Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 2h

Are you in Australia, aged 20-70, with an increased risk of #BreastCancer via family history, prev ADH or LCIS on biopsy, or other reasons? Hurry to your GP for referral to this FREE, TELEHEALTH service recently started by Prof Kelly Anne Phillips to discuss medical prevention. #ASBD2025

Picture of slide with text:
Preventing Cancer with Medications
(PCMed) Service

Peter Mac

• Frec consultative, telehealth service for healthy women anywhere in Australia at
increased risk of 1" BC

• Primory focus is to initiate BC prevention medication and ensure well-tolerated

•Discharge women to primary care to complete the 5-year treatment course

Support women, referring clinicians and GPs throughout treatment trajectory
(hotline service)

Embedded implementation study to assess feasibility and effectiveness of the
Service (uptake 55%)

Picture of slide with text:
Who is suitable?
Female
Aged 20 to 70years.
No invasive BC or DCIS.
Increased BC risk
LCIS or atypical-hyperlasla
Remaining lifetime BC risk >20% or 10-year risk >5%

And a QR code for referral information

Prof Kelly Anne Phillips appealing at podium

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 2h

This was the impetus for the AI machine *reading* pilot (not learning- data remain secure and are not used for training the AI). Now into its 10th month, the AI performs one of the two reads and has greater accuracy than all human readers in NSW except one.

Picture of slide with text:

Does it do what it says on the tin?
As at 30/9/25:
19,890 screens read
101 cancer cases
90 recalled
Equivalent sensitivity to the weighted average of all other readers
Significantly higher specificity and PPV with 40% lower recall rate

And an adjacent graph showing high concordance between AI and human readers

Picture of slide with title 'How does it compare to other readers?' and a graph with 'Mallgnant lesions not recalled rate' on the y axis and 'Recall rate' on the x axis. Better performance is closer to zero on both axes. An arrow identifies the AI data point, which is closer to the lower left hand corner than all the human reader data points except one.

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 2h

I was astonished to hear from Matthew Warner-Smith that the public radiology workforce in NSW is so precarious that just 4 radiologists, all approaching retirement age, do 1/3 of Breastscreen NSW reporting. And screens are double-read- a huge volume. 😱 #ASBD2025 #BreastCancer #MedSky

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 9h

Oooh yum! May I have the recipe? 🤗🙏

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 9h

Their design seems to have improved over the years. Our maybe it's just changing fashion? But one way or another I find they don't ride up or 'cut in' half as much as they used to!

Reposted by Rhea Liang

Ian McPhee @igas2.bsky.social · 10h

Mulberry kuchen… lecker 😋! 🙏 @liangrhea.bsky.social

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 9h

It's really disappointing to hear a doctor say, essentially 'if you don't do what I say, don't come back if you need help'. It feels like a sort of blackmail 😬

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Reposted by Rhea Liang

BridgeWeShall @madterp.bsky.social · 1d

Lol😆

Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

The legendary @lfallowfield.bsky.social speaks about clinician communication with patients. When clinicians attending communication skills programs are asked who is a 'difficult' patient, it's basically... everyone.

Tag yourself! I'm 'over-educated academics and teachers' 🤣
#ASBD2025

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Patients perceived as difficult attending our communication skills programmes

-Those with limited intelligence

-Those asking 'intelligent sounding questions' who don't understand the answers

-Over-educated academics & teachers

-Demanding middle-class patients

-Men

-Women

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 9h

One small bonus! 🤣

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 10h

Why not both? 🤣

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

The legendary @lfallowfield.bsky.social speaks about clinician communication with patients. When clinicians attending communication skills programs are asked who is a 'difficult' patient, it's basically... everyone.

Tag yourself! I'm 'over-educated academics and teachers' 🤣
#ASBD2025

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

Prof Vivienne Milch gives a peek at the Breastscreen Australia review (soon for release). In welcome news, breast density will be routinely communicated. However, BSA cannot offer additional screening for density, so resources are being developed to enable GPs to lead this instead. #ASBD2025

Slide with text:

BreastScreen AUSTRALIA

A joint Australin, State and Territory Government Program

BreastScreen Australia Clinical Advisory Group
BreastScreen Australia Position Statement on Mammographic (Breast) Density and Screening

Women to be informed of their breast density

SA, WA, NSW & VIC already provide this info

Other states working toward implementation

L

Picture of slide with text:

BSA Position Statement on Mammographic (Breast) Density and Screening - GP Guidance

Mammography: still effective across all breast densities

Lower sensitivity in dense breasts

Slightly higher risk of cancer in dense breasts

Discuss options with patient: MRI, CEM, DBT, ultrasound

Consider using risk tools: iPrevent, Tyrer-Cuzick

GPs support shared decisions

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Reposted by Rhea Liang

Annie Parker @annieparker.bsky.social · 1d

Giselle Pelicot is an extraordinary badass woman.
What courage & strength she has shown the world from such a fucking hideous situation.
Back in court again & being a fucking legend.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Gisele Pelicot tells rapist appealing guilty verdict to 'take responsibility'

Gisele Pelicot returns to court to face the only man, out of 51, who appealed against his guilty verdict in a mass rape trial that gained worldwide attention.

www.abc.net.au

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

Powerful talk from Emily Duncan at #ASBD2025 about how being diagnosed with #BreastCancer meant being seen as a disease, making her own self and experiences invisible. A timely reminder that clinicians can better validate patient lived experience, and normalise discussing QoL.

