Practical and informative sessions on the management of high volume, common cancers such as breast and colorectal cancer are the mainstays of this year’s Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA) Annual Scientific Meeting that will take place next week in Melbourne.

The theme of the ASM is Real World Oncology: Translating Discovery in to Practice. International and local speakers include:

• Professor Matthew Ellis, from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston on hormonal resistance in breast cancer (Thurs, 11.15am)
• Professor Sebastian Stintzing, from the University of Munich on individualised care in colorectal cancer (Fri, 9am)
• Professor Fatima Cardoso, from the Champalimaud Clinical Center in Lisbon on male breast cancer (Thurs, 7.30am)
• Associate Professor Sherene Loi, from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre on immune regulation in breast cancer (Thurs, 12.15pm)
• Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson, from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre on circulating tumour DNA. (Thurs, 3pm)

Professor Hyman Muss, from Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, North Carolina, will present the keynote address on geriatric oncology (Thurs, 8.50am).

MOGA ASM convenor Associate Professor Linda Mileshkin, a medical oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Centre, told the limbic that geriatric oncology was not necessarily a sexy topic, but important given an ageing population.

“We need to be able to optimise assessment of patients to determine if they are fit enough for full, standard treatment versus a gentler, modified regimen,” she said.

Other topics on the program include the role of exercise, burnout and survivorship care planning.

Day one includes dedicated, concurrent sessions for medical oncology trainees and the Young Oncologists Group of Australia (Wed, 12.15pm).

Associate Professor Linda Mileshkin said the main program would wind up with a timely panel discussion on patient requests for physician-assisted suicide. (Fri, 3.30pm)

Speakers include ABC science broadcaster Robin Williams, director of palliative medicine at Cabrini Health Associate Professor Natasha Michael, and medical director of psychosocial cancer care at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Dr Justin Dwyer.

“This is a very contentious and divisive issue in many respects and there are a wide range of views from the conscientious objectors through to those people who are more open to the idea,” Associate Professor Mileshkin said.

A post-meeting forum on Immuno-Oncology is being held on Saturday, 5 August at the ASM venue – the Pullman Albert Park Hotel in Melbourne.

Follow the limbic’s coverage of the ASM on our website and @thelimbiconc. #MOGAASM2017