Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
(first line treatment approved) - New treatment (Avastin) option for ovarian cancer in Australia - News
New treatment option for ovarian cancer in Australia - News
"Australian women with advanced ovarian cancer have a new treatment option for their disease. The anti-cancer treatment, Avastin (bevacizumab), is now approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed (first-line) advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer......
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
open access: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine | Abstract | Consumers' experiences and values in conventional and alternative medicine paradigms: a problem detection study (PDS)
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine | Abstract | Consumers' experiences and values in conventional and alternative medicine paradigms: a problem detection study (PDS)
"Of 300 questionnaires distributed (Brisbane, Australia), 83 consumers responded."
"A 28% response (83 of 300 questionnaires distributed) was obtained for the consumer participants. More females (58) than males (25) responded. The majority of the consumers were middle-aged (47% aged 35–54 years, n = 47; 21 consumers were 34 or under and 15
were older than 55)." (Blogger's Note: null search results for 'cancer')
Conclusions
This PDS (problem detection study) has emphasized the perceived importance of open communication between consumers,
CAM and conventional providers, and has exposed areas where CAM consumers perceive
that issues exist across the CAM and conventional medicine paradigms. There is a lot
of information which is perceived as not being shared at present and there are issues
of discomfort and distrust which require resolution to develop concordant relationships
in healthcare. Further research should be based on optimisation of information sharing,
spanning both conventional and CAM fields of healthcare, due to both the relevance
of concordance principles within CAM modalities and the widespread use of CAM by consumers.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
March 22, 2012: Journal of Ovarian Research | open access | The value of serum CA125 for the development of virtual follow-up strategies for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: A retrospective study
Blogger's Note: past studies also confirm the connection between doubling of CA125/nadir, focus on remote care/followup
Journal of Ovarian Research | Abstract | The value of serum CA125 for the development of virtual follow-up strategies for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: A retrospective study
Research
"Current NCCN guidelines for the follow up of patients with EOC are widely accepted but only limited evidence is available to support current clinical practice [3]. There are no clinical trials available to determine optimal follow up intervals, sequence or duration of follow up."
The value of serum CA125 for the development of virtual follow-up strategies for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: A retrospective study
Published: 22 March 2012
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Serum CA125 is routinely used in the follow up of ovarian cancer. The objective of
the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of CA125 in the detection of ovarian
cancer recurrence.
Methods
This retrospective case study was carried out at a tertiary gynaecological cancer
centre in Australia. Patients with all cell types of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)
treated between 2003 and 2010 were considered eligible. We excluded patients whose
aim of treatment was palliative, had no follow-up, had no pre-operative CA125 reading
or had pre-operative CA125 levels < 35 U/mL. After primary treatment, patients were
followed up as per guidelines suggested by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
We recorded if symptoms, findings from physical examination, imaging or serum CA125
levels led to the diagnosis of recurrence. An increase in CA125 levels to twice the
postoperative nadir was considered as "doubling" at any time during follow up.
Results
Analysis is based on 56 patients who completed primary treatment and who presented
for a total of 274 follow-up episodes. Of those, 29 patients (52%) developed a recurrence
within the follow up period. Recurrence was diagnosed by CA125 alone in 14 of 29 patients
(48%). CA125 was not elevated in 7 patients (24%) who recurred. Doubling of CA125
from nadir was observed in 27/29 patients. Of those 27 patients the doubling from
nadir occurred within the normal range of 35 U/ml in 3 cases and outside the normal
range in 24 cases. Multivariate analysis suggests that doubling of serum CA125 (OR
5.10, p 0.036) and nadir CA125 >10 U/ml (OR 2.86, p 0.01) remained the only independent
factors to predict ovarian cancer recurrence.
Conclusions
The present paper proposes the validation of a novel CA125 algorithm aiming to detect
recurrent EOC. These data may allow us to investigate novel ways of follow up that
do not require a patient's physical attendance at a clinic (virtual follow-up).
