"It was heart-breaking to hear the frank discussions, the limited options and how clinicians could do very little to alleviate the side effects."
Pat Corena
Brain Cancer Australia welcomes Patricia (Pat) Corena to its Consumer Advisory Panel.
A former CSIRO experimental scientist, Pat spent more than 30 years working in genetics and genomics. Since retiring, she has become a passionate consumer advocate, serving on healthcare, research and ethics committees across South Australia.
Her connection to brain cancer began when her sister was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioblastoma in 2015, shortly after the birth of her son.
Over the following six years, Pat supported her sister through the progression of the disease.
"I joined in on her oncology appointments and it was heart-breaking to hear the frank discussions, the limited options and how clinicians could do very little to alleviate the side effects," she said.
Despite everything she faced, Pat says her sister never gave up hope.
"She was desperate to join a clinical trial and was actively looking for new cures. She wanted to have her life back. It was not her time to go."
As a consumer-led organisation, Brain Cancer Australia ensures the experiences of patients and families directly inform the three infrastructure platforms being developed to accelerate research and improve patient care.
Robyn Leaonrd OAM, Brain Cancer Australia Founder and Director, said the Consumer Advisory Panel provides practical input into research design, patient consent, data collection and reporting.
“Pat's unique combination of scientific expertise and lived experience will be a valuable addition to the panel as Brain Cancer Australia continues to connect consumers and researchers in meaningful and useful ways,” she said.
Meet the members of Brain Cancer Australia's Consumer Advisory Panel.
