Targeted therapies have progressed in leaps and bounds in recent years and are a key aspect of current cancer research. The term refers to matching the right drugs or treatments to a person, based on a genetic or molecular understanding of their disease. Techniques and medicines are rapidly progressing and new cutting-edge technologies such as personalised mRNA cancer vaccines are emerging.
We are edging closer to effective treatments for many cancers and even cures for some patients. But are targeted therapies right for everyone? What can patients expect from this new era of tailored treatments? How do patients feel about it? And what does this mean for other treatments such as immunotherapy, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy?
You're invited to join the conversation in this no-holes-barred session as we put the curly questions to our panel - plus you can even submit your own. Together we will explore the opportunities and challenges of cancer genomics and personalised medicine.
This you can't ask that! style forum wraps the VCCC Alliance Research Conference 2023 with a focus on what it's all for - people whose lives are affected by cancer.
Conference delegates are encouraged to attend and join with the broader cancer community to hear what is on patients' minds and get answers that make sense from experts in the field - doctors, researchers and people with lived experience.
Questions we'll be answering:
Have a question of your own? Attendees will have the opportunity to submit one in the registration form.
Alison Coughlan is CEO of Health Issues Centre and a passionate supporter for consumer engagement in health. She has been a strong has a research and public health background and almost 30 years’ experience working at a state, national and global level with more than 80 organisations as a researcher, policy maker, advocate, leader, consultant and board director.
Dr Damien Kee is a Consultant Medical Oncologist specialising in melanoma and skin cancers, rare cancers and genomics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (Medical Oncology) and obtained a Doctor of Medical Science investigating melanoma biology and imaging (University of Melbourne). Damien also leads the melanoma and skin cancer services at the Austin Hospital; and is a clinician-scientist at the Walter Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), developing national rare cancer research infrastructure such as the WEHI Stafford Fox Rare Cancer Program and Australian Rare Cancer Portal.
Victoria Sharp joined the VCCC Alliance in 2022 and brings her lived experience both as a carer and from her own cancer diagnosis. With her cancer experience including genomic testing, targeted treatment and clinical trials, Victoria’s interests aim to support the integration of patient-centred values and outcomes in health services that align with the needs of the cancer community. She is currently involved with the VCCC Alliance Strategic Program Plan as a member of the Consumer Reference Group for Personalised Cancer Care, and a Steering Group member for Accelerating Novel Therapies.
Victoria is also a consumer representative with organisations including Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and has contributed to numerous educational programs including the Hospital Medical Officer Education Series in an ongoing manner since 2019 as well as the ‘Your Thoughts Matter’ program and the Department of Health’s ‘Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment (BPCLE) Review’.
Professor Christobel Saunders is the James Stewart Chair of Surgery and Head of the Department of Surgery at The University of Melbourne. She is also a consultant surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute. With over 30 years of experience, she has made significant contributions to breast cancer research, including clinical trials of new treatments and health services research. Her awards and honours include the Order of Australia, Uccio Querci della Rovere Award, International Women’s Day WA Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee, and WA Scientist of the Year. She has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and sits on the boards of several health and research organisations.
Paul Baden is an experienced Consumer Advisor and a member of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Education & Training Advisory Committee, after serving as a member of the VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2021. Paul was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s mantle cell lymphoma in September 2005 and underwent CHOP chemotherapy, which is a chemo combination used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. In December 2005, Paul had a bone marrow transplant, courtesy of his brother.
Paul has been involved with the Cancer Council Victoria peer support program since 2009. In 2010, he became one of the Red Cross Ambassadors involved with Victorian Club Red Challenge and Milestone Donor Awards. He's also been involved with a number of projects and working committees as a Melbourne Health consumer.
Kathy Minas is currently involved with the VCCC Alliance Strategic Program Plan as a member on the Steering Group, driving the translation of cancer biology to 21st century personalised cancer care, prioritising new technologies and low survival cancers.
Kathy was a carer for her late husband who was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder in 2012. Her cancer consumer experience includes the support of her husband through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and participation in four clinical trials over a two-year period. She has been part of the WEHI Consumer Buddy Program since 2016 and was appointed to the WEHI Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) in 2018, contributing to the development of the CAP Strategic Plan aligned to WEHI’s Strategic Plan and development of a Consumer Volunteer Policy.
Hayley Beer is a Clinical Nurse Consultant working in the Myeloma and Autograft stream at Peter Mac. Her clinical work includes patient and family preparation for complex therapies; assessment and management of disease and treatment-related side-effects and survivorship care. As a Nurse Consultant, research is also a key component of her role and is undertaking a Master of Philosophy at Melbourne University in Graduate Research.
