The Department of Health marked World Cancer Day last week (4 February) by urging Australians to be aware of the early warning signs of cancer and to take part in free cancer-screening programs.
Leading the call, Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the Day was also a timely reminder of the steps everyone could take to minimise cancer risk factors, including tobacco use, obesity and exposure to UV rays.
“Cancer can take a long time to develop and screening can find cancer in the early stages,” Mr Hunt said.
“It can also find changes to cells before they become cancer or identify infections that may cause cancer in the future,” he said.
“Early detection and treatment gives people the best chance of survival.”
Mr Hunt said that, this year, World Cancer Day was about understanding and recognising inequities in cancer care across the globe.
The Minister said that, in Australia, there were differences in the incidence of cancer and survival outcomes across the population.
He said the latest statistics showed over a million Australians were currently living with or had lived with cancer.
“While incidence rates for most of the common cancers have increased, cancer mortality rates continue to decline, more sharply for males than females,” Mr Hunt said.
“However, there is more work to be done, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people living in rural and remote areas and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged regions more likely to die from cancer.”
He said there was no better time for people to organise a skin cancer check, talk to their doctor about risk factors or take up a free breast, bowel or cervical cancer screening.
Further information about cancer screening can be accessed at this PS News link.
