Breast cancer researcher Q&A

Professor Melissa Southey - University of Melbourne

Professor Melissa Southey collaborates with Professor John Hopper and his team at the University of Melbourne.They are researching the link between two risk factors for breast cancer; inherited genetic faults and mammographic density.

She is Deputy Head, Department of Pathology, the University of Melbourne. She is also Head, Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory and Group Leader, Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium.

Q: What are the highlights of the breast cancer project you are working on?

Much of my work is about trying to find genetic explanations for why some young women and why several members of some families develop breast cancer. Molecular genetic technology is improving extremely rapidly. Just a few years ago we were able to examine single genes in a few women. Now we have the technology to sequence every gene in a single analysis, which is really advancing this research at incredible speed. This has brought new challenges in the areas of genetic data interpretation and has brought cancer researchers face-to-face with “supercomputing” – which is very exciting not only from an academic point of view but also because of the potential for so much new information that could very quickly be used to assist young women with breast cancer and their families.

Q. What do you love about your work/ what inspires you?

Our breast cancer research studies have enrolled more than 13,000 families affected with breast cancer since 1992. These families have all given their time and attention to provide a considerable amount of information to our research about their lifestyles and their families, to give blood samples and allow us to access their tumour material. These families are recontacted from time to time to up date this information. Each family has their own story, each story is unique and special. Every day, even in a laboratory-based setting, we are aware that our research resources are connected to these families and their stories, which makes us always mindful of the importance and relevance of our work.

Q: What does funding mean to you/your project?

Everything, without it, our work stops.

Q: What do you think is important to people who have breast cancer?

Different things at different stages of the journey I think. Practical aspects like access to appropriate clinical management, support from close family and friends and support from wider social networks – and empowerment to make ones own decisions at key parts of the journey. Our studies demonstrate that a very large proportion of Australian women with breast cancer think that it is important to participate in research studies that aim to prevent, better diagnose and better treat breast cancer in the future.