New Victorian government report finds decline in vital cancer screenings

A frightening number of Victorians are skipping crucial screenings for three of the most common cancers — and figures reveal the postcodes where people are missing out.

An alarming number of eligible Victorians are continuing to miss important cancer screenings, a major new report will reveal on Monday.

Cancer screening programs look for early detection and prevention of cancer. These new figures show a worrying decline in Victoria that is in part due to the impact of Covid – but also where people live.

The inaugural 2022 Victorian Cancer Screening Annual Statistical Report tracked the uptake of screening for the most common of breast, cervical and bowel cancers.

Only half of the people eligible to have breast mammogram screening did so in Victoria between 2020 and 2022. Photo: AFP

In an Australian first, it offers unique cancer screening insights across regions, age groups and trends.

Commissioned by the Victorian government, it used data from the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, BreastScreen Victoria and the National Cervical Screening Program in Victoria and found a decline in screening across all three cancers.

It identified that just half of those eligible for breast screening took up the opportunity between 2020 and 2022.

It was a similar story for bowel cancer screening. Those in the eastern and northwestern suburbs of Melbourne were almost four times more likely to complete the test than rural residents in Gippsland, the Murray region and western Victoria.

Victoria is also following the national trend with a fall in bowel cancer screening rates and while cervical cancer screening rates were relatively high at 79 per cent, especially for young Victorians aged 25 to 29 years, overall there was a slight decline.

The Victorian government will use the report to call for a boost to cancer screening rates after commissioning the report to better understand where to focus its efforts.

One in seven teenagers have missed their dose of the human papillomavirus cancer-preventing vaccine. Picture: Supplied

It found that while Victoria has some of the best cancer outcomes in the world, more Victorians need to be getting screened, in particular people living in regional Victoria and areas of economic disadvantage.

It comes as the Herald Sun revealed last week that one in seven teenagers have missed their dose of the human papillomavirus cancer-preventing vaccine, leaving them at risk of a deadly — but almost entirely avoidable — disease.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas says Victoria has some of the best cancer outcomes globally, but more can be done.

“Prevention and early detection are the best ways to minimise the risk of cancer,” Ms Thomas said in a statement.

“We urge all Victorians to undertake regular cancer screening and see a doctor as soon as any symptoms develop for the best chance of survival.”

The report was developed in collaboration with the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations under the Victorian Cancer Screening Framework.

The results will now help with the development of the government’s Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-2028. This identifies ways to prevent cancer, increase survival, improve treatment and care and achieve equitable outcomes.