e-newsletter  |  April 2021

Safety and efficacy advice for COVID-19 vaccination amongst cancer patients in Australia

Cancer Australia has compiled a suite of information to help health professional and patients understand the current evidence and advice about COVID-19 vaccines for people affected by cancer. This information includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for patients, a health professional guidance repository, and a suite of national and international literature about COVID-19 vaccines and cancer. The information provides answers to questions about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines for people affected by cancer, considerations for vaccination of immunocompromised people, delivery of the vaccines, and more. 

Find Cancer Early: A guide for general practitioners

To support regional health professionals, Cancer Council Western Australia has updated the ‘Find Cancer Early: A Guide for General Practitioners’ resource which includes positive predictive value (PPV) tables for prostate, bowel, lung, and breast cancers as well as provides a newly created skin cancer guide. PPVs quantify the probability of cancer for individual and pairs of clinical features in patients. The newly updated resource will help support GPs make decisions about investigation and referral. This tool is designed to be used alongside clinical judgement and professional experience.

Regional medical clinics will be sent further information including a copy of the resource and information on ordering additional copies. If you would like more information about the ‘Find Cancer Early: A guide for General Practitioners’ and want to ensure you receive a free copy, please email findcancerearly@cancerwa.asn.au 

Improving cure rates for the childhood brain cancer, medulloblastoma

Professor Nick Gottardo, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist/Neuro-oncologist, shares the impact of brain tumours in children today, in particular medulloblastoma. Research findings into a new type of molecularly-targeted drug, prexasertib, has led the way for a major clinical trial in Australia and the United States, based on  drug combination treatment..

Clinical practice guideline for the management of communication and swallowing in children diagnosed with childhood brain tumour or leukaemia

Up to 80 percent of children treated for brain cancer or leukaemia go on to develop communication problems from their cancer and treatment. This can impact social and personal relationships, schooling and career prospects. Other children may experience difficulties with swallowing and eating. These NHMRC endorsed guidelines aim to ensure children are monitored up until adolescence and receive appropriate treatment.

Two key recommendations are:

• Communication assessment and intervention should be offered to children diagnosed with childhood brain tumour or leukaemia
• Swallowing assessment and management should be offered to children diagnosed with childhood brain tumour or leukaemia

New LiveLighter campaign

Cancer Council WA launched a new LiveLighter® campaign, ‘Menu App’. Health professionals may notice an increase in the number of patients  asking to discuss their weight.  The campaign shows people scrolling through menus on their phone to order junk food products for home delivery.. The rise of meal delivery apps and services has made unhealthy food and drink more available, more accessible, and more heavily promoted than ever before. The advertisement makes the link between regular junk food consumption and excess body fat, and highlights the increased risk of cancer associated with being above a healthy weight.