More cancer patients accessing clinical trials in Wide Bay than ever before
Wide Bay, Queensland, Tuesday 24 September: More than 130 cancer patients across Wide Bay have accessed radiotherapy clinical trials over the past four years, when research in this field was introduced to the region.
Research indicates that about one in two people with cancer could benefit from radiotherapy1, with clinical studies aimed at further improving patient outcomes and treatment delivery.
In Wide Bay, cancer care provider GenesisCare has employed two clinical research coordinators since 2019 to facilitate increased participation in trials and research projects for eligible patients. Many radiation oncologists and clinicians in the region also have a special interest in research.
Prof. Bryan Burmeister, a radiation oncologist at GenesisCare Fraser Coast, who has been an investigator on more than 25 research projects and published more than 130 journal papers, said that patients play an important role in clinical trials.
“Patients have an opportunity to contribute to cancer care breakthroughs and can potentially access a new treatment, technique or approach to care when they take part in a clinical trial,” said Prof Burmeister.
“Clinical trials have been key to achieving advancements in cancer treatments over the past two decades. Our goal in research is to enhance treatment and discover new methods that achieve the best possible outcomes for patients,” he said.
Radiotherapy research initiatives and clinical trials within the region have had a range of focuses, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and skin cancer.
One international trial active in the region is the “EXPERT” study that aims to improve personalised use of radiation therapy in early breast cancer patients by using a genomic test to identify women who can safely avoid this treatment after surgery.2 In Queensland, this trial is available at Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, and two metropolitan locations.
Adrian Tantari, State Member for Hervey Bay, visited GenesisCare Fraser Coast on World Cancer Research Day on Tuesday 24 September, to learn more about cancer research in the region.
“It’s great to see our local doctors, radiation therapists and patients taking part in cancer trials right here in the Wide Bay region. This is an important contribution towards advancing our knowledge of cancer and how best to treat it,” said Mr Tantari.
“Having been on my own cancer journey this year I am very much aware of the impacts that research like this can have on patient care. I’m proud to see that Hervey Bay will contribute to the advancement of cancer care through these trials and want to congratulate GenesisCare on their dedication to providing more treatment options for our community.”
GenesisCare’s Head of Research, Sonya McColl, said: “It is excellent to see our Wide Bay team’s contribution to the cancer research field with multiple manuscripts published in medical journals. These include a study into radiotherapy treatments for skin cancer in elderly patients unsuitable for typical surgery procedures, offering insight into different treatment options.3
“Another study conducted at GenesisCare in Hervey Bay, researched the use of eye shields during radiation therapy to treat skin cancers around the eye, an underutilised method that creates more treatment options in regional clinics and could save local patients travelling to cities for therapy.”4
GenesisCare’s commitment to research aligns with the 2024 Queensland Cancer Strategy, which aims to achieve greater participation in research.5
Media contact information
Contact our media team directly for futher information:
1. Cancer Council Queensland. “Radiation Therapy.” Accessed September 23, 2024. https://cancerqld.org.au/get-support/cancer-treatments/treatment-choices/radiation-therapy/
2. Breast Cancer Trials. “The EXPERT Clinical Trial.” Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.breastcancertrials.org.au/trials/expert/?srsltid=AfmBOoqryw7IzLplpQvYAO3BECj-eB5Uje5XDZ5Zce-UfNP-pGJdOPej.%20iii%20MedCrave.%20%E2%80%9CRadiation%20Therapy%20in%20Cancer%20Treatment.%E2%80%9D%20Accessed%20September%2023,%202024.%20https://medcraveonline.com/IJRRT/IJRRT-11-%2000387.pdf
3. MedCrave. “Radiation Therapy in Cancer Treatment.” Accessed September 23, 2024. https://medcraveonline.com/IJRRT/IJRRT-11-00387.pdf
4. PubMed. “Radiation Therapy Research.” Accessed September 23, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39010693/
5. Queensland Health. “Queensland Cancer Strategy 2024.” Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/strategic-direction/plans/queensland-cancer-strategy
L-R: Professor Bryan Burmeister, Radiation Oncologist with Carla Kerr, Clinical Research Coordinator.
“It’s great to see our local doctors, radiation therapists and patients taking part in cancer trials right here in the Wide Bay region. This is an important contribution towards advancing our knowledge of cancer and how best to treat it.
- Adrian Tantari, State Member for Hervey Bay
