Consumer Perspective: Brain Cancer
Margaret was diagnosed in 2007 with breast cancer. In 2017, she was diagnosed with an unrelated brain tumour.
The online Brain Cancer 2020 Summit attracted 80 active participants and 35 observers. Divided into two two-hour Zoom sessions held one week apart, attendees heard from the VTS steering committee chair, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the consumer panel.
Chair Paul Mitchell spoke on the importance of consumer input into improving care and putting ideas from the Summit into practice by collaboration between clinicians, the Integrated Cancer Services and the Department.
Ms Kathryn Whitfield, Director of Cancer and Aged Care - Commissioning, DHHS, drew attention to the new Victorian cancer plan 2020–2024. Considered a key reform asset of the plan, optimal care pathways (OCPs) have been embedded in its body of work. Summits contribute to the plan's reform agenda by benchmarking statewide cancer care against the OCPs. Summit ideas for ongoing work should be ones that make a meaningful difference, and which can be monitored and measured.
Summit working party co-chairs Professors Andrew Danks and Hui Gan presented the data presentation. Professor Andrew Danks presents part one from the first Zoom session. Professor Hui Gan presents part two from the second Zoom session.
Dr Vishal Boolell
Dr Rebecca Chapman
Dr Lawrence Cher
Dr Jonathon Clark
Dr Mike Dally
A/Prof Andrew Danks (co-chair)
Dr Rana Dhillon
Dr Tony Dowling
Prof Kate Drummond
Dr Ronnie Frielich
Prof Hui Gan (co-chair)
A/Prof Martin Hunn
Dr Craig Macleod
A/Prof Paul Mitchell
Prof Jennifer Philip
Dr Claire Phillips
Dr Simone Reeves
Dr Emma Reiterer
Dr Ayesha Saqib
Dr Mori Wada
Presented by Kathryn Whitfield
Director, Cancer and Aged Care
Presented by Patients Matt and Margaret
Presented by Patients Matt and Margaret