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EDUCATION
The Jean Hailes Foundation is committed to providing ongoing, up to date, clinically relevant health care information, including physical, emotional and psychological health, to GPs, allied health professionals and the community.
The Education Unit has a number of events throughout the year to educate both health professionals and the community.
In February we ran a Menopause into the Millennium conference for GPs in metropolitan Melbourne. In March we continued our commitment to providing community seminars in rural areas, this time in Cowes, Victoria, for women (and their partners) over 35 titled Love, Life, Libido.
In early May we ran a menopause information session called Powering on Through Midlife at the Melton Community Hall. In May we also ran a community seminar and a Menopause into the Millennium conference for GPs and allied health professionals in Bairnsdale. In all community seminars we partnered local health groups to reach out to women in the area.
UPCOMING EVENTS INCLUDE MAY - DECEMBER, 2002
Community Menopause Information Sessions
Sessions around Melbourne, usually on a weeknight. In partnership with community organisations such as health centres, women's regional health services and others.
Learn about menopause:
Please call The Jean Hailes Foundation on (03) 9562 6771 for further information.
NEW WOMEN'S HEALTH INFORMATION
Emotional Well Being: Menopause & Midlife
This brochure is a valuable addition to our wide range of women's health brochures. It covers topics such as depression, anxiety, stress, relationships, sex, self esteem and body image from a psychological viewpoint.
For your copy please contact the Education Unit on 9562 6771 or you can download it from our website - click here.
PAPERS PRESENTED
Sarah Hardy, Director of Education
Sarah Hardy recently presented a paper at the Australasian Menopause Society conference on the Multicultural Menopause Program. Sarah also presented a paper at the Fifth WONCA World Conference on Rural Health on Developing Menopause Education Resources to Reflect the Needs of Rural and Remote Women.
Sara Knight, Community Educator
Sara Knight resented a paper in Brisbane at the 2001 National Indigenous Women's Health Conference on Menopause and Hormone Imbalance. Sara also presented two papers at the Australasian Menopause Society conference late last year: Partnerships in Menopause Education and Women's Health Issues Amongst Indigenous Australians.
CLINIC
THE JEAN HAILES MEDICAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN
Introducing…
The Jean Hailes Medical Centre for Women is delighted to announce the appointment of three new members to its' growing medical and allied health team.
Miss Jai Kesari Plastic, Cosmetic & Hand Surgeon
Areas of expertise:
Skin lesions (dermatoscope) - Moles, Cancers, Melanomas, Hand surgery Cosmetic surgery - Breast reduction & Augmentation, Blepharoplasty, Facelifts, Rhinoplasty, Otoplasty, Abdominoplasty, Labioplasty
Marilyn Cobain Psychologist
Areas of expertise:
Sexual dysfunction counselling Anxiety, Depression Marriage guidance counselling
Dr Sylvia Lim-Tio Endocrinologist
Areas of expertise: Hormone management, Premature ovarian failure, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Diabetes and general Endocrinology, Research
OTHER SPECIALISTS AVAILABLE FOR REFERRAL
Breast Surgeon - Jenny Senior
Dietician - Jenny Davidson
Endocrinologists - Carolyn Allan, Susan Davis, Henry Burger, Amanda Vincent
Gynaecologists - Elizabeth Farrell, David Healy, Jude MacNaughton, Max Michael, Desiree Yap
Outpatient Hysteroscopy - David Healy, Max Michael
Naturopath - Sandra Villella
Physiotherapist - Margaret Sherburn
Weight Management - Consultant Rick Kausman
Please note that referrals to our specialists can be made by your own GP.
RESEARCH
The ATLAS Study - Early Breast Cancer and Tamoxifen Duration
A recruiting success story
The ATLAS Study is an important, international clinical trial addressing the question: Should women who have had early breast cancer be treated with tamoxifen for more than five years? ATLAS is comparing 10 years of tamoxifen treatment with the usual five years of treatment.
20,000 women worldwide are needed to take part in ATLAS.
The Jean Hailes Foundation Research Unit has been a recruitment centre for the ATLAS Study for the past 12 months. During this period the Research Unit has been the leading centre for Australia and New Zealand. This is a great achievement for The Jean Hailes Foundation.
