By Li-Ling Ng, Monash Health

The 11th Australasian Symposium, now given the snazzy moniker of the Australasia Regional Oncology Pharmacy Symposium (AusROPS 2019), was held in the state of the art architecturally designed building of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne on the week-end of 6th and 7th April 2019.

55 delegates from public and private hospital pharmacies and industry Australia wide with a lone Singaporean representative attended this biennial event.

Shaun O’Connor opened proceedings and the first morning clinical session comprised of a Lung Oncology Update from Dr Ben Markman, Breast Oncology Update from Melanie Danilak, recent ISOPP secretariat member and Education Co-Chair, followed by Dr Louise Creati providing a most instructive and entertaining talk on Cardiac Toxicities (Immunotherapy and Long Term management) and West Australian pharmacist, Julie Adams speaking on Home based Cancer Care. The cardiac toxicities talk highlighted the issue of myocarditis with immunotherapy and informed the attendees to “beware the raised troponin.”

After a healthy, tasty lunch, Associate Professor Prue Cormie spoke on” Exercise and Cancer” and Carmela Corallo of Alfred Health imparted her expertise on Medicines Shortages and how to avoid the pain and inconvenience with prior planning and good stock control and management.

Shaun O’Connor provided information on the “VicTAG Chemotherapy Audit Toolkit” and after a tea break, the final session was entertainingly given by Dr George Grigoriadis on “Haematology – HLH and a touch of APLS”

On the following Sunday morning of 7th April 2019, Associate Professor Andrew Weickhardt succinctly presented a Renal Oncology Update followed by Dr David Pook’s Prostate Oncology Update.

After morning tea, Associate Professor Siva Shankar gave an illuminating talk on aspects of radiotherapy and Ms Geraldine McDonald presented form a consumer involvement perspective.

The latter half of the Sunday was Melanie Danilak speaking on the Canadian perspective of the residency programs. The next topic on Voluntary Assisted Dying by Jarrod McMaugh, with experience as a community pharmacist on the Department of Health taskforce member was received with great interest. This controversial legislation is about to enacted in the state of Victoria so provoked several ethical and practical discussions about the implementation by attendees.
The regular Panel Discussion with Curly Question Corner had Marliese Alexander moderating an august group of pharmacists namely: Melanie Danilak, Jim Siderov, Senthil Lingaratnam, Sue Kirsa and Julie Adams with some lively discussion from the audience.

Marliese Alexander then closed the symposium and promoted the forthcoming ISOPP London 2019 conference.

AusROPS 2019 Organizing Committee and speakers