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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 1990 and 1995, after which the rate
has been stable,” said AIHW spokesperson Anne Bech.
“The sharp increase in the incidence rate in the early
1990s 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 UWA 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, UWA 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 local 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 (WAIMR) 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 WA, 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 WAIMR on 9224.0333/9224.0324 or email margot.clarke@waimr.uwa.edu.au by 25 October 2012.
October MEDICUS 41