While survival rates for breast cancer are rising, more Australians are living with the long-term effects of the disease without knowing what to do to stay healthy and manage side effects.
A team of University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) researchers aim to address the ongoing symptoms and unmet needs of breast cancer survivors by developing a new supportive care and symptom management program.
Project lead Professor Benjamin Tan said the program would be designed and delivered in Queensland and offer a timely, practical solution to enhance breast cancer survivorship care.
"We will be using the latest evidence, self-management theory, and input from survivors, families, and healthcare professionals to create a tailored approach," he said.
Professor Tan said many breast cancer survivors experience ongoing physical and emotional symptoms long after treatment ends, including fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances, depression, lymphedema, menopausal symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy.
"These symptoms reduce their quality of life and make follow-up care challenging, with no existing programs in primary care specifically designed to address these needs," he said.
"Our program will be delivered through primary care and provide ongoing and accessible support to survivors, helping them manage symptoms and enhance their quality of life."
Professor Tan has more than 15 years of experience in cancer nursing and healthcare research, focusing on improving care for people with chronic conditions and cancer.
The project has been supported by a research grant from the Breast and Prostate Cancer Association of Queensland.
Professor Tan's project team includes UniSQ researchers Dr Sita Sharma and Ashlee Stirling and external researchers Professor Janelle Yorke and Dr Alison Wang. They will collaborate with three primary care medical centres in Queensland on the project.
