Aims and Objectives of the Association

The constitution of the Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland Inc espouses the following aims and objectives:

OBJECTS :  The objects for which the Association is established are:- by itself or in concert with others, to advocate, establish, contribute to, endow, promote and maintain initiatives in whole or in part designed or intended to:

(a)    provide care and support services directly for persons suffering from breast cancer;

(b)   improve care and treatment services provided for persons suffering from breast cancer;

(c)    provide counselling and support services for the families of persons suffering from breast cancer;

(d)   collect and raise funds by any means (including the carrying on of any lawful activity) solicit donations, gifts, bequests or subscriptions from members and from the public and attract and encourage bequests, legacies and all forms of a deferred gifts for the promotion of the objects of the Foundation;

(e)    preserve and protect the health of the public by education the community in the causes and prevention of breast cancer; and

(f)    do all such things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of all or any objects of the foundation, including the encouragement and promotion of research into the causes, treatment, prevention and cure of breast cancer;

(g)   to do all those things referred to in subparagraphs 2(a) to 2(f) hereof in respect of or relating to prostate cancer;

Annual General Meeting - scheduled for 5:30pm Tuesday 26th October 2021

Notice of Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Management Committee of the Breast & Prostate Cancer Assn of Qld Inc will be held on Tuesday 26th October, 2021 at 5:30pm in the Meeting Room at Level 4, Q Block, QUT, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove.

Business:

1. To received and consider the Management Committee's Report and the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2021.

2. To receive and consider the Auditors Report upon the book and accounts for the year ended 30 June 2021.

3. To elect the Management Committee. All members of the present Management Committee retire in accordance with the rules of the Association, and being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.

4. To consider the apointment of Auditors

5. To transact any other business that may be brought forward in conformity with the rules of the Assocation.

Please notify the Secertary, Michael Crouch, if it is your intention to attend the meeting. Due to COVID restrictions only 8 members may be accommodated with physical distancing, attendance via Zoom Video conferencing is available, please contact our office if you would like the link to be emailed to you.

By Order of the Managment Committee

Michael Crouch

Secretary

7 September 2021

Notice of Nominations Received as at 27th September 2021

President: Mrs Gina Fairfax

Vice President: Michael Crouch

Secretary: Mr Michael Crouch

Treasurer: Mr Luke Anderson

General Board Members:

Dr Pammie Ellem, Jilanne Elliott, Dinie McConnel, Dr Christopher Pyke, Sydney Williams

Patron: Dr Glenda Powell

Vice Patron: Dr Marie-Frances Burke

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Research

Funding of research

Previous Research Funded

Research funding 2020 & 2021- QUT ihbi - 

Improving the PSA Test to improve clinical outcome in prostate cancer patients

QUT Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (ibhi) have achieved the following:

Progress. To develop a targeted mass-spectrometry based (MRM) approach to detect PSA and the genetic variants encoded proteoforms, QUT IBHI have optimised the MRM analysis set up and runs using our customized labelled synthetic peptides that are highly specific to PSA variants. We have tested the detection ability of these synthetic peptides (with >95% accuracy) to each variant in the whole proteome of cell lines (endogenous levels) and overexpression cell line models.

Support Mechanism for Nurses in Rural and Regional Queensland

Pammie Ellem has completed her studying on how breast care nurses deliver services in a rural and regional setting. The aim of this research project is to identify standards for breast care nurses and establish information and network links for Breast Care nurses.

We hope to work with Pammie to establish a Communities of Practice initiative commencing in 2019 utilizing the framework from her research.  We hope to form a networking and communication strategy so that nurses across the state can establish support mechanisms to enhance their patient care through knowledge sharing and support from peers.

BCAQ provided $95,000 funding for a research grant for annual employment of a Breast Care Nurse for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons - Randomised Control Trial between Sentinel Node Biopsy and Axillary Clearance research, as lead by Dr Neil Wetzig at the Wesley Institute of Research. The aim of this research was for the surgical management of breast cancer patients.

Dr Geoff Beadle - $5,000 was invested in Dr Beadle's research: "Life after Breast Cancer" as study into what are the long term effects of treatment for breast cancer patients 10 years + post diagnosis. Dr Beadle is looking at how treatments effect the health of patients long term.

A Prospective Psycho-Immunological Study of Women from High-risk Breast Cancer Families

In recent times, there has been considerable interest in the possible relationship between psychological factors and the immune system and its relationship to breast cancer.

In January 1999, the Breast Cancer Association of Queensland awarded a research grant to Professor Ian Hickie and Dr Georgia Chenevix-Trench to study this possible relationship. The grant was awarded for a period of two years with a possible extension of a further year. In late 2000, after the release of initial findings, it was agreed to extend the grant for a further year.

The aims of the study:

• Determine whether associations exist between psychological status (depression and anxiety) and immune function in women at high familial risk of developing breast cancer and to determine the significance of these factors in predicting the onset of breast cancer in these women.
• To determine in the long term whether psychological or immunological factors are associated with the incidence, morbidity or mortality from breast cancer in women with breast cancer.

Results to date:

• 145 women from 47 families, in four states, have participated in the study.
• Of these women, 26% have been diagnosed or treated with breast cancer while the remainder, 74% are at high risk of developing cancer, because of family history.
• Women who did not respond to the measure of cell-mediated immunity (delayed hypersensitivity skin test responses) reported significantly more anxiety symptoms than women who developed positive responses.
• Women with breast cancer have fewer anxiety symptoms than women who do not have breast cancer (but who are at “high-risk” because of their family history).

Conclusions:

• These results show preliminary data from a prospective study which is continuing.
• Almost 25% of women at “high risk” of developing breast cancer report a high level of anxiety symptoms. By contrast only 5% of women previously diagnosed with breast cancer report anxiety.
• Higher levels of anxiety are associated with energy (non-response to cell-mediated immune tests) in “at-risk” women.
• Overall the level of depression reported is low and similar in women with and without breast cancer.

Acknowledgements

• The study is being conducted in collaboration with KconFaB and familial cancer clinics throughout Australia. We are grateful for the assistance of the clinical research nurses in these clinics.
• The research could not be undertaken without the willingness and enthusiasm of the women who participate.

Funding of the Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland’s Activities

The Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland Inc is a voluntary organisation supported by community donations and the Association’s fundraising activities. The association does not receive any state or federal government financial support.

Future Direction of the Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland

It is the intention of the Board of the Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland to continue to fund current projects, which assist rural Queenslanders suffering from Breast Cancer or Prostate Cancer.

Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to order a copy of her booklet