Download It`s time to re-think ovarian cancer Ready. Set. GO step for Gynae 2017

OCTOBER 2016
researc HER
Improving life for women with gynaecological cancer
It’s time to re-think ovarian cancer
The name ‘ovarian cancer’ implies a single
disease but we now know that is not
the case. In the last few years, molecular
genetic studies have led to a complete
reclassification of ovarian cancer,
identifying new targets for therapeutic
intervention.
We need to treat each woman according
to the type and sub-type of ovarian
cancer she has. The era of personalised
medicine has arrived.
The Ovarian Cancer Alliance for SignalSeeking Research (OASIS) initiative is
a powerful alliance of ANZGOG, the
Australian Ovarian Cancer Study, and
Ovarian Cancer Australia.
The key outcome from this alliance will be
a more rapid adoption of new targeted
drug treatments for ovarian cancer, and
the validation of a new approach to early
phase clinical trials.
We believe that OASIS is the best chance we
have had in decades to improve the survival
of Australian women with ovarian cancer.
Researchers across Australia and New
Zealand have recently been invited to
apply for funding through OASIS and fasttrack vital ovarian cancer research.
Bridget Whelan was diagnosed with
stage 3 ovarian cancer at 36 years of
age, “I worked part time during the
chemotherapy to keep things ‘normal’ in
my life” she said.
Inspired by Bridget
Last month, Mary Anne Jackson led a
team of 20 runners in the Blackmores
Running Festival to raise funds for OASIS.
“I do this in memory of my aunt Margaret
Hudson, sister Elizabeth Staal and cousin
Bridget Whelan, and to support all
women who have had an ovarian cancer
diagnosis” said Mary Anne.
Bridget Whelan dedicated her final years to getting better
treatments, sooner.
Two years later the cancer returned.
“This is the worst thing I have ever
experienced” wrote Bridget in a letter
to the Senate Standing Committee on
Community Affairs.
Bridget was a powerful advocate for
improving access to potentially life-saving
medications, and seeking out more
effective treatments for women with
gynaecological cancers.
You can support this initiative by
donating to Mary Anne Jackson via
Go Fundraise: https://inmemory.
gofundraise.com.au/page/
MaryanneJackson1
“I hope you will support the team and
ANZGOG’s research to give hope to the
next generation of women who may have
to face ovarian cancer.” said Mary Anne.
“There is a glimmer of hope,” Bridget
wrote about the OASIS initiative. “Three
out of five of us women diagnosed with
ovarian cancer die within five years. We
deal with this in different ways but all of
us want better drugs, sooner.”
It is time to re-think ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer claimed the life of Bridget
in May this year. Bridget left us with
her powerful words of action and the
inspiration to continue her legacy.
Mary Anne Jackson and team members, fundraising for
research that will improve the lives of women with ovarian
cancer.
Ready. Set. GO step for Gynae 2017
GO Step for Gynae encourages registrants
to walk 10,000 steps a day for 30 days.
Now in its third year the campaign will
begin on 1 March 2017. So get your
walking shoes ready, find a group of
friends and just GO.
So far the fitness and fundraising activity
has raised over $80,000 for ANZGOG’s
gynaecological cancer research. We hope
that next year’s event will be the best
ever. Participants register on Everyday
Hero and ask their friends and family to
support them on the journey that not
only makes them fitter but also supports a
great cause.
We are also excited to announce that
distance marathon runner and ovarian
cancer survivor, the fabulous Heather
Hawkins has once again put her hand up
to be a GO step Ambassador and will be
joined by model Annalise Braakensiek and
world champion athlete Jana Pittman.
To register your interest email Sarah
at [email protected]
Stay in touch at www.facebook.com/
GOforGynae
GO step for Gynae Ambassador, Heather Hawkins.
Every Box is precious
A new campaign ’Save the Box’ was launched on 12 July this
year to raise awareness and funds for ANZGOG’s gynaecological
cancer research. The campaign ran throughout September –
International Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. With
15 women every day being diagnosed with ovarian, uterine
(endometrial), cervical, vulvar, vaginal, or two rare pregnancyrelated cancers, it is time to put gynaecological cancers at the
forefront of conversation.
Breaking the silence on gynaecological health
The campaign was launched with 1740 boxes laid across Martin
Place in Sydney, and the premiere of the ‘Save the Box’ video on
social media and TV.
Hundreds of ANZGOG supporters turned out to star
in the video and help out at Martin Place and we
couldn’t have done it without you.
‘Save the Box’ certainly worked to attract attention to the
importance of better outcomes for women with gynaecological
cancer. Our message was published in major newspapers,
broadcast on radio and televised on major TV stations across the
nation, reaching more than 10 million people here and overseas.
More than 20 Australian celebrities joined the cause by donning
the t-shirt and sharing messages of support on social media.
