The report, Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2010, released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that over 108,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2007 (excluding most non-melanoma skin cancers). Click here for the Media release, Full report ,  Summary report . (16 Dec 2010)

Nov 2010

iCanQuit website unveiled today. iCanQuit motivates smokers to stop smoking by providing them with the information and tools they need so they can personalise their quit journey, and interact and connect with like-minded users. (30 Nov)

Treatment: Hope for pancreatic cancer cure after gene mutation identified
Australian researchers have identified gene mutations that cause pancreatic cancer - raising the hope for patients. Experts say the discoveries could be used to help patients now, because knowing which mutation had triggered the cancer would tell doctors which existing drugs would be most likely to work. 
The Australian  30/11/10 pg 6 

Treatment: Scans ‘too expensive’ for cancer patients
Medicare rebates for X-rays, MRIs and CT scans have not been adjusted for inflation for 13 years and some patients are paying thousands of dollars out of their own pockets. The Gillard government is under pressure to remedy the problem in next year's budget.
Cancer Voices of Australia chairman Ian Roos said growing out-of-pocket expenses was a huge issue for breast-cancer patients. Women with breast cancer had to find $8000 to pay for radiotherapy treatment before Medicare refunded them $6000. The Australian  30/11/10 pg 6

What oncologists say is often not what patients hear. A study of oncologists' discussions with patients has clearly demonstrated the problems in communicating effectively about risk, benefit, prognosis and other complex, emotion-laden issues. [more] (26 Nov)

Cancer News (PDF): 15 Nov, 22Nov, 26Nov, 29Nov

Up to 97% of men impotent after some prostate cancer treatments (11 Nov)

Prophylactic mastectomy not the only option for young women at hereditary cancer risk (11 Nov)

Australian Cancer Trials website launched; featuring information on all clinical 
cancer trials in Australia, for all ages, cancer types and disease stages. The website includes information on more than 1000 Australian trials that are 
currently recruiting patients. Media release (10 Nov 2010)

Physical activity link to breast cancer recovery (9 Nov 2010)

Complementary therapies improve lives of people living with cancer (9 Nov 2010)

One in four cancer patients has anxiety disorder (9 Nov 2010)

Depression associated with reduced cancer survival (9 Nov 2010)

Oct 2010

Exercise can be good medicine (21 Oct)

Sep 2010

South Australian Cancer Research Collaborative (SACRC) launched. It involves the SA Government, key cancer research organisations: Cancer Council SA, 3 Universities- Adelaide, Flinders, South Australia, and cancer consumers! Clickhere for YouTube interviews about this Collaborative. (1 Sept)

Concern over rise in rectal cancer in young Rates of rectal and rectosigmoid cancer are increasing among younger patients, US researchers warn, but the cause is unknown. [more] (3 Sept)

Aug 2010

LIVESTRONG Advances Cancer Patients' Rights at World Cancer Congress (26 Aug)

Building a world without cancer - video created by Alpheus Media for LIVESTRONG and the American Cancer Society, debuted at the World Cancer Congress. (Aug)

LIVESTRONG CEO Doug Ulman's presentation 'Mobilizing Survivors and Advocates' at the UICC International Cancer Congress in China (19 Aug)

LIVESTRONG published the Survivor Survey Report 'How Cancer has affected Post Treatment Survivors'

@LIVESTRONG just published a major study about global cancer stigma.http://bit.ly/bjJ5zk Read results and plans to make real change.

NEWS: Shaping Up To Cancer - impact of #lifestyle, exercise and #fitness on (your?) #cancer risk http://bit.ly/aDD5NN

July 2010

Cancer Voices Australia lists issues for the next Australian Government to consider for people affected by cancer : Travel and Transport Scheme; Gene patent laws – Senate Inquiry and Review; Consumers in Research – National Policy; National Clinical Trials Networks; Total Review of Cancer workforce – all professions and allied health to identify gaps; Bowel Cancer – Access to Therapies; Review of MBS Items pertaining to Gene patenting, Lymphodema, MRI and CT; National Clinical Guidelines for all Cancers; Amalgamation of CA and NBOCC to benefit all people affected by cancer.

RT @CancerCouncilOz: Cancer patients launch gene patent legal action -http://tinyurl.com/29oyd4f

Bowel cancer screening Researchers at the University of Sydney say that around 1,000 bowel cancer deaths could be prevented if a fully-funded, evidence-based bowel cancer screening program was implemented by the Australian government.  Read Transcript (26 July, ABC RadioNational Health Report)

Hope, optimism and survival from colorectal cancer Researchers at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne investigated associations between hope, optimism, anxiety and depression in survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.  Read Transcript (26 July, ABC RadioNational Health Report)

Surgery for gynaecological cancer A surgical trial undertaken in Australia suggests that women having a hysterectomy or removal of ovaries via keyhole surgery rather than abdominal surgery have a 50% reduction in post-operative complication rates.  Read Transcript (26 July, ABC RadioNational Health Report)

RT @cancer_news: 'Cancer survivors face health woes for years' -http://is.gd/drhl2 (15 July)

High Circulating Vitamin D Levels Don’t Reduce Risk of Less Common Cancers (13 July)

Coping Therapies Unlikely to Ease Kids' Stem Cell Treatment: Study (12 July)

@cancer_news: Pain, dry mouth may play role in sleep quality of head and neck cancer patients - http://is.gd/doQxh (12 July 2010)

@cancer_news: Having Fun 'can shrink cancer tumours' (AAP) -http://is.gd/dnstZ (11 July 2010)

The war on cancer ABC Unleashed –Community Debate.  1 July 2010
Why do we label the search for a cancer cure as a 'battle'? Is the language of war appropriate when dealing with mortality?
Cancer as a battleground ABC Radio National, 360 Degrees: 3 July 2010 
We are constantly being urged to buy pink ribbons or run a marathon to win the battle against cancer and people who die of cancer are described as having fought bravely. But how useful is the idea of a war on cancer for the people who have the illness and the people who care for them?

Cervical Cancer Vaccine success reopens debate 6July 2010
The Gardasil vaccination program in Australia resulted in a 60% reduction in new cases of genital warts.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2945882.htm

Determinants of participation in colonoscopic screening by siblings of colorectal cancer patients in France 6 July 2010

Bowel program needs re-think (Australia) 5 July 2010

Patient safety: time for a transformational change in medical education
William B Runciman. Med J Aust 2010; 193 (1): 3-4. (5 July 2010)

Turning the World Cancer Declaration into action Cancer World (3 July 2010)

Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors (3 July 2010)

Improving Health Outcomes - A Guide For Action. (UK) July 2010

June 2010

Increase in bowel cancer in younger people (6 Jun 2010)

April 2010

RHYTHMS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM (Science Show: 17/04/2010)  A survey showed that tumours disappear completely in just 7 per cent of patients when treated with chemotherapy. It’s now thought the immune system is being regulated, being switched on and off against the tumour. This periodicity is roughly 7 days. This matters, as hitting the immune system with chemicals when it isn’t receptive might be ineffective. Brendon Coventry says immune system rhythm, may be a fundamental discovery.

March 2010

Cancer and the Media: How Does the News Report on Treatment and Outcomes? March 2010