A Huge HBF saving for <strong>AMA</strong> Members. • Up to 12% discount on all Hospitals and Essentials cover. • Receive a discount on any payments made in the year of taking up the discount offer (applies from the date of joining the <strong>AMA</strong> Corporate Plan). • To access this <strong>AMA</strong> member benefit, call HBF’s <strong>AMA</strong> Corporate Membership line: 1300 132 549 or email corphealth@hbf.com.au <strong>AMA</strong> members are required to quote their <strong>AMA</strong> membership number which can be obtained from the <strong>AMA</strong> Membership Office: 9273 3055 or membership@amawa.com.au
SNIPPET BREAST CANCER SURVIVAL IMPROVING Survival rates for breast cancer nationally are improving. However, 37 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer each day, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Cancer Australia. The report, Breast Cancer in Australia: An Overview shows the number of new breast cancer cases more than doubled from around 5300 to 13,600 cases between 1982 and 2008. “There was a sharp increase in the incidence rate of breast cancer between <strong>1990</strong> and 1995, after which the rate has been stable,” said AIHW spokesperson Anne Bech. “The sharp increase in the incidence rate in the early <strong>1990</strong>s was most likely due to the introduction of the national breast cancer screening program in 1991.” Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women and the majority of cases (69 per cent) are diagnosed in women aged 40-69. “The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is expected to rise in the future due to the ageing population. Our projections indicate that in 2020 about 17,200 new breast cancers will be diagnosed in Australia. This would equate to 47 women being diagnosed every day,” Ms Bech said. “Importantly, the report also shows that survival from breast cancer continues to improve in Australia, with these improvements due to both earlier diagnosis and better treatments,” Cancer Australia CEO Dr Helen Zorbas said. Between the periods 1982-1987 and 2006-2010, fiveyear relative survival from breast cancer increased from 72 per cent to 89 per cent. “Although survival rates are improving, the impact on the lives of Australian women is high with seven women still dying each day from breast cancer,” Dr Zorbas said. SCAR TREATMENT TRIAL VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT Researchers from The University of Western Australia’s Burn Injury Research Unit are seeking people with keloid scarring to trial a new treatment that could halt growth of the scars while avoiding the side effects of current treatment. The tumour-like scars are benign but uncontrollable growths that can develop at the site of burn wounds or after simple injuries such as scratches, insect stings, ear piercings or needle injections. Researcher Patricia Danielsen, a visiting Danish dermatologist-in-training and visiting research fellow at the Burn Injury Research Unit headed by U<strong>WA</strong> Winthrop Professor Fiona Wood, said it was not clear what caused keloid scarring. However, it was more likely to affect people with darker skin pigmentation, seemed to be more common amongst women – perhaps because of their higher incidence of pierced ears - and typically affected people aged between 10 and 30-40 years of age. “You have some kind of trauma and the skin is repaired but it continues to build up and grow beyond the initial boundaries of the wound,” Dr Danielsen said. “Some people end up with quite a bulky tumour of scar tissue and have a lot of serious symptoms. They can have pain and itching and there’s quite a heavy psychological side to it, but they might not seek help because they don’t know we might have an alternative treatment for them, or they may have just given up.” Dr Danielsen said current treatment involved surgically removing the keloid scar, followed by corticosteroid injections into the wound. Surgery alone was never enough because the keloids grew back, often bigger than before. Growth-inhibiting adjuvant drug therapy was essential but the use of corticosteroid injections came with the risk of side effects. Instead, U<strong>WA</strong> researchers will trial the drug Verapamil, better known for treating heart complaints and migraines but which may also help to treat scar tissue. “Verapamil is very well known – we know all the side effects and they’re not too serious,” Dr Danielsen said. “The aim of the study is to see if the treatment is just as good as the traditional treatment but hopefully with fewer side effects.” During the year-long randomised trial funded by the Fiona Wood Foundation, participants will have their keloid scars removed under l<strong>oc</strong>al anaesthetic by Professor Wood or Professor Suzanne Rea. At regular intervals over the following year, they will be treated with injections of Verapamil and closely monitored for signs of re-growth. “We can’t offer this treatment yet as a standard treatment but it is a well-known and widely known medication,” Dr Danielsen said. “We need first to know how it goes, with long enough follow-up time to be certain the keloid scars won’t regrow.” Researchers need about 30 participants aged over 18. People interested in taking part or who want to find out more can contact the Burn Injuries Research Unit on 6488 8133 or visit www.fionawoodfoundation.com. THE 2012 WESFARMERS’ HARRY PERKINS ORATION If researchers are claiming so many ‘breakthroughs’, why are so many of people still getting cancer? Are we really making progress? The answer is a definite ‘yes’. There is much hope and good news. Come to hear about the future of cancer research, new treatments and how can we work together to reduce the burden of cancer on patients and carers. The Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (<strong>WA</strong>IMR) invites you to an important oration by Professor Joseph Trapani (pictured left), who will be visiting Perth from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne. Date: 2 November, 2012 (4–5pm) Venue: The University Club of <strong>WA</strong>, Off Hackett Drive, Nedlands This year’s Wesfarmers’ Harry Perkins Oration is a not-to-be missed event for anybody in Perth who is interested in cancer research and immunotherapy. It is free, including refreshments, but registration is essential as places are limited. Please contact <strong>WA</strong>IMR on 9224.0333/9224.0324 or email margot.clarke@waimr.uwa.edu.au by 25 October 2012. October MEDICUS 41
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