Di Morrissey - Di's Diary

I was privileged to share the celebration of the 15th Anniversary since the establishment of National Breast Cancer Centre, www.nbocc.org.au, hosted by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce and her husband. This significant occasion, held in beautiful Admiralty House, overlooking Sydney Harbour was just right and fitting, given Her Excellency’s longstanding personal contribution to NBOCC, as chair of Women’s Advisory Network from almost the beginning - 1996-2002 and more recently as Patron.

The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) is Australia's national authority and information source on breast and ovarian cancer.

Dr Helen Zorbas is CEO and Executive Director of National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, and holds a Staff Specialist position at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.

Funded by the Australian Government, NBOCC works in partnership with health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers, governments and those diagnosed to improve outcomes in breast and ovarian cancer.

I have been a member of the NBOCC’s Women’s Advisory network for over ten years so was it a special occasion to catch up with those involved and the many supporters of the NBOCC. It was a small, informal gather that was made very special by the warmth of our hosts, the stunning setting of Sydney at sunset from the Governor-General’s Sydney residence, and to know the NBOCC goes from strength to strength.

Doctor Helen Zorbas, as CEO made a small speech to highlight the Centre’s achievements and part of what she said included -

"The NBCC was established on 30 March 1995, as a result of House of Representatives Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry in response to community concerns about the inequities in care and outcomes for women with breast cancer - an increasing major health challenge. We were charged with reducing mortality and improving the wellbeing of women with breast cancer. And while the establishment of NBOCC was warmly welcomed by many, there were also some who viewed it.... and evidence-based medicine... with scepticism... some of those first meetings were very defensive. The suggestion that a guideline might direct clinical care was seen as threatening the autonomy and questioning the competence of doctors. For women there was the real opportunity to have care which delivered on their needs. 15 years ago, it was not an unusual scenario for women with a breast lump to be taken to theatre without a clear diagnosis, and to wake up from the anaesthetic with a mastectomy. Psychosocial care was often limited to telling those women they were lucky to be alive.

How things have changed in last 15 years...

Over the years NBOCC has cultivated an attitudinal change - perhaps a unique contribution. This attitudinal change has led to behavioural change, to practice change, to systems change, including

The embracing of evidence-based care;

The thirst for quality data and research to inform public health programs, clinical management and service delivery;

The acknowledgement and incorporation of psychosocial and supportive care right alongside medical care;

The team-based approach which respects all contributions to patient management including the GP, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals;

The appreciation of the patient needs around informed choice and

That integral to the delivery of quality cancer care is valuing the cancer patient experience!

In 2001, based on our successes in breast cancer, our remit was extended to include ovarian cancer....a disease with very different challenges in terms of public health messages and cancer control strategies, and of course a very different outlook and related challenges for the individuals affected by ovarian cancer.

The successful translation of the NBCC way of working in breast cancer to also improve care in ovarian cancer was a significant step....and validated the NBCC model.

And although the focus of NBOCC’s work has been in breast and ovarian cancer, the impact has not been limited to these cancers, but in fact has produced benefits for people with other cancers as well."

If you would like to know more about the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre visit the website at www.nbocc.org.au

NBOCC
Mr Michael Bryce, Di Morrissey, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, Dr Helen Zorbas

NBOCC
Di Morrissey and the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce

NBOCC
A shared joke during the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the NBOCC (May 2010)

Di's latest novel, The Silent Country, is out now.