Your Money and Breast Cancer

 The following article features in Issue One of the ST BREAST magazine.

Vanessa was 43 years old and a single mum to two children aged five and three when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. She had a mortgage and took eight months off work, using all her accrued annual leave and sick leave and then taking leave without pay. Because she had private health insurance, her surgery was done in a private hospital, but her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments were in the public system. Three years post-diagnosis, she has tallied up the bills and now estimates she is already more than $25,000 out-of-pocket – and this is not counting intangibles, like not being considered for promotion at work or other forms of professional development.

Vanessa says now, “Transport and accommodation expenses were my biggest spend. If I had known that the Patient Transport Subsidy scheme would not be applied in my case, I would have gone private for adjuvant therapies as well, and gone to a private oncology centre closer to home, allowing us to stay in familiar surrounds for the treatment period.

“Overall, I would say that we were fortunate, because I had critical illness insurance, and this paid out a lump sum soon after diagnosis. “I really recommend that people get this now. It meant that I could meet immediate expenses without stress and also, I didn’t have to worry about things like mortgage payments, while in the gap between salary continuance and no pay.

“I wanted as little disruption as possible to the children so keeping them with me and acting like we were on a bit of a city holiday was really important and I am fortunate I was able to do this because of my financial situation.

“The most surprising expenses have been the ongoing costs – even now, three years post active treatment. Because of treatment side effects, I am paying for orthotics for my feet and having eyebrow tattoos because mine never properly returned. I am also having counselling for anxiety and am taking other ongoing medication. Even travel insurance is more expensive now. Yes, a breast cancer diagnosis is expensive.”

The out of pocket costs described by Vanessa on the previous page might seem hefty, but they’re all too familiar when it comes to breast cancer, according to senior financial planner Anne Graham. The Melbourne-based CEO of Story Wealth Management says a cancer diagnosis  can be financially crippling to young and growing families, particularly when women are still working, raising children, contributing to mortgages and other household expenses, as well as managing busy lives. She says breast cancer is expensive, with a Deloitte report recognising that the average patient pays around $36,000 over a lifetime in out of pocket expenses – with most incurred in the first few years post-diagnosis.

“Obviously the out of pocket medical costs will vary patient to patient, depending on the treatment they have and whether they have private health insurance, Anne says.

“As a starting point, I would tell women to contact their private health insurance provider at the earliest opportunity after diagnosis and establish exactly what they are entitled to.

“I would then look at whether some of the treatments required might be able to be covered as a public patient, even for a patient who has private health cover.” It makes sense to  get as much information as possible to enable you to make an informed decision.

A 2016 Breast Cancer Network Australia report noted that a woman with private health insurance will typically pay around double the out of pocket costs of a public patient.

This higher financial burden for private health insurance holders results from expenses incurred during surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, breast MRI scans and other diagnostic tests, as well as specialist consultations.

“But the other things that go under the radar and can be crippling to families are loss of expected income, for both patients and carers, as well as additional costs of ‘buying in’ help with household tasks and childcare,” Anne says.

“These are costs that are not actually related to medical expenses, but are part of the cost of cancer.”

And it might be all the ‘little things’ that really add up. A study by Cancer Council Victoria in 2016 estimated that the average cancer patient in Victoria would spend $1,128 on parking alone in their first year after a cancer diagnosis. Then there are costs of complementary therapies, wigs and turbans. Anne also warns that reconstructive surgery might be classed as elective if it is ‘after the fact’ and again, costs can blow out. “I would always advise women to do their homework and really investigate what they are going to be billed for.

“It’s also really helpful if they have another set of ears when this information is provided because there is so much that they are trying to process.”

 

 

Anne says there are a number of questions she would ask a woman upfront who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer in order to make a financial plan. These include:

How much do you have in the bank? Have you got access to money immediately?

Everyone should have a nest egg for situations like these. We typically say three months income or $10,000. But everyone’s expenses are different. It just provides you with an immediate buffer.

How much have you got in superannuation?

A woman who has been diagnosed with terminal disease and has a life expectancy of less than two years is able to get early access to their lumpsum benefits from their super fund, tax free. To do this, two medical practitioners must fill in documents noting that your life expectancy is less than two years. If you live longer, you are not obliged to repay the money and there is no penalty.

When breast cancer is not considered terminal, it is quite difficult to access superannuation early – and when we say early, we mean before age 55 at the earliest. You can access super these days for various treatments, but getting early release of super because you have breast cancer and need the money can be tricky. You need to demonstrate real financial hardship, but to do this you need to have been receiving an eligible Centrelink income support benefit for 26 continuous weeks to qualify.

A woman may be able to access her super under special provisions for a mortgage under difficult circumstances – when there is going to be a house foreclosure for example, but you can’t access it to pay rent. That’s just the way the rules are. If a woman is seeking access to super to pay for medical treatment, it needs to be signed off by a specialist, so it is quite a process.

And in the big picture, it is sometimes not the best thing to access super early. Depending on the prognosis, these funds might be better used later on. Have you got sick leave or annual leave accrued? Are you entitled to any time off work?

Even if a woman is planning to continue working through treatment there are going to be days that she will need to take off work, for treatment and/or the effects of treatment. It is important employers are flexible and patients are realistic about what they can achieve and manage. Having a frank conversation with an employer from the outset is important, so  both parties are comfortable with how things are going to be managed. We find that even patients with resources behind them are reluctant to not work.

But I would also tell women to think about going part-time even in the short term, if it is not a financial necessity.

Can your partner afford to take time off work?

Women often need support at medical appointments and when they are recovering from the effects of treatment. If there is no other family support, a partner may need to take time off work to step in and help. We find women rely on family and friends a lot, through school communities and the kindergarten mums, things like that. The best of people comes through in times like this.

Can you approach your lender to ask for a freeze on payments for three months?

If you think you are going to be in real strife, you are better off being proactive. Sometimes lenders will allow a temporary freeze on mortgage payments and this might give you a bit of breathing space when some of the costs are rolling in. It’s always worth asking the question sooner than later, and before things get out of hand.

Are you covered by insurance?

I think trauma insurance is right up there with income protection insurance – everyone should have it. How much it costs depends on age, gender and even whether you are a smoker.

But the reality is that most women don’t have this kind of insurance in place, and don’t even know about it. People tend to begrudge paying for insurance, because they don’t see a return on investment. But there is very little to help women other than insurance when they face a breast cancer diagnosis.

Income protection insurance might cover you if you can’t work. A total and permanent disability insurance might be paid out if you can’t work again, but trauma cover has no relationship to your ability to work. What it is related to, is a diagnosis of a specified illness or injury. And the big ones that are typically covered under a trauma policy are heart attacks, stroke and cancer. It is a lump sum payment that is paid out on diagnosis. The beauty of a trauma insurance policy is that you get that paid provided the illness meets the definition in your policy. The lump sum payment can pay for treatment, or fill in the gaps when you have leave without pay, or your partner takes carer’s leave. It is money that can replace income or be used for treatment or even a holiday. It really can see people through some very tough times.

Anne Graham

* For more information about Story Wealth Management or to speak with a financial advisor, please go to www.storywealth.com.au or phone 03 8560 3188

This information is of a general nature only and has been provided without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, we recommend you consider, with or without the assistance of a financial adviser, whether the information is appropriate in light of your particular needs and circumstances.

 



Start Moving

 

    The following article features in Issue One of the ST BREAST magazine.

WHY EXERCISE IS VITAL BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER BREAST CANCER

Dale Ischia is an accredited exercise physiologist and a cancer exercise specialist. She says it’s now “beyond doubt” that exercise is vital before, during and after a breast cancer diagnosis, with the benefits not only physical.

“Exercise can improve mood, symptoms of depression and also have an impact on the body’s immune system and chances of overall survival,” 1,2 Dale says.

“The benefits of exercise in cancer are so widely supported that it is now recommended by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia that exercise be a part of everyone’s cancer care. Patients should remember that 12 weeks of chemotherapy creates a decline in cardiovascular fitness typically only seen in a decade of ageing.3

It is a perfect storm of deconditioning. Combine the cancer itself with chemotherapy and hormonal treatment and you have this rapid ageing process.”

