No images? Click here Dear colleague,Welcome to the autumn edition of CancerMattersFirstly we’d like to acknowledge the challenging times that you as health professionals are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your part in the health response to this situation is truly valued by the Western Australian community. Thank you. Cancer Council WA and WACOG are monitoring and responding to advice from the WA and Federal Governments, as well as liasing with medical advisors, to allow us to make the necessary decisions to keep health professionals, staff, patients, and the community safe. As a result, WACOG have cancelled all scheduled face-to-face education meetings for the next three months. We are looking at different ways to deliver education, particularly online platforms, to allow us to continue supporting the WACOG community. Please reach out via email (wacog@cancerwa.asn.au) if you have any suggestions as to how we can best support you during this time. Best wishes, Improved HER2 testing towards better breast cancer outcomesKatie Meehan, Ben Dessauvagie, Andrew Redfern and Wendy Erber There are 15,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually in Australia of which between 15 - 20% overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). An accurate assessment of HER2 is crucial since only patients with HER2 amplification are eligible for established HER2-targeted treatments. Current diagnostic tests measuring HER2 status have significant limitations and there is no worldwide consensus on the ‘best’ test. Sub-optimal testing for HER2 can result in incorrect disease classification and lead to both false positive or negative results. COVID-19 pandemic and management of cancer patientsThe impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system is unprecedented and presents a real need for some guidelines surrounding the management of cancer patients.The MJA has released a publication which is pending further evidence, but provides a summary of the clinical presentation and diagnosis of COVID-19 disease, and factors to consider when managing patients with cancer. Cancer incidence, mortality and survival in Western Australia, 2017Data released in the WA Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Survival in Western Australia, 2017 report (released March 2020) demonstrated the lowest rate of deaths due to cancer for both males and females since 1983, as well as a steady increase in survival rates for WA cancer patients. The five year relative survival rate in WA for all cancers was 71.7% in the period during 2013-2017, a 2.5% increase since the 2014 WA Cancer Registry report. In the Aboriginal population, however, the five-year observed survival rate was 14.8% lower than the non-Aboriginal population in W.A., indicating that more work needs to be done to improve Aboriginal health outcomes. FDA suncreen report“It’s important that Australians continue to use sunscreen alongside other forms of sun protection to prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer kills over 2000 Australians each year and 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed by the age of 70. “This is a small study of 48 individuals conducted in a lab environment that didn’t mimic real life conditions. The researchers behind this study themselves say that these results should not discourage people from using sunscreen. In Australia, sunscreens are closely regulated by the Government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration to make sure they are safe and effective – but sunscreen alone is not enough. When the UV is 3 or above, everyone needs to slip, slop, slap, seek (shade) and slide (on sunglasses).” Cancer Council Australia has commented on a recent study reported in JAMA on 21 January, 2020, a study on the effects of sunscreen application on plasma concentration of sunscreen's active ingredients. The report seeks to make a conclusion that some common active ingredients found in sunscreen are absorbed into the body, beyond what is considered a safe amount. The study concludes with the need for additional studies to determine the clinical significance of these findings. Australians' cancer priorities highlighted in global survey4 February 2020 Cancer Council Australia is calling for more action to reduce inequalities in cancer outcomes, following the results of a new global survey which showed that nearly half (45%) of all Australians believe that Government should be doing more to make cancer services more affordable. Newsletter of the Western Australian |