BCT MEMBERS RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

Professor Prue Francis was awarded an AM for significant service to medical research in the field of oncology and education. Prue is a Medical Oncologist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne and the Head of Breast Medical Oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She has been a member of Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) for more than 25 years and has made an enormous contribution to our organisation and to improved outcomes for women with breast cancer.

We are thrilled that Prue has been recognised today for her remarkable achievements. I cannot think of a more humble and generous researcher, who has contributed so much to research both in Australia and internationally, and to the support and development of her colleagues. She was the Chair of the BCT Scientific Advisory Committee from 2017-2021 and Deputy Chair from 2012-2017. In this role she oversaw the development and roll-out of many investigator-initiated clinical trials in breast cancer and provided abundant practical support and vital scientific input into the breast cancer research activities of others.

Prue Chaired the International Steering Committee responsible for the SOFT and TEXT clinical trials and was the senior author of the publications. This research produced practice-changing results and showed that the aromatase inhibitor, exemestane, is more effective than tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer recurrence in young women who also receive ovarian function suppression.

It is research that has saved lives and will continue to do so in the future. She is also a Steering Committee Member of the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG), a member of the Advanced Breast Cancer International Consensus panel, and a member of the St Gallen Primary Breast Cancer International Consensus Panel. In 2015 she was awarded the Medical Oncology Group of Australia Cancer Achievement Award.

Dr Marie Burke was awarded an OAM in recognition of her significant contribution to radiation oncology and breast cancer research. She is the Medical Director at GenesisCare Wesley in Brisbane. Dr Burke has worked as a Radiation Oncologist in Queensland for more than 30 years and over this time has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing high quality personalised holistic care to her patients. Dr Burke has played a pivotal role in bringing critical cancer care services to regional Queensland and is passionate about closing the gap in outcomes for rural cancer patients.

Professor Geoffrey Delaney was awarded an AM for significant service to oncology and cancer services and to tertiary education. He is the Director of Cancer Services South Western Sydney Local Health District and Conjoint Professor of Radiation Oncology at UNSW Medicine & Health . He is an experienced Radiation Oncologist with his main areas of expertise being in breast cancer, radiation oncology, service planning and health services research.