Monday Lunch Livestream

Supportive Care and Symptomatic Management for High Grade Glioma

08 May 2023

Brain cancer, specifically high grade glioma, is a type of aggressive cancer that can grow and spread quickly and have devastating outcomes on patients, carers and families. Learn more about survival rates, care and treatments as well as rehabilitation and how to enhance quality of life for patients living with this type of cancer.

High grade gliomas are brain tumors that are difficult to treat. It usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

In addition to medical treatment, however, supportive care and symptomatic management are crucial components of the overall treatment plan for patients.

Every person's experience with brain cancer and high grade glioma is unique. Different patients could benefit from care that includes medications for relief of symptoms, support for people and their families and  physical and occupational therapy to help manage any physical limitations resulting from the cancer or its treatment.

Hear from medical experts as they discuss:

• Brain cancer with a focus on high grade glioma

• Survival rates, care and treatments available

• How to enhance quality of life for patients by providing tailored supportive care and symptom management

• Rehabilitation for high grade glioma

Presenters

Professor Hui Gan
Clinician Scientist; Co-Director, Centre for Research Excellence in Brain Cancer; Director, Cancer Clinical Trials Centre
Austin Health

Professor Hui Gan is a clinician at Austin Health where he looks after the care and management of patients with solid malignancies, particularly those with tumours of the brain. Having led over 50 clinical trials since 2009, he is now Head of their Phase 1 Program for patients seeking novel treatments after they have exhausted standard of care treatments. In addition to clinical work, he continues his translational research at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute to develop novel anti-cancer drugs. In 2018, Professor Gan was appointed VCCC Alliance Research & Education Lead – Central Nervous System and Brain Cancer. In this role, he is currently working to map opportunities in education and research across the alliance to develop expert networks.

Professor Fary Khan AM
Director of Rehabilitation Services, Royal Melbourne Hospital; Clinical Director, Australian Rehabilitation Research Centre; Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine at University of Melbourne, Nossal Institute of Global Health, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Fary Khan AM is a specialist in Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine with over 20 years of experience in neurological, cancer and trauma rehabilitation. She has set up evidence-based specialised rehabilitation programs for a range of specific conditions such as Multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, as well as for strokes, oncology, musculoskeletal injuries, and disaster management. Professor Khan is the Inaugural Academic Fellow to the Board of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM)-RACP and elected Board Member of the Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (RMSANZ). She was recently awarded the Member for the Order of Australia for her significant contribution to Rehabilitation Medicine and Research.

Professor Jennifer Philip
Chair of Palliative Care, University of Melbourne; Physician in Palliative Medicine in St Vincent’s Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital

Professor Jennifer Philip is a palliative care specialist clinician, researcher and educator. She has a particular interest in improving how supportive and palliative care is delivered to ensure care is underpinned by high-quality evidence and delivered by well-trained professionals and carers. Professor Philip’s research works to improve patient access to timely, high-quality palliative care. Her leadership and direction across the alliance enable research growth and innovation to ensure evidence-based care practices are implemented. Professor Philip is also the VCCC Alliance Academic Lead in Palliative Care.