Breast Cancer Trials

Leslie was a participant in the TEXT clinical trial, a practice changing trial for young women with breast cancer. In this episode, Leslie talks about her experience participating in a breast cancer clinical trial, and why she encourages others to do the same.

Do you know the symptoms of breast cancer? Do you know what you should do after finding a symptom of breast cancer? In this podcast, Breast Cancer Trials Board Member and Medical Oncologist Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken discusses the symptoms of breast cancer, and why it's important not to panic if you find a breast abnormality.

In Australia and New Zealand, the number of people of people being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing. However, the breast cancer mortality rate is in decline, which means less people are dying from this disease. To help make sense of why this is, we sat down with Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken, a Medical Oncologist and Breast Cancer Trials Board Member.

When we experience a breast cancer diagnosis, or know someone experiencing a diagnosis, we want to say the right thing. But sometimes words like 'fighter', 'warrior' and 'hero' are often not well received. We sat down with two women who have experienced a breast cancer diagnosis to ask what words they like, and dislike, to describe their breast cancer experience.

What would you say to the person whose participation in a clinical trial helped you to start a family? Because of Natasha’s participation in the POEMS clinical trial, women like Catherine have been able to start a family after their breast cancer diagnosis. In this podcast, Natasha and Catherine share their journey from diagnosis to having a child. Learn more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Dawn was a participant in the HERA clinical trial after being diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer. It’s because of trial participants like Dawn, that women like Nic were given a renewed chance at life. In this podcast, Dawn and Nic reflect on their experiences and how they have benefited from clinical trials research.

Immunotherapy has had incredible success in treating other cancer types, such as melanoma and lung cancer, but is not yet in routine use in the clinic as a treatment option for breast cancer. Learn how immunotherapy works and how the CHARIOT and DIAmOND clinical trials use different combinations of immunotherapy in patients with breast cancer subtypes that are more likely to respond to immune manipulation. Learn more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Metastatic breast cancer – also known as advanced, secondary or stage 4 breast cancer – is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body. In this podcast, Professor Rik Thompson discusses why and how cancer metastasises and why it’s so difficult to treat. Learn more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

The symptoms of menopause can significantly affect a woman’s quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy or menopausal hormone therapy (HRT or MHT) is the name for a number of hormone therapies that can be used to treat the symptoms of menopause. In this podcast, Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken discusses some of the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy and why it’s important that women also discuss their symptoms with their doctor. Learn more:

Approximately 5-10% of breast cancers are due to a strong family history or a genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. So, if you have a strong family history of breast cancer, you may be questioning whether you should have genetic testing. In this podcast, Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken talks about genetic testing: who should have it, who shouldn’t, and why genetic counselling is important for those who do. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

New research breakthroughs are always in the news, but it can take years before these treatments are used in the clinic. So why does it take so long? Breast Cancer Trials Board Member Professor Christobel Saunders explains why the process is a long one and the different phases of clinical trials. Learn more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Breast cancer clinical trials research has played an important role in the improvements to treatments and survival rates, particularly over the last 30 years. In this podcast, Professor Christobel Saunders explains what some of the key achievements of this research, which have led to advances in the treatment of breast cancer. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken was the Study Chair of the HERA clinical trial which tested the drug Herceptin and delivered a major breakthrough for women with HER2 positive breast cancer. In this podcast, Associate Professor Wilcken discusses what happens when a drug is proven effective in a clinical trial. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Finding a clinical trial that is right for you, or for a family member or friend, has never been easier. In this podcast Professor Bruce Mann explains the two main paths to participating in a clinical trial and what’s involved once you’re on a trial. Find our more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Breast cancer treatments are constantly evolving and improving because of clinical trials research. Each clinical trial builds on the knowledge gained from past research. In this podcast, Breast Cancer Trials Board Chair Professor Bruce Mann explains how breast cancer surgery is a good example of the benefits that come from clinical trials. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Tameeka Jones was only in her 20s and had a three-year-old daughter when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Tameeka is a participant in the ELIMINATE clinical trial, which is investigating whether combining two breast cancer treatments before surgery is more effective than one alone, in women diagnosed with large oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer. In this podcast, she tells us her experience participating in a clinical trial. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

A diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 32 was a big shock for Natasha Eaton who initially thought it would mean she wouldn't be able to have children. Natasha was a participant on the POEMS clinical trial which was a breakthrough study for women with breast cancer and was aimed at preserving a woman's fertility during her cancer treatment. In this podcast she discusses her experience participating in a clinical trial. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

We are hearing more and more about 'personalised medicine' in the treatment of disease. But what is it and how can it be used in the treatment of breast cancer? In this podcast, the Chair of the Breast Cancer Trials Scientific Advisory Committee Associate Professor Prue Francis, explains how personalised medicine is changing the way we treat breast cancer. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

Women have played an important role in the development and conduct of the Breast Cancer Trials research program for many years. Not only was the Consumer Advisory Panel the first committee of its type in Australia, but it has become a model for other research groups to involve consumers. In this podcast, Chair of the Breast Cancer Trials Consumer Advisory Panel Leonie Young, explains the role that CAP plays, to ensure a consumer perspective is provided from the very early planning stages of a breast cancer clinical trial. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au

There are many different types of clinical trials, such as prevention trials, treatment trials, or trials that are aimed at improving a patient’s quality of life. In this podcast, Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips explains the different types of breast cancer clinical trials, the different phases of trials, and also explains the roles of the different members of a clinical trials team. Find out more: www.breastcancertrials.org.au