About Us
DR. MICHELLE WHITE
Dr. Michelle White is a Medical Oncologist and specialist in palliative care medicine. She is a certified Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians having trained in her undergraduate years at Monash Medical Centre. She currently works fulltime across two centres: Cabrini Health (Brighton) in private practice and at Monash Medical Centre in public practice. Her specialist area of interest is in the management of breast cancer. Michelle is a keen contributor to the ongoing research into many aspects of breast cancer management, both in clinical treatments and in the support of patients having been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is an investigator for a number of local and international research studies and is involved in the development and conduct of clinical trials. She was pivotal in bringing scalp cooling to Cabrini, now utilised by over 500 patients in the prevention of hair loss while receiving their chemotherapy.
Dr. White is a member of the ASCO, COSA. She is on the steering committee for Brightways, the Cabrini Breast Cancer Service. Additionally, she is an invited member of the Australian Breast Cancer Trials group.
Outside her medical practice her interests include: Food, running, fashion and is a tragic St Kilda supporter; still waiting for that premiership! She is the mother of three young women and as a family enjoys all it has to offer.
She has contributed to several publications including two practice changing studies for the management of breast cancer: the AZURE and BOLERO6 studies. In addition to her research contribution, Dr. White is also a regular speaker for BCNA, Counterpart and other organisation, helping in the ongoing education of patients and their families and carers following their breast cancer diagnosis. She has also been invited to speak locally and internationally at cancer education meetings. She has more than 20 years' experience in medicine and medical oncology including diagnosis and management of hereditary cancer syndromes and palliative care.
She is a senior lecturer with Monash University and in 2017 won the award The School of Clinical Sciences for distinguished teaching services.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR YOLAND ANTILL
A/Prof. Yoland Antill is a Medical Oncologist and a specialist in Hereditary Cancer Medicine. She is a currently certified Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She commenced her training at Royal North Shore Hospital, in Sydney before completing her fellowship and doctoral studies at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre here in Melbourne. Her doctoral and post-doctoral research focused on areas in the management of hereditary breast and gynaecological cancers.
She continues to develop and expand on her initial research interests both here at Cabrini and in her public appointments. Yoland is the lead investigator for a number of local and international research studies and is involved in the development and conduct of both national and international clinical trials. Her research includes her role as Study Chair for a first in its kind Phase 2 study in the treatment of advanced endometrial cancer, PHAEDRA, examining the potential benefit of immunotherapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer. Together with clinical research, she is also involved in a number of supportive care studies such as the role of exercise in prevention of complications associated with chemotherapy, prevention of eyebrow and eyelash loss, the use of cold capping for hair preservation and the use of laser therapy to manage side effects with the use of hormonal therapy. Finally, in her role within Family Cancer Centres, she continues to work and supervise on a number of projects focused on the impact of genetic errors and cancer development. She has co-authored many papers and has presented her research work at both national and international meetings.
She works in clinical practice here at Cabrini Health (at both the Malvern and Brighton hospitals) together with public hospital appointments at Frankston and Royal Melbourne Hospitals. Her interests and specialty areas of practice include: hereditary cancers within the Family Cancer Clinics, breast and gynaecological cancers.
A/Prof. Antill is a member of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, the Australian Gynaecological Oncology Group, the Breast Cancer Trials Group, the Private Cancer Physicians of Australia and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. She is a current invited member of the Breast Cancer Trials; Supportive Care Subcommittee, Clinical Oncology Group of Australia (COSA) ovarian cancer mainstreaming genetic testing working group and is the Chair of the Australian New Zealand Gynaecology Oncology Group's (ANZGOG) Endometrial Cancer working party.
She is the mother of two boys and one rather naughty beagle. She and her family enjoy a life full of activity; complimenting her work with passions including running, swimming, yoga, cooking and reading. She has more than 15 years' experience in both medical oncology and in the diagnosis and management of hereditary cancer syndromes.
DR. ELIZABETH BLACKLEY
Dr Elizabeth (Libby) Blackley
MBBS, FRACP (Medical Oncology), MPhil
Dr Blackley is a medical oncologist specialising in the management of breast cancer. She obtained her medical degree from Monash University, graduating in 2010 before undertaking physician training at Austin Health. After obtaining fellowship to the Royal Australian College of Physicians in 2018, she worked as the breast cancer clinical trials and translational research fellow under the supervision of Professor Sherene Loi at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Dr Blackley is completing a Master’s Degree by research through the University of Melbourne in 2022 which focusses on treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Dr Blackley has been working in private practice since 2019, joining MCC permanently in 2022. She is a member of Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) Australia, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society of Medical Oncology and Medical Oncology Group of Australia.
Dr Blackley’s main interest is the treatment of breast cancer with a particular focus on young women and the supportive care that is required around fertility, pregnancy and management of psychosocial health following a breast cancer diagnosis. She was the recipient of an inaugural fellowship grant from Breast Cancer Trials Australia in 2022 and continues to conduct research surrounding young women’s breast cancer in Australia.
Dr Blackley has a strong belief in personalised, patient centred care and remains involved in clinical trials and research both at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and in the private sector. She is an investigator for a number of local and international research studies and is involved in the development and conduct of clinical trials. She advocates for patients to receive every opportunity to access the latest medical treatments. Dr Blackley believes that compassionate, honest communication with patients and their carers at all stages of disease is a vital part of patient care.
Outside of medicine Dr Blackley is a keen netballer and stays active with the help of her very energetic border collie Toby. She loves nothing more than spending weekends with family, watching her beloved Geelong cats and visiting Victoria’s beautiful beaches.
DR. CHRISTINE MUTTIAH
Dr. Chrissy Muttiah is a Medical Oncologist specialising in breast cancer. She is a certified Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She commenced her medical oncology training at Monash Health and Western Health, before completing her fellowship at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She has completed a MD by research through the University of Melbourne and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research whilst continuing her work as a breast oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Western Health and Cabrini. Her post graduate research, under the supervision of Professor Geoff Lindeman, focuses on novel treatments for breast cancer and the prevention of BRCA 1/2 associated breast cancer.
Chrissy continues to be involved in clinical research and is an investigator for a number of local and international clinical trials. She is also involved in translational research and investigator initiated clinical trials though the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance. She was the recipient of an inaugural fellowship from Breast Cancer Trials Australia in 2022 and continues to collaborate with BCT to recruit to the first international breast cancer prevention study BRCA-P for women with a BRCA 1 germline variant.
Chrissy is a member of the Breast Cancer Trials Group (BCT) Australia, the European Society of Medical Oncology and Medical Oncology Group of Australia.
Chrissy spends her time outside of work with her 2 year old son and playing cricket for the local women’s team.
Chrissy is dedicated to her research and clinical work utilising these as platform to determine the best evidence based management plans for her patients. She values honesty, kindness, respect and strives to empower people through their cancer journey. Chrissy aims to provide this to all people she has the privilege of caring for.