The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
press release: Canada, Australia and New Zealand establish a new research partnership - CIHR
Canada, Australia and New Zealand establish a new research partnership - CIHR
Ottawa (March 20, 2012) – The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) at the Australian National University and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC NZ) are partnering to fund research on innovative models of Community-based Primary Healthcare (CBPHC). As part of CIHR's Signature Initiative, funded teams will examine how to better prevent and manage chronic disease, as well as improve access to care for vulnerable populations.
Recognizing that innovative research in CBPHC is essential to better health outcomes, improved equity, reduced wait times, and an improved patient experience, the partners have agreed to support cross-jurisdictional Canada-Australia and Canada-New Zealand teams of researchers, patients, decision-makers and clinicians.
"This collaborative research between Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will allow our three countries to test different models of primary healthcare", said Dr. Beaudet, President of CIHR.
"The international best practices that emerge will benefit our healthcare systems and, most importantly, contribute to better health outcomes."
...........cont'd
Friday, March 16, 2012
abstract: Access to anti-cancer drugs: Many evidence-based treatments are off-label and unfunded by the PBS - Australia
Access to anti-cancer drugs: Many evidence-based treatments are off-label and unfunded by the PBS
ABSTRACT
Background:
The off-label use of a drug refers to a use outside the terms of its
approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA). It is also
possible to prescribe unlicensed drugs under the Therapeutic Goods
Administration's (TGA) Special Access Scheme. A high rate of off-label
prescribing has previously been reported in cancer. Our study aimed to
document the disparity between clincial evidence-based guidelines for
anti-cancer therapy, product approval, and funding status of these
agents within an academic tertiary/quaternary cancer centre.
Method:
All chemotherapy protocols approved for use in our specialist oncology
centre were assessed to determine if the drugs were off-label or
unlicensed for that indication based upon review of their current
product information. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) funding
status for each protocol was subsequently assessed.
Results:
A total of 448 protocols, containing 82 different drugs, across 15
tumour groups were identified. Overall, 189 (42.2%) of protocols were
off-label and 3 (0.7%) were unlicensed. This resulted in all 192
protocols being unfunded by the PBS. Of the 189 off-label protocols, 132
(69.9%) were based on established evidence-based treatment guidelines
and a further 39 (20.6%) were based upon phase II or III clinical trial
data.
Discussion: Over 90% of
off-label protocols are supported by established treatment guidelines or
published peer-reviewed research even though the medications are not
approved for that particular use by the TGA. However, these off-label
protocols are unfunded by the PBS: this results in a marked inequality
of access to appropriate medications for cancer patients across
Australia.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Women unaware of ovarian cancer risks - The Australian
Women unaware of ovarian cancer risks - The Australian:
Women unaware of ovarian cancer risks
The Australian WOMEN are being urged to learn the symptoms and risks of ovarian cancer, after research showed two thirds don't know the most common risk factors. Ovarian cancer awareness group Ovarian Cancer Australia has released research showing 66 per cent of ... and more » |
Monday, February 13, 2012
Facebook to boost ovarian cancer awareness
"Virtual kisses can be sent via facebook.com/OvarianCancerAustralia"
abstract: Cancer patients' concerns regarding access to cancer care: perceived impact of waiting times along the diagnosis and treatment journey
Abstract
Waiting times can raise significant concern for cancer patients. This study examined cancer patients' concern levels at each phase of waiting. Demographic, disease and psychosocial characteristics associated with concern at each phase were also assessed. 146 consenting outpatients (n= 146) were recruited from two hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Each completed a touch-screen computer survey, asking them to recall concern experienced regarding waiting times at each treatment phase. Approximately half (52%) reported experiencing concern during at least one treatment phase, while 8.9% reported experiencing concern at every phase. Higher proportions of patients reported concern about waiting times from: deciding to have radiotherapy to commencement of radiotherapy (31%); the first specialist appointment to receiving a cancer diagnosis (28%); and deciding to have chemotherapy to commencement of chemotherapy (28%). Patient groups more likely to report concern were those of lower socio-economic status, born outside Australia, or of younger age. Although a small proportion of patients reported very high levels of concern regarding waiting times, the experience of some concern was prevalent. Opportunities for reducing this concern are discussed. Vulnerable groups, such as younger and socio-economically disadvantaged patients, should be the focus of efforts to reduce waiting times and patient concern levels.Sunday, February 05, 2012
Australia - Cancer Directory - Lynch Syndrome booklet (pdf file - updated Jan 25, 2012)
Understanding genetic tests for Lynch syndrome. Information and decision aid
Year first published or reviewed: 2010
Last updated on: 25-01-2012
By: Centre for Genetics Education
Lynch syndrome cancers
People affected by Lynch syndrome have a higher risk of bowel cancer
and some other cancers listed in the table below.
