The VCCC Research & Education Lead Breast Cancer program commenced 2021 events this week, kicking off with the first of many symposia to showcase international speakers, covering a wide range of topics and challenges.
On Friday 19 February, a special 90-minute online symposium will feature Dr Ann Partridge, an expert in young women with breast cancer, who will be live from Boston with an update on what is new, challenging, and controversial in the field. Partridge is Vice-Chair of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she also serves as Director of the Adult Survivorship Program and leads the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer.
Breast cancer in young women can be a complex disease, occurring when they are at the peak of their reproductive years, enjoying family life and careers. Due to its rarity, treatment is often based on data from trials conducted on older women. This means that many aspects of the disease in younger women are not well understood and may result in long-term effects of treatment and specific survivorship issues such as infertility.
Dr Partridge will be joined by a multidisciplinary panel of experts including breast care nurse specialist at Austin Health and Epworth Eastern, Kathryn Wallace, Peter Mac radiation oncologist, Dr Keelan Byrne and consumer representative Jodie Lydeker.
On Wednesday 24 February, the VCCC Grand Round Breast Cancer will feature internationally recognised cancer surgeon, Professor Christobel Saunders AO who has a mission to improve the outcomes of breast tumour surgery. Professor Saunders will talk about a new technology and method which aims to localise small impalpable tumours to distinguish if any tumour tissue, even microscopic amounts, have been left behind at surgery.
These events are suitable for clinicians working in the field of breast cancer: surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, trainees, breast care nurses, allied health professionals and students. They are free, but registration is required to receive the event link.
Register for VCCC Breast Cancer Symposium: Breast Cancer in Young Women, Friday 19 February, 12.30pm – 2.00pm
Register for VCCC Grand Round Breast Cancer with Professor Christobel Saunders, Wednesday 24 February 12.30pm – 1.30pm
The first in the VCCC Breast Cancer Education Series for the year will be on 17 March 2021 at 5.30pm and will focus on the specific challenges and opportunities when treating women with low-risk breast cancer. More details will follow soon on the VCCC events page.