A ROYAL FELLOWSHIP FOR GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCERS

Improving the quality of life for women with gynaecological cancers will be closer within our reach, thanks to a fellowship awarded to Dr Mary Ryan, Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Royal Hospital for Women.

Mary was recently awarded the Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council and funding partner, Cancer Australia’s National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers. She will use it to work with staff and patients, over a two year period, to develop a tool to ensure the assessment and management of women’s nutrition and physical condition becomes a routine part of patient care.

Weight loss and loss of physical condition are known consequences of gynaecological cancer which can delay a woman’s treatment and recovery. However, assessment of these conditions isn’t routinely undertaken. As Dr Ryan explains, “If women with these cancers and their health care providers proactively manage nutrition and physical condition, there’s good evidence that they’ll require less time in hospital following surgery and have less wound infections”.

The Royal Hospital for Women’s Executive Clinical Director Professor William Walters said it was exciting Dr Ryan’s work had been selected for such a prestigious fellowship. “The hospital is very supportive of such important research being conducted in house as it provides us with the opportunity to improve patient care and outcomes, as well as improve our delivery of care,” Professor Walters said.

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