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24 Aug 2022
  • Royal Melbourne Hospital
  • VCCC Alliance
GRAND ROUND BREAST CANCER | ONLINE | 12.30-1.30pm

Quality of Life and Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Women with Low Risk Breast Cancer

VCCC Alliance Grand Round Breast Cancer with Associate Professor Lesley Stafford

This presentation reports on the HRQoL outcomes including fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and functional and aesthetic outcomes in a large sample of women with low risk breast cancer. The data provides useful preliminary information and is helpful for informing future prospective studies.

As a community of professionals in breast oncology, we have a shared aim to provide effective care with the lowest possible treatment-related morbidity and burden. Understanding the impact of breast cancer treatment and advances in that treatment on psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life (HRQoL) through patient reported outcome measures, are clearly recognised as a clinical and research priority.

This presentation reports on the HRQoL outcomes including fear of cancer recurrence and functional and aesthetic outcomes in a large sample of women (N=400) with low risk breast cancer. 

Within the limits of a non-randomized study, this data provides useful preliminary information about the association between fear of cancer recurrence and HRQoL and omission of radiotherapy in a select but large group of women with early breast cancer. Given that fear of cancer recurrence is a key issue among patients and a foremost unmet need linked with substantial psychological morbidity, the data is helpful for informing future prospective studies.

Associate Professor Lesley Stafford
Royal Melbourne Hospital

Lesley Stafford is a clinical psychologist with more than 15 years of research and clinical expertise in psycho-oncology and women’s health, with a specific interest in women with or at risk of breast cancer. She consults in the Breast Service and Familial Cancer Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as well as in private practice and is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Lesley has published 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals and contributed several invited chapters to academic textbooks. Areas of interest include parenting with cancer, decision-making in the context of risk-reducing interventions, psychological implications of treatment de-escalation and sequence, and psycho-social aspects of advances in genetic testing.

VCCC Alliance Grand Rounds

The VCCC Alliance Research and Education (R&E Lead) Breast Cancer program has developed a learning environment where researchers and clinical care teams can share information to improve cancer outcomes.

The VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round aims to provide a shared view of what is happening in the development of breast cancer care and is helping to stimulate discussion and collaborations among experienced and novice researchers and clinicians.

For further information on the program, please contact Jasper de Boer, VCCC Alliance Program Manager, Distributed Leadership [email protected] 

Wednesday 24 August
12.30-1.30pm

This virtual event will be hosted via Zoom. Zoom is accessible on your computer, tablet or phone via the Zoom app. If you have any issues with this platform on your device, please visit the Zoom support site. Alternatively please contact your IT administrator.

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