WORLD CANCER DAY

The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day of ‘Debunk the Myth’ has special relevance to breast cancer clinical trials research in Australia, which has contributed to a significant improvement in mortality rates in the last 20 years.

Professor John Forbes AM, Director of Research at the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG), says that as a result of clinical trials research more women survive breast cancer than ever before.

“The mortality rate for breast cancer has fallen by more than 29% in the last 20 years – 1 in every 3 women who previously died from breast cancer now survives – close to 1,000 more women will survive their diagnosis each year in Australia. This is remarkable progress for women,” Professor Forbes said.

The 5 year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer increased from 72% to 89%, between 1982-1987 and 2006-2010, and the ten year relative survival rate is now 83%.*

“Breast cancer clinical trials research has led to improved treatment and prevention strategies for women diagnosed with breast cancer around the world. Results from clinical trials conducted by the ANZBCTG, such as IBIS II and ATLAS which both reported positive results last year, translates into improved patient care and better outcomes for women diagnosed with or at risk of breast cancer,” Professor Forbes said.

“As a result of research we also know that breast cancer is not a single disease and there are many sub-types of breast cancer. This means that we can better target each breast cancer and tailor treatments for women specific to their type of breast cancer. This heralds an exciting new era of research in molecular biology and unlocking more scientific knowledge so we can eradicate this disease.”

“The key to this research is collaboration. This involves women who participate in clinical trials, researchers who conduct clinical trials at their local institutions and research organisations around the world who work together.”

The Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG) is the largest independent, oncology clinical trials research group in Australia and New Zealand. For more than 35 years, the ANZBCTG has conducted clinical trials for the treatment, prevention and cure of breast cancer. The research program rigorously and scientifically tests the efficacy of new breast cancer treatments and prevention interventions through the conduct of multicentre national and international clinical trials. This program brings together over 700 researchers in 84 institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Breast Cancer Institute of Australia is the fundraising and education department of the ANZBCTG and was established in 1994 to raise awareness of, and seek ongoing funding for, the ANZBCTG research program.

Professor John Forbes AM is Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Newcastle and Director of Surgical Oncology at the Calvary Mater Hospital.

*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & Cancer Australia 2012. Breast cancer in Australian: an overview. Cancer series no. 71. Cat. No. CAN 67. Canberra: AIHW.