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We are a clinician-led organisation where patient education and support services are initiated by the very people who treat breast cancer patients every day.
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We began in 2009 with a vision to provide high quality care while conducting research that would deliver the most advanced treatments and save lives.
BCRC-WA conducts research into breast cancer treatment and care that underpins the treatment we provide to our patients.
There are many other reasons why a clinical trial is performed. These include questions relating to improving the quality of life for patients whilst on treatment, the impact of a cancer diagnosis on patients and family members, understanding the biological behavior of cancer so we can better eliminate it; and most commonly to assess new treatments which improve the cure rate and cancer control for an individual.
At BCRC-WA, our dedicated Breast Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU) performs many clinical trials including those designed to:
These studies may be in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies, universities and other collaborative healthcare groups as well as “in-house” studies termed “Investigator Initiated Research (IIR)”.
By designing and funding our own studies, we can focus directly on the needs of our own patients seen through the Perth Breast Cancer Institute. For example, the BCOS study (Breast Cancer Offspring Study) was designed by Prof Chan to investigate the needs of children whose mother had been given a diagnosis of breast cancer after she saw many of her patients were concerned about the effects of their breast cancer experience on their children. Read more about our Investigator Initiated Research here.
Considering the stage (early or advanced) of the cancer and testing for tumour cell characteristics allows doctors to “tailor” cancer treatment to better suit each patient.
Many people think that clinical trials all involve a placebo and that patients may not be receiving any active treatment at all. In fact, very few of our clinical trials use placebo and those that do use the placebo to compare it with a new drug given in addition to an approved or current treatment. In this way, all patients receive the current best care for them as a minimum.
Below is a glossary of terms which may help you understand some of the terms used in clinical trial titles.
Adjuvant
(aka Hormone Receptor positive/negative)
BCTU are currently involved in clinical trials for early, locally advanced and advanced/metastatic breast cancer. In addition, there are several IIR trials in progress to evaluate the biological behaviour of breast cancer and the patient-centred consequences of breast cancer.
For a full list of current clinical trials click here.