Urgent Action Needed to Improve Cancer Programs and Services for Regional Australians

A report showing regional Australians have higher rates of cancer incidence and mortality than city dwellers emphasised the need for increased investment in cancer prevention and a national approach to improving services such as patient travel and accommodation schemes, The Cancer Council Australia said today.

Commenting on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, Cancer in Australia: an overview 2006, The Cancer Council Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said the report confirmed all-cancer incidence and mortality were higher for Australians in rural and regional areas.Professor Olver said the report was timely, with a Senate inquiry underway into patient travel and accommodation schemes for people in remote areas who require treatment for serious illnesses like cancer. “Many Australians in remote communities cannot afford to travel to major population centres for treatment,” he said. “This report reinforces the need for a national scheme giving all Australians more equitable access to treatment.” Professor Olver said he was concerned about higher rates of cervical cancer, melanoma and smoking related cancers in regional areas. “We need to invest more in promoting the importance of regular Pap tests, ensure Indigenous girls in remote communities are receiving the HPV vaccine and educate Australians generally about the risks associated with sun exposure and smoking. Reinvigorating the National Tobacco Strategy, which includes measures to reduce smoking prevalence in regional areas, is one way governments can work together to help smokers quit.”Professor Olver said he was also concerned about relatively high rates of advanced cancer being diagnosed in men in regional Australia. “This highlights the need to improve access to medical services and information in regional areas.”According to Professor Olver, the increased cancer incidence Australia-wide was in step with population ageing and presented a key challenge to government. “With a federal election approaching, all parliamentarians can demonstrate their commitment to reducing a cancer burden that will only continue to increase unless decisive, evidence-based action on cancer prevention, treatment and care is taken now.”Professor Olver added one of the positives from the new report was that country people in general had significantly lower rates of stomach cancer, which might be due to higher vegetable and fruit consumption in regional areas.(Source: The Cancer Council Australia : June 2007)