The Australia & New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM) conference was held in Adelaide 26 – 28 May 2023. There was a Pre-Conference Symposium held at Adelaide Zoo on 26 May which provided a wonderful prelude to the conference. The attendees were diverse with Industry, Medical Oncology, Nuclear Medicine Physicians, Physicists, Technicians and nurses.
The symposium had presentations including updates on current Theranostics globally, Integrated Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre (the new Australian Bragg Centre and Proton Therapy), Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Accreditation and Theranostic Centres of Excellence in Australia. In the afternoon there was a session which included a NET patient story, our CEO of NECA was invited to speak about Advocacy and the National Action Plan for NETs and finally one of the Prostate Nurses from Peter MacCallum spoke about Patient Management for Theranostic treatments.
During the day Invited international speakers from Italy, Japan and USA where also present and gave insight to treatment in their countries. It was also interesting to hear the potential to have the provision of Theranostics to remote and rural communities for better access and equity which could one day be these services going to the patient not vice versa.
The opening of the Conference was on Friday 26 May afternoon and had some of our leading Australian expert clinicians delivering dynamic presentations such as Theranostics – Medicine Reimaged, Physicists – the Masters of Theranostic Energy and Oncology and Theranostics. One major theme of the conference was the increased use of Theranostics for the treatment of prostate cancer using Alpha therapy (predominantly Lead 212).
Over Saturday 27 May and Sunday 28 May there were several very interesting sessions on Cardio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, the role and diversity of FDG PET & Ga68 PET, improvements in diagnostic tools for other cancers, paediatrics and medical conditions. Neuroendocrine cancer sessions included further research into predictive and prognostic factors, and an expert panel providing case studies of complex NETs which was very interesting and interactive.
There was a Theranostics session on Sunday which A/Prof Gabby Cehic (Nuclear Med Physician QEH) discussed equity and access for services, Jessica Mercurio (NET Nurses QEH) spoke about patient scheduling and our CEO presented about Establishing a Theranostic Nurses Special Interest Group of nurses across Australia and New Zealand.
There were many interesting posters which showcase what doctors, nurses, nuclear medicine specialists, physicists and other workers can achieve.
The whole conference was such a great success. Enabling collaboration and networking. Having such a diverse multidisciplinary group under the same roof is so valuable, from health services around Australia, and everyone is so enthused to continue to work together to better outcomes and further research for our patients. There was also a meeting held with NET Nurses and Prostate Cancer Nurses to discuss the care of our patients, access issues, Quality of Life and outcomes, which was so beneficial, and it is planned to continue more nursing workshops together in the future and increase the membership of the Theranostic Nurse Special Interest Group nationally.
Thank you so much to Simone Leyden and Telix for providing the sponsorship for the nurses to attend this conference.