In our local communities we are tremendously grateful to all of
you who took on the Money Box Challenge, asked your friends
and family to sponsor you via your Everyday Hero fundraising
page, bought the shirt, made donations, and shared your stories
online.
Together we are challenging the taboos, empowering women
to take control of their gynaecological health, and raising vital
funds for research that will improve the lives of women.
Major Events
Ambassador at Large Charlie Brown hosted a Lunchbox ‘Save the
Box’ Luncheon at Phoebe Baker’s beautiful home. The event was
kindly supported by Karraniya Experience, Rosemary Hopkins,
Pinnacle Drinks and Artisan Spirit Merchants. Over $31,000 was
raised on the day.
Other major events in the campaign calendar were ‘More
precious than gold’, coordinated and hosted by students
from Whitehouse Institute of Design Sydney and Melbourne
campuses. The events incorporated art, design, fashion, music
and entertainment.
Very Important Partners
ANZGOG would like to thank the major partners of the campaign
which included Saatchi and Saatchi Wellbeing, VISY, Atlassian,
Concept Partners, GROW, Mainfreight, Stellar Entertainment,
Coca Cola, The Entertainment Quarter, Impact Communications,
Bauer Media Group, Tonic Health Media, Medical Channel,
Whitehouse Institute of Design Australia, Inside Out, In Focus
Design and Cherry Media Group.
www.savethebox.org.au
In reading order: ‘Save the Box’ video; Supporter Carol McKane; Zeppelin Joseph helping at
the video shoot; Georgia Love; ANZGOG Members Mandy Fitzgerald, Anne Mellon &
Catherine Adams; ANZGOG Chair A/Prof Alison Brand, Phoebe Baker & Charlie Brown;
Lunchbox MC Prue MacSween & guests; Musicians, Whitehouse Institutue of Design, Sydney;
ANZGOG CEO Alison Evans on 9 News; Model & supporter Annalise Braakensiek; ‘Save the
Box’ launch, Martin Place.
Current ANZGOG trials For more information go to ‘Clinical Trials’ at www.anzgog.org.au
REZOLVE (Ovarian)
ECHO (Ovarian)
Outback (Cervical)
feMMe (Endometrial)
REZOLVE aims to evaluate the
safety and potential palliative
benefit of intraperitoneal
bevacizumab (chemotherapy
treatment) in patients with
symptomatic ascites due to
advanced chemotherapy
resistant ovarian cancer.
A Phase III randomised,
controlled trial evaluating
the effect of an exercise
intervention among women
undergoing chemotherapy for
ovarian cancer. This trial will
identify whether incorporation
of an exercise program into
the current standard of care
for women undergoing
chemotherapy for primary
ovarian cancer is an effective
and cost-effective way to
improve health outcomes in
this patient group.
The Outback trial will test
the value of giving women
with locally advanced cervical
cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy
following completion of
standard chemo-radiation
treatment. It aims to improve
survival rates for these women,
many of whom have a 40% or
greater chance of their disease
relapsing after treatment.
This trial accesses a new
approach to the treatment
of endometrial cancer, thus
sparing women major surgery.
Our aim is to find out the
effectiveness of Mirena ® (a
hormonal intrauterine device),
Mirena® with Metformin (an
oral antidiabetic drug), and
Mirena® with weight loss at
getting rid of endometrial
cancer and endometrial
hyperplasia with atypia.
Progress in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer
Australia is well advanced in cervical
cancer prevention, thanks to the
combined effects of the HPV Vaccination
Program and cervical screening through
the pap test.
“The number of deaths in Australia caused
by cervical cancer have more than halved
over the past ten years” said Associate
Professor Alison Brand, Chair of ANZGOG.
The pap test, often referred to as the pap
smear, looks for abnormal changes in the
cells of the cervix. The cells are collected
via a physical swab of the cervix, usually
performed by a GP and recommended
every two years for women aged 18 – 69
years old.
Despite the success of the current
screening and vaccination program, the
Australian and New Zealand governments
have approved a new schedule, which
has already been implemented in New
Zealand, and comes into effect in May
2017 in Australia.
A/Prof Brand helped write these new
guidelines.
“New evidence about the role of human
papilloma virus (HPV) in the development
of cervical cancer and new technologies
to detect the virus has emerged recently”
said A/Prof Brand.
A better and more accurate test, the HPV
test, is now available. The HPV test looks
for HPV, the virus that can cause precancerous abnormalities, in the cervix.
The procedure for collecting the sample
of cervical cells is the same as for the pap
test.
The HPV test can detect the virus that
causes the abnormal cell changes, “this
means that women will now only need
to have the screening test every 5 years
starting at age 25 and continuing to age
70 to 74” said A/Prof Brand.
The benefits for women will be less
frequent and more effective testing.
“It is estimated that 22% less women will
die of cervical cancer, thanks to this new
screening test” said A/Prof Brand.
