Unfortunately the survival rates for brain cancer essentially have not improved in 20 years. For the brain cancer subtype I have, glioblastoma IDH wild type, 50% survival rate is still about six months and it is essentially incurable. Over the past 15 years there have been vast improvements in the treatment and outcomes of patients with many other types of cancer. These are wonderful improvements! Unfortunately brain cancer has essentially had no improvement in survival during this time and remains extremely low. For example, 15 years ago, in patients with advanced (metastatic) melanoma, survival rates in melanoma and brain cancer were similar (less than 5% at five years). Now because of incredible advances in melanoma diagnosis, staging and treatment, patients five year survival rate for AJCC stage IV melanoma is greater than 50%. In contrast, for patients with aggressive brain cancer, 3 year survival outcomes havenโt changed and remain less than 5%. Currently in Australia, more patients die each year from brain cancer than any other cancers in Australians under 40 years old. We need to push the field forward in a coordinated and well funded scheme.
One of the excellent teams in brain cancer research is the Bill Walsh Brain Group in the Kolling Institute at Royal North Shore Hospital. The collaboration between the research laboratory and the clinical care provided by neuro-oncology clinicians at the hospital provides opportunities to do translational clinical and pre-clinical research. The research team, including Dr Alex Yuile, neuro-oncology medical oncologist, and Dr Amanda Hudson, among other talented, dedicated and experienced researchers, is doing some excellent work. Some of the work they do is funded and supported by The Brain Cancer Group.
We have to support coordinated research teams in their efforts to understand the disease, including through scientific research, to achieve better outcomes for people with brain cancer and the community!
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