Hayley Jones, Director of WHO Collaborating Centre on Law and Noncommunicable Disease, shared on LinkedIn:
“Attending a cancer conference is always a bit of a choose your own adventure experience. This year’s COSA ASM delivered a particularly rewarding few days of learning, connection, fresh perspectives and renewed motivation.
The conference theme captured an important tension at the heart of contemporary cancer control: balancing the extraordinary promise of medical breakthroughs in personalised and genomic medicine with the equally important imperative to make care truly personal, accessible and equitable.
The breadth of the programme reflected this theme and just how much cancer control encompasses – from prevention and treatment through to survivorship, lived experience and the broader social and economic impacts of cancer.
Some highlights for me:
- The power of lived experience. Hearing from passionate and articulate advocates, including Sue Woodall and Susan Hayes was a crucial reminder of why this work matters and whose voices need to shape it.
- Putting the spotlight on the financial impact of cancer. A fantastic session, chaired by Ashleigh Sharman and Megan Varlow explored the costs of cancer and practical action to address financial toxicity. Alongside this, it was a privilege to share our research on the legal and financial challenges of Victorians affected by cancer, alongside a range of posters exploring this and other issues.
- The role of law and policy in cancer control. Presenting the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer’s work prompted some great discussions and opportunities to broaden perspectives on how we can use law and policy to drive meaningful change,in Australia and beyond.
- Making patient-reported outcomes count. Thanks to Bogda Koczwara and Carolyn Mazariego-Jones, for inviting me to share a perspective, as part of a session on strengthening the implementation of patient-reported outcomes. It was a pleasure to contribute alongside such a stellar panel including James Lynam, Shelley Rushton GAICD, Michael Osborn.
And, as always, some of the most valuable moments happened beyond the formal programme – reconnecting with colleagues across the Cancer Council Australia federation, making new connections, and hearing updates on important work for cancer equity in the Asia Pacific from COSA’s Global Oncology Group, led by Desmond Yip.
I came away feeling energised by the breadth of work happening across the cancer sector, the generosity of people willing to share experiences, and the opportunities to turn evidence and insights into action.
Thanks to Marie Malica and the wonderful organisers.
Now, if only next year’s Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) ASM adventure in Cairns came with the ability to clone myself!
It might be the only way to get to all those concurrently scheduled sessions – and still be first in line for a barista coffee!”
Other articles about Hayley Jones on OncoDaily.