Building on key achievements in cancer control
Cancer remains the largest cause of premature death in our community. Cancer is a significant challenge for those in the medical community and those in the broader community who have been affected by a diagnosis.
Cancer remains the largest cause of premature
death in our community. Cancer is a significant challenge for those
in the medical community and those in the broader community who
have been affected by a diagnosis.
In the New Year, we will have the challenge of implementing and
laying the foundations for our five-year cancer plan. As we start
to think about how we will lessen the impact of cancer in NSW, I
want to take this opportunity to focus again on who we are working
for.
Most people have been affected personally in some way by cancer.
Whether it has had an effect on a loved one, a friend, a colleague
or if you have your own personal cancer experience; it is a disease
that doesn't discriminate and can change the lives of old and young
people alike.
The work we do in cancer prevention,
early detection, research, treatment and care is crucial.
The work we do in cancer prevention, early detection, research,
treatment and care is crucial. We have the potential to help
thousands of people who are diagnosed with cancer each year in NSW,
as well as nationally and internationally.
Our next step forward sees us building on the successes of the
last two cancer plans; to consolidate the efforts over the past six
years, identify key cancer control agencies responsible for
specific strategies and activities and embed cancer control firmly
in the health system in NSW.
Cancer is a difficult area to work in but we are proud of our
achievements. Since our inception we have worked tirelessly to
lessen the impact of cancer in the community and I am pleased to
say we have made considerable inroads. At 64 per cent our five year
survival rate is on par with the best survival rates for cancer in
the world. We have made considerable improvements in cancer
mortality over the last decade, a fact that was recognised in this
week's Bureau of Health Information Healthcare
in Focus report. This also translates in a 20 per cent
reduction in life years lost from cancer in people under 70.
Since 2003, NSW has experienced a five per cent drop in smoking
prevalence. We're now seeing rates at an all time low (17.2 %), a
promising start to the next five years of delivering prevention,
screening and cancer care for the people of NSW.
More than 63,000 additional women have listened to our early
detection message and taken part in breast screening since 2005.
These women have a much greater chance of an early diagnosis when
the likelihood of a cure is greater.
We are engaging services to look more holistically at cancer
care - there are an additional 27 psychologist and social worker
positions across the State providing support and comfort to
patients and families affected by cancer. This is supported by a 32
per cent increase in access to multidisciplinary teams in rural and
remote communities which means more and more people who are
diagnosed with cancer in NSW are getting access to best-practice
treatment.
One of the keys to our success is to
ensure we continue to strengthen the collaborations with all groups
who are committed to cancer control.
NSW is home to world-leading researchers and cancer treatment
facilities and we need to harness this expertise to make sure it is
delivering the most effective outcomes for patients, clinicians and
researchers. Clinical trials give patients greater access to this
expertise and the latest treatments. Significantly, there is double
the number of participants in cancer clinical trials in NSW since
2004.
One of the keys to our success is to ensure we continue to
strengthen the collaborations with all groups who are committed to
cancer control. The NSW Cancer
Plan 2011-15 focuses on the commitment of all cancer
control stakeholders in NSW to lessen the impact of cancer and
provides a platform for partnerships between government and
nongovernment organisations and the community.
As a government agency, we don't work alone and we are proud to
work alongside such organisations as NSW Health, the Cancer Council NSW, the Aboriginal Health and Medical
Research Council, GP NSW
and NSW Multicultural
Health Communication Centre in our vision to lessen the impact
of cancer in NSW.
Through our collaborations, we will have the widest possible
reach to improve cancer outcomes in our State. We look forward to
working together over the next five years.
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