The good news is, that exercise can slow, prevent or even reverse this deconditioning process. A major US study in 2014 showed that some cancer patients were actually able to increase their cardiovascular fitness by 13.3% when prescribed a specific program of interval training, that allowed for treatment fluctuations and was appropriately progressed.4

Another study examined 50,000 cancer survivors. It found that those who were physically active after their diagnosis had a 48% greater chance of overall survival and an 28% greater chance of breast cancer survival.2, 5

“We do know exercise works,” Dale says. “I would encourage all women who face this diagnosis to start moving – start small and build up – it is never too late. And we can help you. If a woman doesn’t know where to begin, she should consult an accredited exercise specialist and we will help. It might be as simple as starting with a walk. The important thing is to keep moving.” We asked Dale to address some commonly asked questions about exercise and breast cancer.

 

How can exercise help manage the side effects of breast cancer treatment?

  • Improves muscle tone and helps to combat loss of strength
  • Protects bones
  • Fights fatigue
  • Improves balance
  • Improves cardiovascular fitness
  • Restores range of movement in the shoulder
  • Helps manage peripheral neuropathy

 

Not only does it help with the side-effects of breast cancer treatment, exercise also:

  • Improves the efficacy of chemotherapy
  • Improves the chance of overall survival
  • Boosts the body’s own immune function

 

What sorts of exercise are best? Is walking enough?

It is best to use a combination of cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, balance, core and repetitive movements. For cardiovascular fitness, we recommend things like walking, running, swimming, dancing or hiking.

A minimum of 90 minutes per week is the basic recommendation. That is, three thirty-minute sessions working at moderate intensity. This will benefit body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and heart health. You may have to build up to this gradually, or split this up into 10-minute blocks throughout the day.

Walking outside is one of the simplest exercises you can do. It gets you in the fresh air, is free, can be done anytime and helps your cardiovascular system and the health of your mind.

 

What’s your definition of moderate intensity exercise?

Moderate exercise is when your heart is working at 55-70% of its maximum rate. To work this out, minus your age from 220. You can also do a ‘talk test’. Your breathing rate should be such that you can talk, but not sing.

 

Why do you recommend strength training?

Strength training exercises improve both your strength and your muscle mass. We know that muscle mass is a good indicator of survival, so the more muscle mass the better. Strength training exercises have also been proven to stop the bone loss that occurs in hormone treatment.

Strength exercises might use someone’s own body weight, free weights, and machine weights.

Please note though, if you have recently had surgery, you must get the okay from your surgeon before lifting heavy weights. I would say to women to make sure they have a full range of movement in their arm and shoulder before performing certain resistance training exercises.

You need two to three 30-minute sessions per week. You should start with fairly light weights and progress slowly. A 20 percent increase every couple of weeks is a good guide. Begin with one set of 10 to 12 repetitions of eight different strength-training exercises using major muscle groups and multi joint functional exercises. When you are stronger, you can progress to doing 2 to 3 sets of 6 to 10 repetitions with an increased load.

 

Can women exercise during chemotherapy?

Exercise is safe during chemotherapy. Energy levels fluctuate throughout the cycles of chemotherapy. There are going to be days when you just can’t face it, and other days when you are feeling better. An Exercise Physiologist can prescribe you an exercise program that includes exercises for what we call good days, flat days and no-way days.

A flat day program might involve a small series of exercises sitting or lying down. It may be enough to just walk to the letter box and back. Keep it simple, but keep moving.

 

What if I am just too tired?

Rest and recovery are just as important as exercise. Mid-afternoon is a great time to lay down. If you fall asleep, great, if not, enjoy the rest. Limiting a mid-afternoon nap to 45 minutes should ensure you are not negatively impacting your evening sleep.

Work out the time of day when you are least fatigued – typically this is mid-morning and you should exercise then. Often the hardest part is getting out the door or off the  couch. Once you have started exercising you might feel more energised and completing the exercise is manageable.

 

What if I have a central port?

Once the central port has healed, there aren’t many limitations, except when it is attached to chemotherapy – please speak with your nurse, exercise physiologist or oncologist. Be guided by your own perceived rate of exertion.

 

What about after surgery? Is exercise recommended? Can it hurt healing mastectomy sites?

Immediately after surgery, it is important to move around gently to reduce the likelihood of a blood clot, or deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Walking is best, however, simply pointing and flexing your feet can help pump blood around. Once cleared by the surgeon (usually after 6 weeks) you can gradually increase range of movement exercises and resistance exercises and increase walking. Doing this under the guidance of your exercise physiologist or physiotherapist is best. If there is unusual swelling at the  operation site, please refer to the doctor and do not continue with exercise. If time allows, it is helpful to get as fit as you can prior to surgery.

 

What about lymphoedema?

Many women are fearful of developing lymphoedema and often don’t want to lift anything heavier than the initial weight restriction given to them immediately after their operation.

The good news is, it is perfectly safe to lift very heavy loads, provided you gradually build up. Start low and progress slow when it comes to resistance training and lymphoedema.

Exercise can help move lymphatic fluid around the body, which can reduce swelling and symptoms, but it won’t cure lymphoedema. Repetitive movement for the arms is good for lymphatic flow, such as marching on the spot, wiggling the fingers, rowing or pole walking.

 

Why have I been told to do balance exercises?

Balance is commonly affected by chemotherapy, especially if you experience peripheral neuropathy or hair loss. Balance exercises, as their name implies, help to maintain balance, which is particularly important for those who are at risk of bone fractures from osteoporosis or bone metastases. Simple balance exercises such as standing on one leg will help challenge and maintain your balance. Core strengthening exercises are also vital, especially if breast reconstruction involves the abdominal muscle.

 

How can exercise improve chemotherapy benefit?

There have been some really exciting results published on how exercise increases the efficacy of chemotherapy in mice models. These results are extremely positive, however should be viewed with cautious optimism.

A study was undertaken where mice were injected with breast tumour cells.  Tumours actually grew slower in those mice who ran on a treadmill everyday.6 Another study, which examined lung, melanoma and liver cells in mice, showed a 60% reduction in tumour numbers and size in those running on a treadmill.

Immune cells released by the body during exercise slowed tumour growth. When these natural killer cells were blocked, the tumours grew at the normal rate.7 Studies in humans are currently  underway. It is very important to seek the advice of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with further training in oncology if any of the following are
present:

  • Bone Metastases
  • Lymphoedema
  • PICC line
  • Tendon issues
  • Low WBC or RBC (White Blood Cells/Red Blood
    Cells)

 

What else should patients be mindful of?

Take it easy

You may not be able to do what you used to be able to straight away, so build up gradually. Breast cancer patients also need to make sure they are absorbing enough  nutrients to fuel an exercise program. They need enough fat, carbohydrates, proteins , vitamins and minerals.

Fatigue levels

These will fluctuate, especially during treatment. It’s important to move, but not to move until you are exhausted. Exercise to tolerance and monitor recovery.

Avoid guarding behaviour

Rounding your shoulders and not moving the arm on the affected side can lead to shoulder impingement syndrome or frozen shoulder.

Infection

If your neutrophil levels are low, you should avoid public places with high risk of infection, like public swimming pools.

Anaemia

This is self limiting. You will not be able to push yourself to exercise.

Peripheral Neuropathy

This is a common side effect of chemotherapy. It will not be worsened by exercise. It can reduce your balance, especially your proprioception (sense of movement and body position), so it is important to minimise tripping hazards. Moving your feet and hands can help with your proprioception. Massage can also help reduce the feeling that your foot is one block, and make it feel like individual bones and joints again.

Cramps

These may be a sign of something else and you should check with your doctor. Cramps can be common and are best managed by hydration (drinking 1.5-2.5 litres of water per day), stretching the affected area, and good nutrition. A healthy diet will provide all relevant nutrients. No supplements are required if your nutritional intake is sufficient.

When you should stop exercising and consult your doctor:

  • If you experience dizziness or fainting while exercising
  • If there is swelling in your ankles, neck, face or arms, seek immediate medical help
  • If you experience shortness of breath with only a small amount of exertion
  • If you have chest pain or palpitations
  • If you become nauseous during exercise
  • If you experience chills / shaking during exercise
  • If you develop severe diarrhoea or vomiting.
  • If you have a high temperature.

Dale Ischia

  1. Fairey AS, Courneya KS, Field CJ, Bell GJ, Jones LW, Mackey JR. Randomized controlled trial of exercise and blood immune function in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2005;98(4):1534-40.
  2. Schmid D, Leitzmann MF. Association between physical activity and mortality among breast cancer and colorectal cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology / ESMO. 2014.
  3. Lakoski SG, Barlow CE, Koelwyn GJ, Hornsby WE, Hernandez J, Defina LF, et al. The influence of adjuvant therapy on cardiorespiratory fitness in early-stage breast cancer seven years after diagnosis: the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013;138(3):909-16.
  4. Hornsby WE, Douglas PS, West MJ, Kenjale AA, Lane AR, Schwitzer ER, et al. Safety and efficacy of aerobic training in operable breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a phase II randomized trial. Acta Oncol. 2014;53(1):65-74.
  5. Cormie P, Zopf EM, Zhang X, Schmitz KH. The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Mortality, Recurrence, and Treatment-Related Adverse Effects. Epidemiol Rev.  2017;39(1):71-92.
  6. Betof AS, Lascola CD, Weitzel D, Landon C, Scarbrough PM, Devi GR, et al. Modulation of murine breast tumor vascularity, hypoxia and chemotherapeutic response by  exercise. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015;107(5).
  7. Pedersen L, Idorn M, Olofsson GH, Lauenborg B, Nookaew I, Hansen RH, et al. Voluntary Running Suppresses Tumor Growth through Epinephrine- and IL-6-Dependent NK Cell Mobilization and Redistribution. Cell Metab. 2016;23(3):554-62.

 



An Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The following article features in Issue One of the ST BREAST magazine.

 

Heather Plaister clearly remembers the moment she found a breast lump. A woman of great faith, she had said a morning prayer before asking God if there was someone she should be praying for. “Then it was just like a thought process went through my head – ‘you have not done a breast check for a while’.” Heather was only 48 at the time but did a check and found a lump. Tests revealed she had a stage 3 aggressive breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She and her husband David were devastated, and worried about how to break the news to their teenage daughter, Elenarose. Since her diagnosis in 2017, Heather has endured surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and a further year of therapy to try and reduce her risk of recurrence. Now, she says she has done all she can and “faith, family and medicine” help her to remain positive.

“Our daughter Elenarose was just about to go into Year 9 when I was diagnosed with an aggressive, advanced breast cancer. She was almost 14 and we all know that can be an incredibly difficult time for teenage girls.

Only weeks earlier we had given her a letter from us both as part of her birthday present, telling her all the things we would like her to achieve and talking about what  makes her special. She read it and said, ‘Is one of you dying?’ And we said, ‘No, it’s a big year for you and we wanted you to know all of this’.

And then of course two weeks later we were sitting her down and telling her I was not well.

From the start, we decided to be very honest with her. Elenarose is a mature girl anyway and a great communicator.

We discussed what the approach was moving forward, and we talked about faith.

Through all of it, she has been incredibly calm. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t cried, because she has. But she has been positive and very aware. So, we would tell her  everything that was going on, and I think that helped.

Her school was amazing. I went and spoke to them and they provided phenomenal support right from the start. They made sure all her relevant teachers knew and they spoke with all her close friends. Our wider family was also very caring, regularly checking in. My Mum also travelled from the country every few weeks to be there for us.

I  did find the treatment very hard, particularly the 24 weeks of chemotherapy. I was always the person who got the very worst side effects that only 2-5% of women get. I was having double doses every three weeks and the first time, I was sick for a week. The second dose, it had extended to two weeks. By the third dose, I was very unwell. I ended up with nasty anal fissures and various gastro issues which were exceedingly painful. Sometimes I would just sob into David’s arms, but I am so grateful that although my body began to break down from the treatments, my heart and mind stayed strong.

Then, when you are thrown into early menopause with the hormone therapies, it is hard. I was having terrible hot flushes, waking every night.

We have since talked to Elenarose about how she managed, through those first few months in particular. She told us, ‘I made a choice in that first week – I thought, ‘I can  get really angry and react badly, or I can have faith’. She chose faith and the ‘cup half full’ approach and seeing how she has handled everything makes me so proud.

As a family we have thrown everything we can at this cancer. I have done everything I can to fight it.

And Elenarose said the other day, ‘You know what? One good thing came out of all of this – because of your hot flushes, we got ceiling fans!’

Heather Plaister

 



Storytelling for Business

Wellbeing newsletter prompts “outstanding” employee response
 

A strong focus on wellbeing has provided a safe space for employees to share personal stories at Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA), which has today been named an employer of choice in the Australian Business Awards.

STA launched a light-hearted, monthly wellbeing newsletter prior to COVID-19, but made it a weekly event during the pandemic, after human resources manager Kate De Carolis “kickstarted” the inclusion of personal stories.

“It’s been outstanding, the amount that people are willing to share in those personal stories, and I think COVID has really enabled that to happen,” she says.

“People are constantly looking for that connection.”

De Carolis says employees now feel comfortable to contribute to the newsletter with their own stories – sometimes deeply personal and vulnerable – creating a virtual support network for employees.

While the newsletter is a standout feature that De Carolis says has made a difference during COVID-19, she notes that STA offers employees a range of benefits that boost its employer value proposition, including a full health insurance allowance for employees and their immediate family members; company days off between Christmas and New Year in addition to annual leave; birthday leave; and a new program called “WEAK” (Weekend Afternoon Kickstart), allowing employees to finish work early on one Friday each month.

“All those little things we provide… really builds up to an environment where people enjoy coming to work,” De Carolis says.

 



STA Named Employer of Choice in 2020 ABA Business Awards

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Melbourne, Australia, 8 October 2020: Independent pharmaceutical company Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) has been recognised as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2020. 

The prestigious awards recognize organisations demonstrating business innovation, product innovation, technological achievement and employee engagement via a set of comprehensive award categories. 

The Employer of Choice (EOC) accolade in particular, recognises workplaces that help employees reach their full potential, via the introduction of policies and practices encouraging recruitment, engagement and retention.  

STA Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Mr Carlo Montagner said STA had a long-standing commitment to recruiting and retaining outstanding employees, and further building and maintain a company culture consistent with its core values of Passion, Integrity, Teamwork, Courage and Humanity, or ‘PITCH’.

“Since Bozena and I established STA 12 years ago, we have remained determined to embed these core values into all facets of our business,” Mr Montagner said.

“We are an independent, family-owned pharmaceutical company that has grown from two employees in 2008 to more than 35 currently, commercialising our portfolio of specialist medicines in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand. 

“Our independence sets us apart, not only in terms of our family values, but in how we nurture and build our workforce. We have introduced a range of initiatives to attract and retain a top-quality team who bring extensive experience in global pharma. STA is proud to be recognised by the ABA and will continue striving to remain an Employer of Choice in the Australian pharma industry.”

Some of the workplace initiatives introduced by STA to encourage recruitment, engagement and retention of high calibre employees include flexible work arrangements, additional leave, Weekend Arvo Kick Start or ‘WEAKS’ leave, over-and-above the legally required employer superannuation contributions, outstanding health insurance benefits and ongoing training and development.

Mr Montagner added: “Workplace flexibility has been a pillar of our business to date, and will remain so moving forward. Currently, a majority of our employees are women. While we have not hired based on gender but on capability, we understand that female employees are frequently balancing work and life requirements. We have worked hard to achieve an inclusive and accommodating environment at STA that helps all team members fulfill their obligations outside work as well as enjoy career success.”

ABA Program Director Ms Tara Johnston said: “Fifty-four organisations have been selected in this year’s ABA Employer of Choice Awards. These organisations have demonstrated adaptability in the workplace by utilising flexible and new ways of working and learning.

 “The landscape of the workplace environment has changed rapidly, as technology has gained momentum, coinciding with businesses navigating a broad range of interrelated issues from the impact of the current challenges facing the global economy. The ability to work from anywhere, combined with the advances in connectivity tools makes us geographically neutral. 

“Leading organisations have begun to implement an entirely new working environment that break down communication barriers, positioning organisations to harness the talent within their organisation, transform the employee experience and position businesses to be more resilient.”

