COSA’s Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), the premier gathering of cancer health professionals in our region, is being held from 15 to 17 November at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The meeting supports clinicians and researchers working in cancer from medical and radiation oncology, surgery, nursing, pharmacy and allied health.
This year’s scientific program focuses on urological and prostate cancers, as well as the role of primary care in cancer. In 2011, COSA is partnering with the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP), which will help ensure the program includes state of the art presentations on prostate and other urogenital cancers.
For advanced trainees, COSA will host a weekend workshop ‘Everything you need to know about colorectal cancer’, 12-13 November 2011, at the St John of God Hospital in Subiaco.
If you haven’t registered for the ASM or the Trainees weekend, we encourage you to do so via the conference website www.cosa2011.org
We are pleased to announce the 2012 ASM will be held in Brisbane in collaboration with the International Psycho-Oncology Society and their Australian partners, Cancer Council Queensland, the Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group and the Australian Psychosocial Oncology Society. Further information will be available shortly.
Our activities over recent months have reflected the broad range of influence consistent with COSA’s strategic directions. In addition to the ASM, COSA achieves an enormous amount with our limited resources, a snapshot of which is provided below.
- COSA has secured funding from Cancer Australia to develop a strategy for greater consumer engagement in clinical cancer research. We will work with our already established Cancer Trials Consumer Network, the Cancer Cooperative Trials Groups and other stakeholders to develop and implement this important project.
- In May 2011, COSA hosted its fifth workshop for health professionals working with Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with cancer, attended by over 100 people. Key recommendations included establishing ‘AYA champions’; ongoing desire to meet the emotional and psychosocial needs of the AYA population; and the need for appropriate support for patient transition between paediatric and adult services. A full report is available on request.
- Our three guidelines for AYA cancer are at differing stages of development or completion:
* Fertility Preservation is complete and currently with the Department of Health and Ageing for review
* Psychosocial Issues – feedback from the public consultation is being incorporated in the final version
* Early Detection (‘Lumps and Bumps’) is under development.
- COSA’s work in cancer care coordination continues to progress, with a conference planned for 6-7 March 2012 in Melbourne. An international speaker and some sponsorship has been secured. For more information please visit www.cosaccc2012.org
- Through our Developing Nations Interest Group, COSA has established a pilot fellowship program for mid-career oncologists and other cancer specialists from South East Asia to spend time in Australian centres. We welcomed our first COSA fellow in late August – a radiation physicist from Vietnam, who has a busy schedule observing at Liverpool, Royal Prince Alfred and Royal North Shore Hospitals. We are grateful to the College of Radiologists for their financial support for this fellow.
Arrangements are being finalised for a second fellow – a medical oncologist from Bangkok Thailand, whose visit to Royal Adelaide Hospital in October and November is also taking shape.
- COSA’s Head and Neck Nutrition Guidelines, and Guidelines for Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) are finalised and available on our wiki platform accessible via the COSA website www.cosa.org.au
- COSA has made multiple submissions to government on behalf of our members in response to important issues which affect our membership:
* to the Senate Inquiry regarding PBS deferrals
* to the World Health Organisation Civil Society Interactive Hearing on non-communicable diseases
* to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research regarding the 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure Roadmap
* comment on the 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure Exposure Draft regarding the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists Guidelines for Written Radiology Reports
* to the Medical Services Advisory Committee regarding genetic testing for hereditary mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau gene.
Please visit www.cosa.org.au for more information about COSA and the benefits of membership.