Expert cancer clinicians and researchers, policy-makers and survivors from across Australia will attend a national survivorship conference in Adelaide this week.
Professor Bogda Koczwara and the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer (FCIC) are running the conference in partnership with the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA).
Conference convenor and FCIC oncologist Professor Koczwara says the conference aims to have a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by cancer. Even topics such as fertility preservation, sexual wellbeing for cancer survivors and their partners, and the financial burden of cancer, will be discussed at the conference.
“The theme this year is ‘Pathways to better policy and practice’ which focuses our thinking on how we can translate the growing evidence in this area into day-to-day applications,” Professor Koczwara says.
Program highlights will include an interactive session on storytelling and musical performances to demonstrate how the arts can help heal cancer patients and those who care for them. Other sessions will explore the gaps and inequalities experienced by cancer survivors, including Australia’s indigenous population, regional and rural cancer survivors.
“Our exciting partnership with COSA will help ensure this conference is closely aligned with the national directions for cancer control and continues to expand its reach and relevance to a diverse range of cancer health professionals, policy makers and to all those affected by cancer.
“We will explore diverse perspectives from Australia, UK, US and countries of our region to identify how collaboratively we can accelerate progress, share insights and promote best practice.
“We will also explore stories of survivors themselves, and ask some challenging questions like what is survivorship like if it is not life after cancer, but life with cancer? And in the spirit of translating knowledge into practice, we will not just listen and note but reflect, engage and experience what practice of good survivorship is all about.”
International keynote speakers are Dr Catherine Alfano, Vice President of Survivorship at the American Cancer Society, and Professor Jane Maher, Chief Medical Officer of the UK charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
The conference will be held on 2‐3 February 2017 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. More information is available at http://www.survivorship2017.org/ or phone (02) 8063 4100.
Clinicians, survivors, carers, general practitioners, health professionals and the general public are welcome to attend.