As a community of professionals in breast oncology, we have a shared aim to provide effective care with the lowest possible treatment-related morbidity and burden. Understanding the impact of breast cancer treatment and advances in that treatment on psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life (HRQoL) through patient reported outcome measures, are clearly recognised as a clinical and research priority.

Within the limits of a non-randomized study, this data provides useful preliminary information about the association between fear of cancer recurrence and HRQoL and omission of radiotherapy in a select but large group of women with early breast cancer. Given that fear of cancer recurrence is a key issue among patients and a foremost unmet need linked with substantial psychological morbidity, the data is helpful for informing future prospective studies.

Associate Professor Lesley Stafford
Royal Melbourne Hospital

Lesley Stafford is a clinical psychologist with more than 15 years of research and clinical expertise in psycho-oncology and women’s health, with a specific interest in women with or at risk of breast cancer. She consults in the Breast Service and Familial Cancer Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as well as in private practice and is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. Lesley has published 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals and contributed several invited chapters to academic textbooks. Areas of interest include parenting with cancer, decision-making in the context of risk-reducing interventions, psychological implications of treatment de-escalation and sequence, and psycho-social aspects of advances in genetic testing.

VCCC Alliance Grand Rounds

The VCCC Alliance Research and Education (R&E Lead) Breast Cancer program has developed a learning environment where researchers and clinical care teams can share information to improve cancer outcomes.

The VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round aims to provide a shared view of what is happening in the development of breast cancer care and is helping to stimulate discussion and collaborations among experienced and novice researchers and clinicians. 

The VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round is targeted at a clinical audience and features open discussion about real cases and patients. While these cases are de-identified, the imagery, content and discussion can be graphic. It is not appropriate for consumer participants.