Nutrition Research
Improving cancer survivorship care through research
Alongside my clinical work, I am actively involved in research focused on cancer survivorship, primary care and improving support for people living with and beyond cancer.
My research interests include cancer survivorship, nutrition and weight management after cancer, models of survivorship care, primary care, multidisciplinary collaboration and the translation of research into practical healthcare.
My Master of Research thesis at Western Sydney University is currently under examination. My research explored GP perspectives on preventing and managing weight gain following breast cancer.
My work reflects a broader question that sits at the centre of both my research and clinical practice:
How can we better support people not only through cancer treatment, but in the years that follow?
Master of Research
What are the optimal models of care for effective and feasible prevention and management of weight gain among breast cancer survivors, particularly in the Australian primary health care context?
Weight gain is common following breast cancer treatment, yet women may receive limited structured support to prevent or manage it as they move from active treatment into longer-term survivorship care.
My Master of Research at Western Sydney University explored the perspectives of Australian general practitioners on preventing and managing weight gain following breast cancer.
I interviewed 14 GPs from metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia to understand the barriers and facilitators influencing weight management support in primary care.
Using reflexive thematic analysis and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), the research explored factors affecting the implementation of weight management support across the healthcare system.
Key findings
The research identified several important challenges within current survivorship care, including:
fragmented care pathways between oncology and primary care
limited communication between oncology teams and GPs
time, funding and workforce constraints within primary care
limited access to clear referral pathways and appropriately experienced allied health professionals
inconsistent survivorship planning and guidance.
GPs also identified important opportunities for improving care, including:
clearer shared-care pathways between oncology and primary care
comprehensive survivorship care plans
improved care coordination
stronger multidisciplinary collaboration
better integration of allied health into cancer survivorship care.
Together, these findings highlight the need for more coordinated models of care that support people as they transition from cancer treatment into long-term survivorship.
Research Team
Lisa Hanlon, Western Sydney University
Associate Professor Carolyn Ee, Flinders University
Associate Professor Kate McBride, Western Sydney University
Professor Bogda Koczwara, University of New South Wales
Dr Cindy Tan, University of Sydney & University of New South Wales
Dr Jillian Tay, Monash University
Christine Mitchell, Patient Advocate
Presentations & Publications
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Australian GP perspectives on preventing and managing weight gain in breast cancer survivorship: a CFIR-informed qualitative study
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Australian GP perspectives on preventing and managing weight gain in breast cancer survivorship
Translating Research Into Practice
An important part of my work is translating research findings into useful information for patients, clinicians and the broader community
Survivorship Isn’t Just Surviving: Why Post-Cancer Weight Gain Matters
Research, Practice & Collaboration
My research and clinical work share the same goal: improving the health and care of people living with and beyond cancer.
I am particularly interested in cancer survivorship, primary care, nutrition, multimorbidity and cancer, models of care and multidisciplinary approaches to improving long-term health after cancer.
For research, academic or professional collaboration enquiries, please get in touch.
