metastases. The recommendations also provide advice on the schedule and duration of administration of bisphosphonates, and potential adverse events.
The new clinical practice recommendations were developed in consultation with a multidisciplinary working group, and endorsed by The Medical Oncology Group of Australia and The Faculty of Radiation Oncology, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.
NBOCC’s recommendations are available to download by clicking here.
GP online learning on cancer screening
NBOCC has developed an interactive online learning module, in collaboration with Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Cancer Council Australia, designed to support the central role that GPs play in discussing and managing cancer screening.
This evidence-based module examines the criteria used to decide which cancers are suitable for a population screening program, including potential benefits and harms.
The GP has a critical role to play in increasing participation in the Australian population cancer screening programs for cervical, breast and bowel cancer, including providing evidence-based information to patients so they can make an informed choice about participation.
The module is accredited for Quality Improvement and Continuing Professional Development points by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Visit www.gplearning.com.au for more information.
Understanding ductal carcinoma in situ resource
NBOCC’s resource, Understanding ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and deciding about treatment is now available to order in hard copy. The resource is a communication aid designed to assist clinicians to communicate with women diagnosed with DCIS to improve their understanding about their diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and support. This resource is designed to be used with the woman during the consultation, then given to the woman to take home as an information resource.
To download the resource visit NBOCC’s website www.nbocc.org.au/resources, or call 1800 624 973 to order a copy.
New Clinical Update: Ovarian Cancer
This edition includes commentary by Associate Professor Clare Scott on ‘Survival in epithelial ovarian cancer: a multivariate analysis incorporating BRCA mutation status and platinum sensitivity’. To view the new Clinical Update, click here.