26Associate ProfessorBettina MeiserHead of Psychosocial <strong>Research</strong> Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospitaland A/Professor in the Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of <strong>NSW</strong>Having grown up in Rheinhessen, one of the main wine regions inGermany, Bettina Meiser always thought her future lay in winemaking; following in the footsteps of the generations before her.When she completed an apprenticeship and degree in oenologyand viticulture, she was well on her way to fulfilling her family legacy.It was only when she migrated to Australia in the late 1980s thatshe decided to retrain and pursue her lifelong passion in thepsychological aspects of medicine.“I completed an honours degree in psychology at MacquarieUniversity,” she says. “My honours supervisor encouraged me topursue a career in research.”Now, Bettina’s research program helps families affected by thepsychosocial impact of hereditary cancer through education anddecision support strategies.“Many families with hereditary cancer have witnessed multiplediagnoses of, and sometimes deaths resulting from, cancer, which canresult in chronic grief reactions and high levels of distress,” she says.Her latest research includes a new randomised controlled trial thatcompares the efficacy of educational materials for treatment-focusedgenetic testing (TFGT) to that of standard pre-test genetic counsellingin preparing women newly diagnosed with breast cancer fordecision-making about TFGT.“The study will identify the best ways in which to educate womenabout genetic testing following a new diagnosis of breast cancer,”she explains. “It will lead to the development of alternative modelsto provide genetic information during the acute cancer presentation,to develop effective and safe pathways of care to meet the alreadyincreasing – and likely future – demand for genetic information toguide therapeutic choices.”Since changing her focus, Bettina has never looked back; knowing thather new career brings the sorts of rewards wine making never could.“<strong>Cancer</strong> is a life-threatening illness that universally arouses strongemotions of fear and, in many cultures, stigma as well,” she says.“Studying the psychological aspects of adaption to being at high risk forcancer or having been diagnosed with cancer seems vitally important.“My greatest achievement is to have contributed to the developmentand evaluation of evidenced-based educational resources, includingdecision aids, for families with hereditary cancer,” she says. “We haveproduced several decision aids for people at high genetic risk forbreast, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancer and disseminated themto familial cancer clinics around the country, with support from the<strong>Cancer</strong> Council <strong>NSW</strong> and the Centre for Genetics Education.“I believe that many families with hereditary cancer have benefitedfrom our research.”“As part of this study, women under the age of 50 with additionalrisk features who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancerwill be offered treatment-focused genetic testing,” says Bettina.“This is a genetic test done around the time a woman is diagnosedwith breast cancer, to help her and her doctor decide the type ofsurgery that is performed.
HELPING CANCERPATIENTS THROUGHTREATMENT &SURVIVAL“My research addresses the psychosocial impact ofhereditary cancer and aims to provide affectedfamilies with patient education and decisionsupport strategies.”Associate Professor Bettina Meiser
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