Better treatments for advanced
cervical cancer
“There are women who have rarely or
never had a pap test for a variety of
reasons” said Associate Professor Linda
Mileshkin, Principal Investigator and
ANZGOG member.
These women can present with locally
advanced cervical cancer, where the
treatment outcomes are not always as
good.
A/Prof Mileshkin is leading OUTBACK,
an international clinical trial aimed at
improving survival rates from locally
advanced cervical cancer.
The OUTBACK trial involves 900 women,
half of whom receive the standard
treatment with radiation to the pelvis
plus low dose weekly chemotherapy; and
the other half receive the same standard
treatment plus an additional course of
chemotherapy treatment designed to
stop cells that may have escaped from the
primary cancer and could spread to other
parts of the body.
A/Prof Linda Mileshkin, OUTBACK Principal Investigator.
“This approach is routine in breast and
many other cancers, we want to see if it’s
the same for locally advanced cervical
cancer” said A/Prof Mileshkin.
“There are many parts of the world where
pap smears and vaccinations are not
available” said A/Prof Mileshkin.
Cervical cancer is a huge killer of women
in the developing world, causing more
than a quarter of a million deaths globally
each year.
“We need to continue to develop better
treatments as well as access to preventive
measures, so more women in Australia
and around the world can live a long and
happy life” saidA/Prof Mileshkin.
For more information about OUTBACK
and other cervical cancer trials led by
ANZGOG, visit the Clinical Trials pages
at www.anzgog.org.au
OPINION | Save the Box helps Australian women
Associate Professor Alison Brand, ANZGOG Chair
Director of Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital
Published in the Sunday Telegraph on 11 September 2016
This year more than 5500 women will be diagnosed with a
gynaecological cancer.
That is more than 5500 mothers, daughters, wives, sisters,
partners and friends; 5500 women who often don’t speak about
their cancer because they feel uncomfortable with the words or
don’t have them.
For many women the words vagina, vulva,
uterus, cervix and ovary are not spoken.
Rather, euphemisms like “down there”, or “down below” are used.
To raise awareness and money for gynaecological cancer
research, we need to talk about it in everyday conversation.
Why does research matter? Because research leads
to improved outcomes through better treatments,
better survival and better quality of life.
Marilyn was a loving wife and mother to two small children. She
developed a vulva cancer — you can bet that diagnosis was not
discussed over coffee or morning tea.
Despite a partial vulvectomy and drug treatments, Marilyn died
just two years after her diagnosis.
Her husband wrote to say how grateful the both of them had
been for her care. He ended the letter with something Marilyn
said just before she died: “We laughed more than we cried so it
could not have been all that bad.”
This so illustrates the strength and resilience of the women I care
for. Two decades have passed.
Associate Professor Alison Brand.
Marilyn’s story may have had a different ending today. Because
of research, the outlook for women with this type of cancer has
been revolutionised.
ANZGOG, the peak national gynaecological cancer clinical
research group, is leading the way, but we still have a long way
to go.
Five-year survival rates for all cancers have improved
by 19 per cent in the past 20 years, but for
gynaecological cancers it is only 7 per cent.
We have to do better.
September is International Gynaecological Cancer Awareness
Month, and ANZGOG is asking Australians to help Save the
Box and raise much needed funds for gynaecological cancer
research.
To donate to the Save the Box campaign, register your
support for gynaecological cancer or for more information
visit www.savethebox.org.au
It’s not a race, it’s a journey...
The team having just arrived in Nice.
Duncan McPherson and Professor Michael Quinn.
The team’s ‘Gals’–Caroline Degois, Anne Scollon Hanne
Strumme & Anne Hede­.
Professor Michael Quinn, AM and his
wonderful team of cyclists completed
their challenging ‘GO ride for Gynae’
journey from Normandy to Nice on 5
October.
the Mediterranean at Nice their wheels
just kept on turning. Finally, after riding
1,480kms they were greeted by the tour
organisers Peak Tours who popped the
champagne in celebration!
women who will benefit … thank you!”
said Prof Quinn.
After two weeks including bad weather
and mountain climbs, everyone made
it over the finish line. From the summit
of Mt Ventoux through Nyons to
Castellane and then onto the shores of
“So it is over. Thank you everyone–riders
and supporters–for so many contributions
to an amazing two weeks in aid of
women’s cancer research. ANZGOG and
all our present patients and all the future
Together they raised over $90,000 for
ANZGOG’s New Research Fund. An
amazing achievement!
They may have finished their journey but
they would still like to raise more funds.
Please show your support and make a
donation at https://everydayhero.com.
au/event/gorideforgynae
Raising funds to improve life for women through research
Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group Locked Bag M45 MISSENDEN ROAD NSW 2050
T | +61 2 8071 4880 [email protected] www.goforgynae.org.au ABN 69 138 649 028