By Alesha Capone
A world-renowned Victoria University professor is inviting breast cancer survivors from across the west to participate in a research study.
Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos, who grew up in St Albans and now lives in Wyndham, is Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Partnerships at the university.
Professor Apostolopoulos was the first person in the world to develop the concept of immunotherapy for cancer in the 1990s, which today is used by hundreds of labs around the world.
She has been recognised with more than 100 awards, including the Premier’s Award for Medical Research and Young Australian of the Year (Victoria).
Professor Apostolopoulos is now conducting a study into the advantages of 24 weeks self-directed physical activity combined with motivational interviewing on mental health, quality of life and improvements to immune cells, in breast cancer survivors.
Professor Apostolopoulos said motivational interviewing is a conversational technique used by professionals, to help patients make changes such to their eating, alcohol consumption and activity levels.
“The study aims to deliver important information on whether physical activity is adhered, using a pedometer and motivational interviewing,” she said.
“Being active has been shown to correlate to enhance quality of life, improved psychological health and boost the immune system which would improve prognosis of breast cancer survivors.”
Professor Apostolopoulos said the study started recruiting participants in January, and was looking for a total of 64 women to take part.
“With the fear of Covid-19, I believe that the study will get delayed,” Ms Apostolopoulos said.
“But, this study is a self-directed physical activity intervention and even if Australia takes on further restrictions, being home in shutdown will cause anxiety in people.
“It is important to be physically active even at home and being part of this study is a way to keep motivated to get up and do some home-based exercises. “We need to keep moving.”
Professor Apostolopoulos said that Victoria University has many campuses in the west of Melbourne.
“Anyone in the west region can partake in the study provided they fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria,” she said.
The study’s target group is English-literate breast cancer survivors within three years of diagnosis and at least six months after breast cancer treatments, who may be undergoing hormonal treatments and/or Herceptin treatment.
“Additionally, they are diagnosed stage 0 to III, both premenopausal and postmenopausal over the age of 18,” Professor Apostolopoulos said.
Contact Supa.Pudkasam@live.vu.edu.au or Vasso.apostolopoulos@vu.edu.au, or call 04324 00308 or 9919 2025, if you wish to participate in the study.
