Researchers host breast cancer forum

The Metro North Health medical team that introduced new breast cancer treatment to Queensland, reducing six weeks of radiation therapy to less than thirty minutes, is hosting a free community forum in Redcliffe this week.

The forum is being held at The Komo on Wednesday, October 25 and bookings are essential. Register at https://bit.ly/cbci-forum-23 . Morning tea will be provided.

The Comprehensive Breast Cancer Institute (CBCI), in partnership with the RBWH Foundation, will outline the latest treatments and research trials open to patients at Redcliffe Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH), The Prince Charles Hospital and Caboolture Hospital.

RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske says: “Approximately 57 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, a traumatic diagnosis with family-wide ramifications.

“The CBCI Community Forum is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the international experts who work tirelessly to improve patient outcomes.”

Judith Burton became one of the first Queenslanders to receive Interoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) earlier this year.

During Judith’s surgery to remove breast cancer, radiation therapy was also given. The process usually takes between three and six weeks but was condensed to half an hour.

Presently, only one centre in Perth and one centre in Melbourne has IORT available, making Metro North's addition of IORT an exciting milestone for Queensland.

“I can now not have to worry about having six weeks of radiation treatment, go back to work and that is it, it’s finished, the treatment is finished,” Judith says.

“Essentially you go in for your operation, you wake up and your treatment is finished,” CBCI Director Professor Owen Ung explains.

CBCI will also outline its world-first breast reconstruction surgery, which uses 3D-engineered biodegradable scaffolds as an alternative to silicone or saline implants.