Men with Lynch syndrome are at
high risk of developing:
large bowel cancer
Women with Lynch syndrome are
at high risk of developing:
large bowel cancer
endometrial cancer
ovarian cancer
Men and women have an
increased risk of developing:
cancers of the stomach, small
bowel, kidney, brain, pancreas,
ureter (tube from kidney to
bladder
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Australia: media - Charities push for overhaul of cancer funding 03/02/2012
ASHLEY HALL: "Cancer charities are calling for a massive overhaul of the $300 million fundraising and research sector.
They're becoming concerned about what they say is duplication and waste within the cancer research field.
The head of the Cancer Council of Australia says the attention paid to breast, cervix and ovarian cancer comes at the expense of other high mortality cancers including lung and pancreatic cancer....."
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
open access: Cancer in Australia: Actual incidence and mortality data from 1982 to 2007 and projections to 2010 - 2011 - Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology - Wiley Online Library
Cancer in Australia: Actual incidence and mortality data from 1982 to 2007 and projections to 2010 - 2011 - Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology
Table 1. The 10 most commonly diagnosed cancers by sex, Australia, 2007
Ovary 1,266
Table 4. The 10 most common causes of death from cancer by sex, Australia, 2007
Ovary 848
About this Journal:
The Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology is a multidisciplinary journal of oncology that aims to be a forum for facilitating collaboration and exchanging information on what is happening in different countries of the Asia Pacific region in relation to cancer treatment and care. The Journal publishes pre-clinical studies, translational research, clinical trials and epidemiological studies, describing new findings of clinical significance. Clinical studies, particularly prospectively designed clinical trials, are encouraged.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Analysis of Australian newspaper coverage of medication errors
Conclusion
Australian newspaper reporting of medication errors was relatively limited. Given the high prevalence of errors and the potential role consumers can play in identifying and preventing errors, there is a clear argument for increasing public awareness and understanding of issues relating to medication safety. Existing coverage of this issue is unrelated to research evidence. This suggests the need for patient safety researchers and advocacy groups to engage more strongly with the media as a strategy to increase the productive public discourse concerning medication errors and gain support for evidence-based interventions.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Multinational Comparisons of Health Systems Data, 2011 - The Commonwealth Fund including link to 2011 patient care coordination (11 countries)
"International comparisons of health care systems offer valuable tools to health ministers, policymakers, and academics wishing to evaluate the performance of their country's system. In this chartbook, we use data collected by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to compare health care systems and performance on a range of topics, including spending, hospitals, physicians, pharmaceuticals, prevention, mortality, quality of care, and prices. We present data across several industrialized countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Whenever possible, we also present the median value of all 34 members of the OECD.......
Downloads
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
abstract: A comparison of international breast cancer guidelines - Do the national guidelines differ in treatment recommendations? USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Germany
(USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Germany)
CONCLUDING STATEMENT: Considering that the development of guidelines is a very expensive and resource-intensive task the question arises whether the development of national guidelines in numerous countries is worth the effort since the recommendations differ only marginally.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
NBOCC News - June 2011 - National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)
In this issue...
- A reflection on National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre's achievement
- Cancer Australia and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre amalgamate
- Not just a woman's disease: Information about breast cancer in men
- New clinical practice guidelines on use of bisphosphonates in advanced breast cancer
- GP online learning on cancer screening
- Understanding ductal carcinoma in situ resource
- New Clinical Update: Ovarian Cancer
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