BCNA at the MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting, 2026

Every year, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) bring together clinicians, researchers, policy makers, advocates and people with lived experience to share the latest evidence and innovations in supportive cancer care. 

This multidisciplinary approach has helped establish the MASCC/ISOO Annual Meeting as one of the world’s leading conferences on supportive cancer care, recognising that the best care is informed by both evidence and lived experience. 

From 25–27 June 2026, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) was proud to have a significant presence at the conference, which was held in Melbourne for the first time. Having such an important event take place in BCNA’s city of origin was a unique opportunity to showcase Australian leadership in supportive care to an international audience. 

Across the conference, BCNA staff and Consumer Representatives presented in multiple sessions, contributed to panel discussions, connected with international experts, and welcomed delegates at the BCNA exhibition booth. Each talk, workshop and interaction amplified the voices and experiences of Australians affected by breast cancer, attesting to the ways lived experience can shape more compassionate, practical and person-centred care. 

“For BCNA members, the value of attending MASCC isn’t just what was presented at the conference, but how those learnings are translated into better information, support and advocacy for Australians affected by breast cancer.” Kirsten Pilatti, BCNA CEO. 

The 2026 conference focused on three key themes; “Mind the Gap”: Maximising access to supportive care for all; Lifestyle and behavioural support in cancer care; Optimising toxicity management of novel therapies.  

Across the meeting, BCNA staff and Consumer Representatives led powerful discussions on sexual health after diagnosis, body image, stigma and shame, survivorship, metastatic breast cancer, and the importance of collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals in research and co-design. 

BCNA was also proud to be the elite sponsor of the Fundamentals of Sexual Health After Cancer Diagnosis course, a program designed to help clinicians have more confident, sensitive and practical conversations about sexual wellbeing after cancer. For many people affected by breast cancer, these conversations can be difficult to start, but they are an important part of quality of life, identity, intimacy, and recovery. 

One of the most meaningful parts of BCNA’s involvement was seeing Consumer Representatives share their lived experience to a global healthcare professional audience. Their contributions helped ground the evidence in real life, serving as an important reminder that supportive care is not only about managing symptoms or side effects. It is about listening to what matters most to people, understanding the whole person, and making care feel more human. 

The conference also reinforced the value of partnership. When people with lived experience are involved in research, program design and advocacy from the beginning, the outcomes are more relevant, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the community. This is something BCNA has long championed, and it was heartening to see it reflected so strongly throughout the MASCC/ISOO program. 

Our exhibition booth provided another important opportunity to connect with health professionals, share BCNA’s resources, and talk about the needs of Australians affected by breast cancer.  

These conversations matter. They help build understanding, spark collaboration and ensure that the experiences of our community continue to inform improvements in care. 

As the conference came to a close, we felt proud and grateful: proud of the strength, generosity and expertise of our Consumer Representatives, and grateful to the MASCC/ISOO community for recognising the importance of embedding consumer voices throughout the program. 

For BCNA, the learnings from MASCC/ISOO 2026 will continue beyond the conference itself. They will help strengthen the information, support and advocacy we provide, and they will guide our ongoing work to make sure people affected by breast cancer feel seen, heard and supported at every stage.