Waikato Business News August/September 2021

PINK WALK
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS August/September 2021
23
From page 22
cancer. Ian Campbell
(Waikato Breast Surgeon &
Trust Founder) explains, “As
we progress beyond 2021,
the BCRT is enabling clinical
trials which are individualising
treatments more to the
specific features of each different
type of breast cancer.
For example, drug treatments
are becoming more targeted
to specific growth factors
of a tumour. As technology
develops there are specialised
laboratory tests which can
examine multiple aspects of
a tumour.
The results of these tests
will help guide oncology doctors
to select future patients
who will or won’t benefit
from treatments such as chemotherapy
and radiotherapy.”
With early detection
and better treatments more
and more women are surviving
breast cancer. See www.
breastcanceresearch.co.nz if
you would like to know more
about the work of the Breast
Cancer Research Trust, or
become involved in supporting
local research.
If you are diagnosed with
breast cancer, you can ask
your Surgeon or Oncologist if
there is a clinical trial available
for you.
New Zealand has a national
breast cancer register
The Breast Cancer Research
Trust (BCRT) runs the
Waikato / Midlands regional
division of the Breast Cancer
Foundation National Register
(‘the register’).
This is a Ministry of
Health secured web-based
database built with the intention
of creating a population
based picture of breast cancer
care in New Zealand.
The register records
detailed information about
diagnosis, treatment and outcomes
of patients with breast
cancer, which allows the
medical community to monitor
standards of care in the
Waikato and Midlands and
benchmarks against national
and international treatment
standards.
This confidential database
also allows multidisciplinary
research into the many
aspects of the breast cancer
position in the Waikato and
New Zealand.
Waikato based research
staff collaborate with the
Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch regions of the
register with observational
studies and projects.
The information stored
on the register is completely
confidential and can only be
released through strict governance
control. Both public
and private sector breast
cancer patients, as well as
patients with invasive breast
cancer and DCIS (ductal carcinoma
in situ – a pre-invasive
cancer) are eligible to
participate in the registers;
participation is voluntary.
Examples of research from
the register
• A project to investigate the
management of women
with breast cancer in addition
to other medical problems,
and their long term
outcomes. This group of
women often have complex
medical needs and
her research showed how
important it is for doctors
to determine where there
may be opportunities to
improve their care (this
research was carried out
by Dr Melissa Edwards,
Surgical Trainee &
Research Fellow).
• A study investigating the
variations in the management
and outcomes for
women diagnosed with
advanced breast cancer.
1600 cases of Waikato
and Auckland women
with advanced or metastatic
disease at diagnosis
(called de novo metastatic
breast cancer) and 4000
women with recurrent disease
(i.e. recurrence following
early breast cancer
diagnosis) was analysed.
Overall, the study results
showed that survival for
patients with advanced
breast cancer in New
Zealand is very similar to
other developed countries.
There are two different
types (triple negative or
non-luminal HER2 positive)
of advanced breast
cancer that had the worst
prognosis. The site of
metastases is also an
important indicator, with
evidence that those who
did not have metastases to
internal organs of the body
(e.g. liver, lungs) will on
average, survive for longer
periods of time.
Information from this
project helps guide Oncology
doctors in their discussion
with patients about
their prognosis and treatment
(this research was
carried out by Drs Chunhuan
Lao, Research Fellow
and Marion Kuper-Hommel,
Medical Oncologist,
Waikato Hospital).
For more than 30 years, we’ve been aligning
great candidates with great opportunities, and
‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato.
We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of
our commitment to excellence, we’re focussed on finding
the right fit for both job-seeker and employer.
So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to
discuss your career opportunities, get in touch with our
team.
Temporary| Permanent|Executive|Industrial
07 839 3685 | www.assetrec.co.nz
Supporters of the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust
Ian
Ian
Ian
Campbell Ian
Campbell Ian
Campbell
Oncoplastic
Campbell
Oncoplastic
Breast Oncoplastic
Surgeon,
Breast
Oncoplastic
Professor
Breast
Surgeon, Breast
Surgeon,
Breast
Surgeon,
Assoc. Assoc. Surgeon,
Prof
Assoc. Prof
Assoc. Prof
Assoc. Prof
Prof
Linda
Linda
Linda
Gilbert Linda
Gilbert
Linda
Gilbert
Gilbert
Breast
Breast
Breast
Physician Breast
Physician
Breast
Physician
Physician
Diana Lesley Diana
Diana
Astwood
Astwood
Diana Brydon
Astwood
Astwood
Breast Breast Care Care
Breast Care
Breast Care
Nurse
Care
Nurse
Breast Care
Nurse
Nurse
Nurse
Ph Ph 07 839 1114 | Fax 07 839 1118
Ph Email: Ph
07 07 07
839 ian@stanne.co.nz
839 1114 1114 | Fax | | Fax 07 07 07
839 839 1118
1118
Ph 07 839 1114 | Fax 07 839 1118
Email:
36 Email: ian@stanne.co.nz
36 Clarence 36 Email: Street, Hamilton
36 Clarence ian@stanne.co.nz
36 Clarence Street, Street, Hamilton
Hamilton
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