July 2012 - Sydney Local Health District

Research M a t t e r s
The quiet achiever
- continued from page 1
Clearing the fog on chemo brain
A medical oncologist from the Sydney Cancer Centre has
taken out one of the world’s most prestigious awards in cancer
research at last month’s prestigious American Society for
Clinical Oncology meeting, held in Chicago.
Associate Professor Janette Vardy, also the only Australian to be honoured at the meeting,
was awarded the 2012 Advanced Clinical Research Award in Breast Cancer, which includes a
three-year $450,000 grant to research cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors, a field
which has attracted little funding to date.
The award has never before been granted to recipients outside the United States.
Up to 70 per cent of cancer survivors report changes to their memory and concentration during
and after chemotherapy, with many feeling that this impacts significantly on their quality of life
and ability to function.
The cause of these side effects is unknown and there is no proven treatment.
“We know that after a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment a significant number of people
notice problems with memory, concentration and multi-tasking. What we don’t know is how
best to treat it,” Dr Vardy said.
“For some the cognitive impairment is subtle. They just don’t feel as clear headed as they
once did. But for others it is significant and makes their return to work difficult.”
The study, which will also be conducted by Dr Haryana Dhillon from the University of Sydney,
will evaluate two cognitive rehabilitation programs to determine whether they can decrease
cognitive impairment in women who have undergone chemotherapy.
Dr Vardy hopes to raise about $1 million through fundraising at Concord Hospital to set up
a survivorship centre, to treat and research longer term effects of cancer and its treatment in
survivors. A survivorship research gym is already in place at the hospital.
“With the ageing population a lot more people are being diagnosed with cancer, and with
improvements in detection and treatments we have many more people surviving and living
longer,” Dr Vardy said.
“They often have lingering issues with fatigue, sleep, sexuality, body image or fears of a
recurrence of their illness and the centre can offer a holistic approach to help them cope with
life beyond acute treatment.”
She started at RPA as a student nurse in 1972,
working her way up to NUM of emergency, then
director of nursing at Balmain, general manager at
Balmain and now general manager at Canterbury.
In her spare time she dabbles in cross stitch,
knitting and opera, and has almost completed a
doctorate in business administration with a thesis
on chronic disease management.
“My life’s only just beginning,” she says. “But to
anyone wanting to take this path I’d say work hard,
enjoy yourself and put the patient first. Oh, and
always carry a spear.”
Other winners include Professor John Rasko,
head of the Department of Cell and Molecular
Therapies at RPA and the Gene and Stem Cell
Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute, who
was awarded an Order of Australia medal for
distinguished service to biomedical research in
the field of gene and cell therapy, as a clinician,
author and administrator, through executive
roles with professional organisations, and to
philanthropy.
And RPA neurologist Michael Halmaygi, who
was also given an Order of Australia medal, for
his work as a clinician and educator, and through
contributions to research into the diagnosis and
treatment of disorders of the nervous system.
Sydney Local Health District, RPA
and Lifehouse are continuing to work
together ahead of the transition of some
cancer services in 2013.
The District has established an intranet
link for staff with updated information
about the ongoing work to ensure the
smooth transition.
The intranet page can be accessed by
clicking http://intranet.sswahs.nsw.gov.
au/SLHD/LifeHouse/default.htm
Dr Janette Vardy with Erika Jungfer at Concord Hospital.
4 HealthMatters Sydney – it’s your local health district