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More people surviving cancer, 'rather not know' attitude taking lives

Media releases
24 Jun 2012
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The latest cancer survival report, released by the Cancer Institute NSW today, reveals a steady increase in five-year survival across NSW, but the cancer control agency says it is the ‘rather not know’ attitude that poses the greatest risk.

"This report shows cancer is not the death sentence it once was - yet we still hear people would 'rather not know' if they have cancer. It is this belief that is the biggest risk to your health. Early detection may save your life," said Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW, Professor David Currow.

"If you were diagnosed with cancer in the early eighties, you only had a 49 per cent chance of survival after five years. We have come a long way since then. Today, if you are diagnosed with cancer, you have a 64.4 per cent chance of beating the disease," said Professor Currow.

The report shows a significant improvement in men's survival, now at 63 per cent (up from 61 per cent), with women's survival remaining steady at 66 per cent. But, the stark difference in the chance of survival comes if the cancer is detected early.

"If the cancer is detected before it has spread, your chance of survival after five years is up to 84 per cent. People across NSW should take personal action in the fight against cancer by making sure they participate in the relevant free screening programs available across the State.

"These programs can detect cancer even before any symptoms become apparent, and are one of the reasons NSW has one of the best survival rates from cancer in the world. They are free, world-class screening programs."

The report reveals overall survival after five years is greater than 90 per cent for cancers of the prostate, testes, thyroid, lip and melanoma of the skin. Breast cancer survival follows closely with overall survival at 88.3 per cent, but this increases to 97 per cent if the disease is diagnosed early.

However, people diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary origin, esophagus, liver, lung, mesothelioma and pancreas have less than a 20 per cent chance of survival.

"There is still considerable work that needs to be done to reduce the burden of cancer in NSW, particularly for people who have poor prognosis cancers. Further investment in cancer research throughout the State will result in improvements in survival for people diagnosed with these cancers. But for the people of NSW - taking personal action today to beat cancer by participating in the available screening programs may be life saving," said Professor Currow.

Read the full report here

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