Breast Cancer Trials

If you have had a mastectomy, either because you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or are at high risk of developing breast cancer, you may decide to have a breast reconstruction. This is a very personal decision to make and it’s best to know all your options before choosing what is best for you. We spoke with specialist breast surgeon at Belfast City Hospital, Ireland, Dr Stuart McIntosh about these options, what you need to consider before making a decision and what are the best questions to ask your doctor during your decision making process.

Jessica's family has a strong history of breast cancer. Her uncle, cousin and sister were all diagnosed with breast cancer before her. In this podcast, she tells us what it was like to receive her diagnosis just weeks after her sister, what it was like to participate in the Breast Cancer Trials OlympiA clinical trial, how her art was therapeutic for her and her advice for other young women who have been diagnosed.

Cousin's Raylee and Lisa are the first Australian participants in the ground-breaking BRCA-P clinical trial. The BRCA-P trial is a prevention trial which is testing the effectiveness of a drug called Denosumab in preventing breast cancer in women with a BRCA1 gene mutation, like Lisa and Raylee. This treatment has been fast tracked from the lab to a stage three clinical trial due to it's impressive pre-clinical results. Listen in as Lisa and Raylee tell us what it's like to know you have a 70% risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer due to the BRCA1 gene mutation, what it's been like participating in the BRCA-P clinical trial and what their children think about their 50/50 chance of having the BRCA1 gene mutation. To find out more about the BRCA-P clinical trial visit www.breastolution.com.auTo find out more about our life-saving research, or to support our research visit www.breastcancertrials.org.au

We speak with exercise scientist and behavioural epidemiologist at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), Professor Erica James, about the benefit of exercise for the prevention of breast cancer, how lifestyle changes can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence, and the best ways to get active after a diagnosis.

Breast Cancer Trials researcher Dr Ross Jennens is a Medical Oncologist at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne and one of 4,000 Australian health professionals participating in the BRACE clinical trial. This study aims to test the BCG vaccine, which was developed to prevent tuberculosis and is commonly used as a treatment for people with bladder cancer, to see if it can provide an immune system boost to protect people from COVID-19 symptoms.

Professor Fran Boyle and Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken discuss how their institutions and teams have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss how some changes have been positive, how their patients have reacted to this new environment, and give a BCT research update.

Cancer Geneticist Associate Professor Judy Kirk explains the role of genetics in breast cancer research and how this information will help inform future treatments.

Early breast cancer is cancer which is confined to the breast or the axillary (armpit) lymph nodes. It’s a research focus for Dr Stuart McIntosh who explains what the standard treatment is for early breast cancer, what clinical trials are currently investigating early breast cancer treatments and how treatments differ to advanced breast cancer.

Hormone sensitive breast tumors make up around 70% of all breast cancers. Associate Professor Aleix Prat explains what research is being conducted into this metastatic disease and how before we can find a cure, researchers are working in the short term to find a way to make it a chronic disease.

Sydney based advocate and politician Dai Le speaks with us about the impact her diagnosis has had on her life, how she explained her diagnosis to her son and the importance of spreading breast cancer awareness in non-English speaking communities.

Women who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations have a high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Associate Professor Judy Kirk explains what the BRCA mutation is & measures women with the mutation can take.

Michelle and Maxine are both participants in the Breast Cancer Trials CHARIOT clinical trial. They are receiving the same treatment, at the same hospital and formed a friendship through their shared experience. They discuss their experience on the trial & how helpful it has been to have a friend by their side.

Clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Beatty explains what impact a diagnosis can have, how to can get help & what impact poor mental health can have on your recovery.

Heidi started getting mammograms at 42 after a close friend was diagnosed in her early 40s. She was thankful she did, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43. Heidi speaks with us about being diagnosed as a young woman with a young family, having to put your career on hold and not being afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Professor Julia White explains that de-escalation is right-sizing treatments for patients. She explains how we can find out who needs more or less surgery as part of their breast cancer treatment.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Sarah’s oncologist told her to walk around the block to keep fit during treatment. Sarah took this a step further and skipped the drive into her second chemo treatment and instead ran to the hospital. It sparked a love of running and Sarah continued running throughout her whole treatment, even running 12km in the week before her last chemo treatment. Sarah is a supporter of Breast Cancer Trials.

Patients with breast cancer have higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Professor Bogda Koczwara explains why & what patients & doctors should be aware of to protect heart health.

Malea Parker was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. She speaks with us about how her family support has been essential during treatment and why she believes breast cancer clinical trials research is so important.

Associate Professor Aleix Prat discusses how continuing research into breast cancer biology is helping improve treatments & how tumour biopsies can help patients in the future.

Professor Wayne Tilley explains what the androgen receptor gene is & why it is important in breast cancer.