AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS FOR PROFESSOR JOHN FORBES

The Board of Directors and staff at the Australia & New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG) congratulate Professor John Forbes, who was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2012 Australia Day Honours.

Professor Forbes is the Director of Research at the ANZBCTG and was recognised for service to medicine in the field of breast cancer research, to the development of improved clinical practice standards and service to the community.

He is also the Director of the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Calvary Mater Newcastle and Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Newcastle.

Professor Forbes has been a leader in breast cancer research, not only in Australia but worldwide, and has been a pioneer in breast cancer clinical trials research – establishing, with colleagues, the first national breast cancer trials group (the ANZBCTG) more than 30 years ago. Since then, significant inroads have been made in breast cancer research which have resulted in the reduction in breast cancer mortality rates and improved quality of life for women who have breast cancer. Today, 20% of the breast cancer deaths that occurred 20 years ago are avoided.

Under the leadership of Professor Forbes, as Chair of the International IBIS studies for the ANZBCTG, Australian women were among the first to benefit from the results of the global clinical trial for breast cancer prevention using the drug tamoxifen – now an established option for breast cancer prevention.

“I have been very fortunate to work with outstanding researchers in Australia and internationally. This has been the key component in achieving the results in breast cancer clinical trials research that have produced improved outcomes for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer,” Professor Forbes said.

“I thank my wonderful colleagues and our dedicated team at the ANZBCTG for their ongoing enthusiasm and commitment to maintaining the highest research standards. I would also like to thank my very supportive family – their enthusiastic support over many years has been essential for my research.

“Our progress has been remarkable and I am optimistic for the future. I see new and extraordinary advances coming that will change every aspect of treatment and understanding of breast cancer. The benefits for women will be substantial.”

The ANZBCTG is Australia’s national organisation dedicated entirely to breast cancer research. It conducts a National Clinical Trials Program for the treatment of all stages of breast cancer and for the prevention of breast cancer. The research program involves multicentre clinical trials and collaboration with over 80 institutions and over 600 researchers throughout Australia and New Zealand.

For further information about the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group and the Group’s clinical trials research program, visit www.anzbctg.org

Media Contact:
Anna Fitzgerald
ANZBCTG Communications Manager
Ph: +61 488 053 659 or anna.fitzgerald@anzbctg.org