Entrant organisations are required to demonstrate achievements across the key areas of Organisational Culture; Leadership & Strategy; Employee Education, Training & Development; Employee Health, Safety & Satisfaction; Performance Management; Recognition & Remuneration.

Organisational participation includes private companies, public companies, multi-national subsidiaries, non-government organisations, educational institutions, government departments, government agencies, local government and statutory bodies operating in Australia.

For more information visit https://employerofchoiceawards.com.au/eoc-winners-2020/specialised-therapeutics-2020-eoc/



ST wins Prime Healthcare Award

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Click on the banner above to watch the video of the moment STA took out a prestigious PRIME Healthcare Award for Excellence in Patient or Customer Support.

We are so proud, that in an exceptional field of finalists (including some or the world’s biggest pharma companies) it was our breast cancer patient support program that took out top prize. Special thanks to our program collaborators Pharmacy Phusion for their support and assistance overseeing this tremendous effort.

For more on our winning entry, please click here.

 



ST named as PRIME Awards finalist

At ST, we pride ourselves on customer service. We deal with healthcare professionals every day to discuss our portfolio of specialist therapies and the patients who might benefit, and we never forget that there is a person and a family at the heart of every discussion.

That’s why we partnered with Pharmacy Phusion to launch a Patient Support Program to assist our efforts introducing a new breast cancer therapy to Australian women. We wanted to ensure all patients taking this oral medication were provided ongoing support, encouragement and reassurance.

This program began in 2018 and to date, has benefitted almost 420 patients, with more than 2500 packs of medication dispensed.

In addition, specialist pharmacists have made 6270 phone calls to those patients to provide ongoing support and reassurance.

This program, which has now been operating for more than a year, has won the Pharmacy Phusion-ST team a place in the finals at the prestigious PRIME Healthcare Awards.

These awards recognise outstanding healthcare initiatives and we are thrilled to be ranked among finalists.

Mark Silcock from Pharmacy Phusion commented: “The brief from Specialised Therapeutics was clear and it was evident from the very beginning that the primary need of this patient cohort was very simply support …with a particular focus on their first month of treatment.

“Upon receipt of the patient’s enrolment the pharmacist team reached out to every patient to conduct a ‘Welcome to Program’ phone call, which outlined for patients what they should expect from the support program and their treatment. Every patient subsequently received a call from a dedicated pharmacist, every week for the first five weeks of their treatment and monthly calls thereafter.”

The response was outstanding, with an independent review of the program conducted by Canberra University showing that patients were overwhelmingly supported by the effort, with feedback including:

“A service such as this should be available to all cancer patients to discuss all their drugs. It can be a very confronting and confusing time. If I had this service available when I first started my treatment, it would have reduced my anxiety.”

“I honestly cannot fault them. They [the pharmacist team] have been beyond amazing.”

“[the program] has been a very positive experience for me.”

“I like that I feel confident that the pharmacist I am dealing with is very knowledgeable about (my therapy), especially since it is such a new drug and almost all pharmacists are unfamiliar with the drug. I feel that I get specialised information and care from these pharmacists.”

In addition,

• 90% of patients stated that they learnt something new by talking with the pharmacist team

• 95% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the amount of time the pharmacist team spent talking with them

• 90% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the information provided by the pharmacist team about side-effect management

• 85% of patients would recommend a similar Patient Support Program for patients taking oncology medicines

• 75% of patients stated that their interaction with the pharmacist team increased their understanding of the therapy regimen.

Specialised Therapeutics CEO Carlo Montagner said:

“When we introduced this important new breast cancer therapy to the Australian treatment landscape, we were determined to ensure that all patients were provided ongoing support, whenever they needed it. It’s not always easy to access your doctor, so we enlisted Pharmacy Phusion and their team of expert pharmacists to provide the ongoing reassurance our patients were after. We are thrilled with the outcome.”

PRIME Awards winners will be announced in an online ceremony on September 24.

