Couzos, Sophie (2006) Senate inquiry into gynaecological health in Australia. Other. The Cancer Council, Victoria, Australia.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

[Extract] Australia's success in controlling the epidemics of the last century means that more of us than ever before are now developing and dying of cancer.

Improvements in the early detection and treatment of cancer have significantly increased cancer cure rates, but the ageing of our population and reduced impact of other diseases have positioned cancer as the major current and future health concern in Australia. Extended cancer survival also significantly increases the need to provide a comprehensive and responsive range of support services to improve quality of life for people living with cancer.

Many of the challenges of improving gynaecological cancer control in Australia also apply to all tumour and neoplasm types. A key is for governments to adopt the recommendations put forward jointly by the cancer council Australia, the clinical oncological society of Australia, the national aboriginal community controlled health organization and the national cancer control initiative in response to last year’s senate inquiry into treatment options for persons with cancer. Some of those have been reiterated for the benefit of the community affairs references committee in this submission. We also provide a range of information and recommendations specific to gynaecological cancer.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the inquiry and commend the senate, and federal parliament more generally, for the increased interest in and commitment to cancer control in Australia. While Australia has a statistically successful record in cancer management by international comparison, in terms of gynaecological cancers aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women in remote communities do not have an equitable share in our relatively good prevention and treatment outcomes. We would hope, therefore, that a key outcome of this inquiry would be recommendations aimed at reducing these inequities in particular.

The Australian government has recently committed to a range of cancer control reforms with the potential to make a significant contribution to reducing the burden of cancer. These include opportunities for the government and non-government sectors to work together more closely and effectively. Much work remains to be done to ensure that policies, guidelines and commitments-in-principle translate directly to outcomes, and that pre-existing investment in cancer control provides optimal returns in terms of improving the lives of all Australians touched by cancer.

Item ID:	35107
Item Type:	Report (Other)
Additional Information:	Joint submission
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2017 22:12
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111717 Primary Health Care @ 100%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9203 Indigenous Health > 920303 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Health System Performance (incl. Effectiveness of Interventions) @ 100%
Downloads:	Total: 3
	More Statistics