Medical Oncology

Dr Sid Selva-Nayagam | Professor Dorothy M K Keefe
Dr Michael Brown | Dr Anne Taylor | Dr Nimit Singhal

DR SID SELVA-NAYAGAM MBBS FRACP
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
DEPT MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

Dr Selva-Nayagam, Undertook his medical studies through the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1983. Thereafter he did physician training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and also a period overseas at the Royal London hospital. He obtained his fellowship of the Royal Australian college of physicians in 1992. He was then appointed as a consultant physician to the Royal Darwin hospital with responsibilities in the areas of internal medicine, medical oncology, and Haematology. He was the sole specialist responsible for medical oncology, and clinical Haematology services for the top end of the Northern Territory in the period he was there (1993 to 2005). During this period he developed cancer services to the top end of the Northern Territory, including the pioneering use of teleoncology to enhance patient care. Given the significant Aboriginal population in the Northern Territory and its vast distances, he has developed particular expertise in the area of remoteness and culture and its impact on cancer presentation and management.

He has been a staff specialist at the RAH since Jan 2006. He is the principal investigator in a large number of phase 2 and 3 trials in the RAH medical oncology trials unit, is actively involved in teaching and supervising both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is a member of various professional bodies (see below). He was appointed director of medical oncology RAH in August 2007. He also engages in private practice through the Wakefield and Calvary hospitals.

 

PAPERS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION:

1. N.Singhal, S.Selva-Nayagam, M.Brown
   Prolonged and severe myelosuppression in two patients after Temozolomide treatment- case study and review of literature
   

2. Dr Nimit Singhal, Dr Rohit Joshi, Dr S. Selva-Nayagam.
   
   Polymyositis as a Paraneoplastic Manifestation of Seminoma Testes- a Case Report
   
   
3. I.Olver, L.Shepherd, S.Selva-Nayagam
   Beyond the Bush Telegraph: Telehealth for remote cancer control and support

 

CURRENT RESEARCH

Principal investigator in Phase 2, and 3, multi centre trials  in oncology treatment and supportive care, through Royal Adelaide Hospital cancer  centre, trials unit

1. Health Services and other factors affecting survival of Aboriginal people with cancer
2. Retrospective audit of chemotherapy related morbidity and mortality in the Northern territory.
3. Retrospective review of breast cancer pathology and treatment outcome, Indigenous vs non indigenous patients top end NT
4. Retrospective review of Large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer: RAH experience
5. Retrospective review of small (T1a or b), breast carcinoma: Outcome related to grade, hormone, and Her 2 status

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Application and evaluation of telemedicine as a means of supporting oncology services in  regional centres.

Cultural barriers to effective cancer service delivery, in particular amongst Aboriginal patients in the Northern Territory.

Targeted therapies in Oncology treatment

Communication skills development

 

INVITED PRESENTATIONS  2005 - 2007

1. Oncology in the NT: MOHSSA meeting, Adelaide 2005
2. Udate in oncology:  IMSANZ national meeting Alice Springs 2005
3. Culture, remoteness, and cancer: AGITG meeting, Adelaide 2006
4. ASCO  2006 update:  OGA meeting, Adelaide 2006
5. Is there a consensus in lymphoma treatment: SALSA Meeting, Adelaide 2006
6. St Gallen/San Antonio update: OGA meeting, Adelaide 2007

 

COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP FACILITATION:

1. ‘Breaking bad news’: Breast screen SA, Adelaide 2007
2. ‘Shifting treatment goals’: MOGA trainees, Adelaide 2006