Cancer Council Update 2011
Each year Cancer Council WA holds the Cancer Council Update, which takes place during the 5 weeks leading up to Daffodil Day (26 August). In addition, extra lectures featuring special guest speakers are held throughout the year.
The aim of the Cancer Council Update is to make the latest cancer information and research accessible to the WA community.
Cancer Council Update activities include:
- FREE public lecture series
- professional education sessions
- extensive media coverage
Lecture audio
If you were unable to attend, you can still listen to audio of the lectures, thanks to 720 ABC Perth.
Lecture presentations
This year's public presentation slides from July and August are available below.
Events for health professionals
Several of the speakers also presented at professional development events. Please visit the WA Clinical Oncology Group (WACOG) page for more information.
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Professor Dame Valerie Beral
Dr Beral has a wealth of experience in the field of epidemiology, having worked for almost 20 years at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the Department of Epidemiology. Currently the Director of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Epidemiology Unit in Oxford, Dame Valerie's major research includes the role of reproductive, hormonal and infectious agents in cancer. She is Principal Investigator for the Million Women Study on the effect of women's lifestyle on health, with particular focus on the effects of hormone replacement therapy. Since 1991 this has led the international collaborative studies of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer. Her honours include being awarded Dame of the British Empire (DBE) and Companion of Australia (AC) for her contributions to science. In addition, Professor Beral was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS), for scientific contributions to epidemiology.
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Assoc Prof David Thomas
Dr David Thomas is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow in the Ian Potter Foundation Centre for Cancer Genomics and Predictive Medicine at the Peter MacCal lum Cancer Centre. He was Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer program onTrac@PeterMac (2005-2010), the only non-US member of the science task force for the Young Adult Alliance of the Livestrong Foundation (2007-) and also the founding Chair of the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group (2008-). His research interests include giant cell tumour of bone, osteosarcoma and liposarcoma. His major current research program focuses on the germline and somatic genetics of sarcomas, with a focus on translational research.
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Dr Lesley Braun
Lesley Braun completed a PhD at RMIT University investigating Complementary Medicines in Victorian hospitals which had a focus on patient safety and drug interactions. She now conducts research with complementary medicine through two departments at the Alfred hospital, Surgery and Pharmacy. This is a unique position which enables research to be translated into changing hospital practice.
She has also written and lectured extensively about the safety and effectiveness of commonly used complementary medicines, evidence in medicine and drug-herb interactions, publishing up to 20 articles each year and presenting at numerous seminars and conferences. In 2009 she was part of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine interest groups for cancer and cardiovascular disease and in 2010, was appointed onto the executive committee for complementary medicines for the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia.
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Sara Hiom
Sara Hiom is Director of Health Information and Cancer Data at Cancer Research UK having been with the charity over ten years. With a degree in genetics from University College London, Sara first worked for some years in medical research before moving towards science communication and a stronger cancer emphasis. She is now responsible for CR-UK's prevention and early diagnosis information and initiatives, working closely with the Department of Health, other government bodies and Professor Sir Mike Richards on the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative. With a dedicated team following the latest research, making sense of cancer for the public, trying to better understand how to effectively evaluate and address cancer inequalities, and running initiatives to tackle behaviours that increase cancer risk, such as ‘SunSmart' (the national skin cancer prevention programme), there is never a dull moment! Sara also oversees the Programme Management of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership of which certain Australian States are members.
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Assoc Prof Erica James
After completing an undergraduate degree in exercise science, postgraduate qualifications in health promotion and a PhD in public health, Erica was appointed as a tenured Lecturer in Public Health Research at La Trobe University in 1998. In 2004 she was recognised with an Excellence in Teaching Award and completed a Master of Business Degree. In 2005, Erica was promoted to Senior Lecturer, a position she held until 2007 when she relocated to Newcastle to take a position as a Senior Research Academic at the Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology. In August 2010 she was appointed Associate Professor in Public Health in the Discipline of Health Behaviour Science at the University of Newcastle. The focus of her research is behavioural nutrition and physical activity utilising a range of approaches and methodologies. Erica has published 36 C1 journal articles, 5 abstracts, 5 book chapters and 1 book, successfully supervised 18 student projects and has attracted over $1.48 million in grants/consultancy income.
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Dr Monica Robotin
Dr Monica Robotin is the Medical Director of Cancer Council NSW, and also teaches Cancer Prevention and Control and Chronic Disease Prevention and Control in her capacity of Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of Sydney. Her research interests focus on viral hepatitis, hepatocellular cancer, economic modeling, chemoprevention, complementary and integrative medicine. Monica is a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, where her research relates to the evaluation of costs and benefits of treating chronic hepatitis B infection in at risk Australian populations. She is a member of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Heart Association, the Australasian and International Epidemiological Associations and is representing Cancer Council NSW in a large number of committees and working groups. Monica has co-edited two books "When cancer crosses disciplines" and "Perspectives in complementary medicine", and has also co-edited "B Positive - all you wanted to know about hepatitis B: a guide for primary care providers", now used as a reference text for the management of hepatitis B infection in Australian general practice.
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Previous presentations
Presentations from previous years' public lecture series are available as downloads from the following links:
