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Vicki Durston: Thrilled to Share Insights from MASCC 2025

Vicki Durston/Linkedin

Jun 30, 2025, 08:27

Vicki Durston: Thrilled to Share Insights from MASCC 2025

Vicki Durston, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services at Breast Cancer Network Australia, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Thrilled to Share Insights from MASCC 2025

I had the incredible opportunity to present at MASCC, where we dove deep into one of the most vital topics in supportive care: strengthening consumer engagement. Blending lived experience with the science,
is pivotal for making a meaningful impact as we truly address the supportive care needs of patients and the impacts of cancer and its toxic treatments.

As one participant shared, “The treatment saved my life but ruined my health… obliterated my finances, and caused weight gain, destroyed my sexual well-being, rendered me deaf, and infertile—and I somehow have to navigate this for the rest of my life.”
This powerful statement underscores the importance of understanding these toxicities and how we can support people to heal.

At Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), we believe that empowering consumers is key to transforming healthcare. Our flagship “Seat at the Table” (SATT) is so important to elevate individuals to become skilled Consumer Representatives (CRs) who influence research, policy, and to inform changes to care through their lived experiences.

Throughout my presentations, I highlighted:

Tailored Engagement: We’ve mapped our consumer engagement strategies to the IAP2 framework, ensuring we meet diverse participation needs and skills.

Ongoing Training and Development: Our hybrid training model combines online and in-person learning, supported by ongoing development opportunities, mentoring, and research engagement.

Consumer Voice: Trained CRs are integral to national discussions, ensuring consumer perspectives shape the future of supportive care.

It was great to see Australia’s researcher Marina Reeves highlighting a pilot study on exercise and diet working with SATT consumer rep Jenny Muller .

The consumer sessions at MASCC were absolutely amazing, showcasing the power of collaboration and shared perspectives. With MASCC 2026 just around the corner in Melbourne, let’s continue to promote and expand the critical role of consumers and lived experience in shaping supportive care. Supportive and suvivorship care starts right from the first words uttered – ‘ you have cancer’.”