The success is primarily due to the innovative recruiting strategy devised by Director of Research, Associate Professor Susan Davis and successfully implemented by Jo Bradbury, ATLAS Research Coordinator. The strategy involves creating awareness about ATLAS amongst all eligible women in the Australian community instead of the usual practice of recruiting women solely through hospital clinics.
Associate Professor Davis feels that by giving all eligible Australian women the opportunity to participate in ATLAS it gives them a voice in the future of those women who are presently at-risk of developing breast cancer (which could include their daughters).
We know that tamoxifen taken for five years helps prevent recurrence of breast cancer and improves survival. However it is not known whether women would benefit further by taking tamoxifen for a longer period.
The outcome of ATLAS will establish whether the longer treatment with tamoxifen will further improve survival of women following early breast cancer, guiding physicians in their future treatment of women with breast cancer.
More eligible women are needed
If a woman and her treating physician are uncertain whether she should continue taking tamoxifen beyond five years she should consider ATLAS. If she is eligible she can be enrolled in the study where her further treatment, to stop or continue taking tamoxifen, will be randomly allocated. This means that a woman who participates in ATLAS will have an equal chance of either stopping or continuing tamoxifen for a further five years. Tamoxifen will be provided free to those women who are allocated to continue on it.
There are no tests or extra visits required for ATLAS. A woman who participates will remain in the care of her physician who, when reviewing her annually, will provide brief information to ATLAS as to her well being.
Women can participate in ATLAS after about five years of tamoxifen treatment.
Women who have been taking tamoxifen for two to less than five years can be registered and then further consider participation at their five year treatment time. The approval and support of a woman's physician is required for her participation and registration.
Any woman who has been taking tamoxifen for two to about five years as follow-up treatment for early breast cancer is invited to contact the Research Unit for further information on ATLAS. ATLAS INQUIRIES: 1800 809 517 (toll free).
BOND RESEARCH PROJECT
Female volunteers aged 50 years and over needed.
Help in the fight against osteoporosis.
The University of Melbourne together with the Royal Melbourne Hospital is seeking volunteers for a study aimed at improving exercise prescription for women at risk of osteoporosis.
TO BE ELIGIBLE YOU MUST:
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Have diagnosed osteopenia of the hip
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Be at least 5 years past menopause and not currently on HT
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Be able to attend an exercise program 3 times a week for 12 months, at 1 of the following YMCA centres in the Melbourne metro. Area. (Ascot Vale, Ashburton, Macleod or Northcote)
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Not currently involved in an organised exercise program
For further information please contact Elin Wee on (03) 8344 8127
(Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday).
Recommended Reading
The Jean Hailes Foundation recommends the following new books useful to health and life stages.
COLOR ME HEALTHY Why you should eat almost everything
By Rita Erlich & Dr Alice Murkies (2001)
Its message is simple and positive: eat (almost) everything. Variety is the spice of life and the key to healthy living. This is the book that makes eating variety easy, by presenting the world of food as rainbows.
Each color-coded chapter contains information about the foods of that color, recipes, hints, ideas as well as information about what nutrients are in each food and what is currently known about their benefit. Suggests what to order in restaurants and what else to eat if you don't like particular ingredients.
Available from bookstores and through The Jean Hailes Foundation $35 + $7 p&h.
MY PARENTS ARE GETTING OLDER
By Ro Saxon & Shirley Anderson (2001)
As our parents age there are many issues to be considered. And when trying to combine the everyday demands of work and your own family with caring for your parents, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The authors take a step-by-step view through the stages and problems facing older people and their adult children, and reveal what is likely to be happening from a physical, mental and emotional point of view.
Available at major book stores retailing for less than $30.
CALM EATING
By Dr Rick Kausman (2001)
Anyone who's ever felt out of control around food will recognise that to relax and enjoy food without guilt is a difficult goal. Calm eating describes a gradual change of attitude to achieve this. It's about having a healthy and happy relationship with food. And it's about achieving long-term change by succeeding at small steps along the way.
This book gives essential tips not only to achieve and maintain a healthy, comfortable weight, but also on how to relax and enjoy food. Available from bookstores and Dr Kausman's web site click here.
The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
© The Jean Hailes Foundation. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.
Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.
Content updated June, 2002
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