ANZSA funding groundbreaking MYTH Study

ANZSA is the proud funder of the MYTH Study currently being conducted at the Chris O’Brien Life House. The MYTH Study (Methotrexate for AYAs in The Home for adolescent and young adult (AYA) osteosarcoma patients) aims to give patients the option of treatment out of hospital and hopes to explore their perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of having treatment in this manner.

Currently in Australia, patients receiving methotrexate as treatment for osteosarcoma, receive treatment in hospital. They are admitted for multiple days for each treatment, and spend up 44 days in hospital over the course of all their treatment. An ‘ambulatory programme’ is proposed where patients wouldn’t have to be admitted; they would instead receive treatment at home, receiving fluids and medication through backpacks. In doing so, this might alleviate some of the problems of hospital admission contributes too such as social isolation, loss of independence and freedom, immobility and life disruption. This study aims to check if the ‘ambulatory programme’ is safe, feasible, and most importantly, acceptable and preferable for our patients

This study is being led by Dr Elizabeth Connolly and Dr Vivek Bhadri at the Chris O’Brien Life House (COLBH), and Dr Jessica Ryan at the The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

It is now open at COBLH and will soon also open at the The Children's Hospital at Westmead.