Cancer Council Victoria launches new early screening campaign as disease expected to double

The number of cancer cases in Victoria could double in the next 15 years without urgent action, because residents are still lagging in their health checks since the pandemic.

Victorians are being urged to have health checks as cancer cases predicted to double.

Victorians will be urged to have cancer screening in a new campaign to be launched today.

The new Early Detection Saves Lives campaign follows alarming figures from the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) that predicts cancer cases in this state will almost double in the next 15 years without urgent action.

Cancer Council Victoria says the campaign is also responding to growing concern from health experts that many Victorians are still lagging in their health checks since the Covid pandemic, and the delay could prove deadly.

The VCR has warned there were almost 400 fewer breast cancer diagnoses in Victoria.

The campaign, run by Cancer Council Victoria and funded by the Victorian Health Department, will have a website to provide Victorians with information on cancer symptoms as well as the type of cancer screening available and eligibility along with practical advice on how to seek help.

Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper said the valuable real-time data provided through the VCR showed many adults had changed their health behaviours during the pandemic.

“People told us they didn’t want to be a burden to the health system during Covid, or they found it too difficult to make appointments to have their regular cancer screening,” Mr Harper said.

Cancer Council Victoria chief executive Todd Harper.

“There were a whole range of reasons, but we are not seeing the recovery in people being reactive to symptoms when they would normally seek help.

“We want this campaign to kick start people into thinking about prioritising their health again, and the health of family and friends.”

The VCR is unique in Australia and considered a world leader in cancer data collection. This valuable data comes from every Victorian hospital and pathology laboratory and is provided to clinicians, researchers and policy makers.

It flagged in its latest report in December that there were 3,864 fewer cancer diagnoses than expected over 2020 and 2021. This included 396 fewer diagnoses of breast cancer.

The VCR data also predicted that without urgent action there would be an alarming 43 per cent increase in people diagnosed with cancer in Victoria over the next 15 years.

Mr Harper said the earlier cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it and making a full recovery.

The national bowel cancer screening kit sent out to residents.

“In Australia we are lucky to have three national cancer screening programs that detect signs of bowel, breast and cervical cancer before any noticeable symptoms occur. If you are due for these tests don’t delay,” he said.

Victorian general practitioner Justin Tse is one of the health professionals who will be featured in the Early Detection campaign.

He said GPs want their patients to know that they have time to support them if they notice any changes to their body.

“I hope that for people who see this campaign and who may have felt like they would be a burden to the health system, or their symptom isn’t significant enough to book an appointment, that is not the case,” Dr Tse said.

“Health professionals are here for you.”

You can learn more about the campaign at earlydetection.org.au or call the Cancer Council support line on 13 11 20