 



Sarcoma Awareness Month: A/Prof Jayesh Desai

Australians who are diagnosed with sarcoma have around a 70% chance of complete cure if they are diagnosed early, according to one of the country’s leading sarcoma experts. Associate Professor Jayesh Desai says making a correct diagnosis at early stage – before the cancer has spread to other organs – is crucial to helping patients make a complete recovery. To mark Sarcoma Awareness Month, he shares some of his insights.

“Sarcoma represents only 1% of all cancers. Although they are rare, with many patients never having heard of them before they are suddenly given this diagnosis, expert care is well set up in Australia with specialty centres in each of the capital cities. They can strike people at any age, but if a young person is diagnosed with cancer, in a significant number of cases it will be a sarcoma.

We know sarcoma is not just one disease; there are around 100 different sub-types. Sarcomas can be found in the soft-tissues or in the bone. Some rare sarcomas have known causes, but in the vast majority of cases, the cause is unknown. About 20% of soft tissue sarcomas are called leiomyosarcomas and between 30 and 40% are liposarcomas. So, in the world that I live in, these soft-tissue sarcomas are very common. And the people diagnosed with these types of sarcoma tend to be what I call ‘young middle aged’.

What would I say to someone diagnosed today? I would say that it is critically important you get expert help early. Outcomes are so much better when patients are referred to a specialist multidisciplinary unit early.

Sometimes this is hard, because sarcoma symptoms can be vague. But generally speaking, if someone has a lump that is larger than the size of a golf ball and it is located within a muscle or deep within a system, it should be investigated immediately and considered malignant until proven otherwise. That person should be referred to a sarcoma specialist for an immediate biopsy to make sure the right treatment path is adopted for that patient.

Sarcomas do vary in how fast they grow. Some can be slow-growing and others can be very aggressive. But if a sarcoma is caught early, most patients can be cured with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Patients with metastatic disease are occasionally still curable, but in many cases, they are not.

One of the important things I would say to patients is to make sure you have a really high-quality multi-disciplinary care team that is working together making decisions.

Research is unbelievably important, and will lead to better treatments. I think international collaboration in this area is vital. The sarcoma population in Australia for example, may be too small to gather the relevant data if we worked in isolation. But the international sarcoma community, who we work very collaboratively with,  has a much broader pool of patients and therefore the ability to conduct international randomised studies with hundreds of patients; so we can confirm whether a particular treatment is effective or not. Patients should know that taking part in clinical trials remains critical for us to make a difference, and it won’t necessarily mean they won’t receive the best standard of care.

Looking further ahead, I think more unique treatment approaches will come from using combining existing therapies, or even newer approaches like epigenetic therapies. This will involve us potentially being able to switch genes on or off to treat particular cancers.

I have been a practising medical oncologist for about 15 years now and I was fortunate early in my career to work alongside one of the world’s global sarcoma gurus at the Dana Farber Centre in Boston. I felt a real responsibility to bring this work back to Australia.

Many, many patients I have treated have left an impression on me. I can recall a patient a number of years ago with a very rare sarcoma subtype, with was challenging to diagnose. He was only in his early to mid-twenties. That patient went on to receive immune therapy as part of a clinical trial, based on some emerging data from colleagues overseas. He has done remarkably well. That was largely because of the effort that went into his diagnosis, and international collaboration to share learnings on promising approaches. He had an atypical soft tissue sarcoma, and his treatment was “tailored” to his individual cancer. I guess the take home message here is that putting the effort into getting the right diagnosis and tailoring therapies can make a really big difference.

One of the most difficult things about my job is that often we are seeing young people with a disease that can be very difficult to treat. There is naturally a high level of anxiety with these patients and their families, something our team is particularly focused in how we support them.

But working toward a cure for those patients who are diagnosed early is very rewarding.

What is also pleasing is that our community works together very well. Not just the medical professionals and researchers, but also patients and their families, to try and come up with better treatments. Industry also plays a part in this – pharma companies are making a difference by providing new therapies and making them accessible here in Australia for our sarcoma patients, which is particularly gratifying.

There is always more work to be done but we have come a long way.”

* Associate Professor Jayesh Desai is a Medical Oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and is also a founding member and current board member of the Australia New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA).  To learn more about sarcoma, clinical trials, or to find a sarcoma specialist, please visit www.sarcoma.org.au.



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