Dr Francis, from Ballarat Cancer Care and Haematology, said there had been a heightened anxiety among cancer patients the past couple of months, particularly those who have received a diagnosis during the pandemic. But she said most of these new breast cancer treatments were largely not immunosuppressive.

Dr Francis said there was also a growing appetite among breast cancer patients to learn more about their treatment and options, including self-funded drugs.

She said the McGrath Foundation and its breast care nurses had played an incredible role in educating predominantly women about their cancer. Breast Cancer Network Australia also provided a wealth of information and support resources.

"I've seen quite a lot of breast cancer patients really engaged with their treatment. They're females, often young and who often want a lot of information," Dr Francis said.

"It's nice to know there are treatments improving all the time and are well-tolerated."

Dr Francis highlighted direct treatment improvements have particularly outcomes for patients diagnosed with breast cancer sub-type Her2-positive, which accounts for about 15 per cent of Australian breast cancers.

Traditionally Her2 breast cancer delivered a poor prognosis but Dr Francis said this was dramatically changing for the better.

Breast cancer drug Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) was added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on April 1 for the treatment of Her2-positive early breast cancer.

Dr Francis said this drug, given intravenously, had been long available for treating metastic breast cancer but had not had a clear role in treating breast cancer in early stages.

An international clinical trial found Kadcyla taken after surgery when chemotherapy and targeted Her2 therapy had been made before surgery could improve a patient's long-term outlook by 10 percent.

Other breast cancer drugs Herceptin and Perjeta have also become increasing used a pre-surgical treatments. Perjeta has improved outcomes for Her2-positive metastic breast cancer, when used with Herceptin and chemotherapy, and has been listed on the PBS for this purpose.

Dr Francis said for time, this should change and be listed on the PBS for pre-surgical use - but it was important to know there were advancements being made with the role of other drugs to be determined.

"When I started practising as an oncologist 10 years ago it would be multiple years between a clinical trial and a drug being listed on the PBS. That time is so much reduced," Dr Francis said. "Drugs are approved so much more quickly with data and that quick turnaround is terrific."

Meanwhile, a new breast cancer research program, led by internationally-recognised senior researcher Aparna Jayachandran, was launched at Ballarat's Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute under lockdowns in March.

The program works to unlock the most aggressive, triple-negative, breast cancers studying cancer cells and the immune system. This will allow a comparison and chance to explore why triple-negative breast cancer does not respond as well to chemotherapy treatment.

Research calls on patient biopsies and blood samples from likely breast cancer patients across western Victoria.

IN OTHER NEWS

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.