Picture of slide with an image of Emily as a patient and the text

'When was diagnosed, I became breast cancer.

Consumed by tests, appointments, and
treatment

Seen as a disease, not a person

Repeatedly invisible in care'

Picture of a slide with a triagular diagram featuring EMPOWERMENT at the centre and the words PRACTITIONER, PATIENT and CONSUMER ORGS at the corners.

Additional slide text:

Success is not just survival - it's living well

Individual (in the room):
• Ask human-first questions
• Validate lived experience
‣ Connect to BCNA

System (shaping care):
• Raise QoL in MDTs
• Make BCNA referral routine
• Model empowerment for colleagues

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

I'm with you. Even in metro areas it's a struggle to get to the doctor if you are a parent, a carer, have disabilities, lack transport etc. Of course there are things that are better assessed F2F, but telehealth can improve access for so many.

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

Yep, I hear you. The leotards get into several hundreds of dollars but they don't get *that* much friction, hence pretty mesh panels etc. Doubt that would last long on men's tights, which get put through a lot more.

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

Things I've learned today from Lisa Birmingham, pelvic floor physio:

-80% of women are getting pelvic floor health info from social media

-assessment and treatment can happen via telehealth, because there are Bluetooth enabled pressure-sensing pessaries 🤯

#BreastCancer #ASBD2025

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Patient Voice - Qualitative Insights

• Colombage et al. (2022): Barriers to PF care -> lack of awareness & clinician focus.
• Zurowska et al. (2025): 1,775 survivors surveyed online
- 89.5% reported sexual health changes
-84.8% distressed by these changes
"No one asked me about sex"
"I was told to be grateful I survived"
• Women want information and 80% are getting it through social media (Zurowska et al 2025).

Screenshot of slide with text:

What Physiotherapists Can Target

• Trauma-informed, evidence-based care for body, mind, and lived experience.
• Biopsychosocial screening and goal setting.
• Education to empower women in pelvic, vulval and sexual health, modern pain science.
• Adress bladder & bowel concerns.
• Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) - improves strength, continence, prolapse, sexual function -> the most effective non-medicated treatment for pelvic and sexual health!
• Whole-body movement & breath- restoring control, mobility, strength & independence.
• Sexual ergonomics - comfortable positions, supportive devices, confidence in pleasure.
• Adjuncts: moisturisers, lubricants, dilators, vibrators.
Collaborative care with oncology, psychology, gynaecology & sexual medicine.

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 1d

Such a sensible, compassionate and gently humorous take on menopausal side effects from Dr Virginia Baird. First of all, define what the *patient* thinks 'libido' is, because it can vary from 'inability to self-pleasure to orgasm' to 'inability to meet partner expectations'.
#BreastCancer #ASBD2025

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Management options for MSE - Libido

Identify the patient's definition
Is it causing distress?

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Address contributing factors
Healthy lifestyle - SNAP
Stress management and relaxation
Improve communication
OUTERCOURSE
Rosie King's "Where did my libido go?"
" REFER to an expert!!

Consider contributing factors

Hormones
Medications eg SSRI
Lifestyle/situation
Psychology
Intimate relationships
Medical conditions - vaginismus

Sexual brakes > sexual inhibitors

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 2d

'I've been waiting for an event like this for almost 40 years'.

Hear from #HeartOfMedicine faculty below. And please do consider joining us in the heart of next year, in the heart of the country, in the heart of healthcare. 🤗
youtu.be/fi-jFgSmjHw?...

HEART OF MEDICINE 2026 - International Gathering for Healthcare Workers (Coaching for Doctors)

YouTube video by Coaching for Doctors - Sharee Johnson

youtu.be

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 3d

Woohoo Dr Jamie Lee Rahiri! 🎉🎉🎉
Can someone convince her to get on Bluesky? We SO need her voice here.
www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025...

Jamie-Lee Rahiri named L’Oréal-UNESCO fellow - The University of Auckland

Championing Māori health equity and cultural safety in surgery has seen Dr Jamie-Lee Rahiri named 2025 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Fellow.

www.auckland.ac.nz

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you for your kind words! I had to drop my back knee to avoid it hitting the wall (the constraints of a narrow room) so it's a bit turned in. My old ballet teacher would have words 🤣

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Reposted by Rhea Liang

ChaparritaAF 🇨🇦🇨🇴 🇸🇬🇩🇪 (She/Her/Ella) @chaparritarola.bsky.social · 5d

You are truly a renaissance woman! Politics, women leadership topics, human rights, knitting, crocheting , quilting, cooking, ballet, feijoas & all the amazing science you share! Absolutely wonderful person and you even color coordinate you outfits to the hotel!! Beautiful way to start a Saturday!

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 4d

I would have said I am a magpie or bowerbird- a deep interest in an entirely eclectic collection of things- but thank you for your kind words 🤗

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 4d

Why thank you! I'm a bit spoilt because the teeny tiny 'women's' sizes are often on sale at our local dance shop. Too small for many women and too, um, 'shapely' for the stick-thin serious dancers 🤣

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Rhea Liang @liangrhea.bsky.social · 6d

By chance, I've packed a leotard that matches the artwork in my hotel room. That's never happened before! 💜🩰🤣

Rhea wearing a purple leotard in front of a large artwork featuring the exact same colour. She is en pointe with legs in a slightly soggy attitude derrière and arms in 'Schroth'.

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