CANCER Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. These abnormal cells can damage or invade the surrounding tissues, or spread to other parts of the body, causing further damage. In 2018, it is estimated that there will be 138,321 Improved survival rates highlight the progress newly diagnosed cases of cancer in Australia. the Australian Government has made in cancer control. More than 48,586 deaths from cancer are estimated in 2018. This progress has been achieved through sustained investment in research, the For information on incidence and mortality of introduction of cancer prevention and trial cancer in Australia by cancer type, please visit detection programs as well as access to high the for the Cancer in Australia 2017 report, quality health care. (pages x-xi). In addition to the funding provided for preventive The latest Australian Institute of Health and health measures, the Australian Government invested over $10 billion for cancer control Welfare report on cancer burden, which activities over four years from 2013-14 to measures the combined impact of dying prematurely, as well as living with disease, shows that cancer was the greatest cause of Figure 1: Australian Government investment in cancer control (by financial year). health burden in Australia. Cancer accounted for around one-fifth (19%) of the total disease burden. Most of the burden from cancer was due This investment includes funding for cancer to dying prematurely, with only a small research, and provides Australians with access proportion due to living with a cancer diagnosis. to treatments such as radiotherapy, and medicines that cancer, cancer screening for targeted age groups and cancer support Cancer is not a single disease programs such as specialist cancer nurses. There are around 90 disease classifications that are considered to be a type of cancer. Figure 2: Allocation of over $10b Australian Government These diseases present different symptoms, funding from 2013-14 to 2016-17. require different treatments and have different outcomes. Cancer There are approximately 130 cancer treating medicines currently available on the Outcomes for Australians with cancer have Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Cancer improved significantly in the past 30 years. The current overall relative five-year survival rate is medicines cost the Government around 68 per cent for all types of cancers combined $2 billion in 2016-17 around one in every six – – equivalent to the best in the world. dollars of PBS expenditure. The Government
CANCER Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. These abnormal cells can damage or invade the surrounding tissues, or spread to other parts of the body, causing further damage. In 2018, it is estimated that there will be 138,321 newly diagnosed cases of cancer in Australia. More than 48,586 deaths from cancer are estimated in 2018. For information on incidence and mortality of cancer in Australia by cancer type, please visit the for the Cancer in Australia 2017 report, (pages x-xi). The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on cancer burden, which measures the combined impact of dying prematurely, as well as living with disease, shows that cancer was the greatest cause of health burden in Australia. Cancer accounted for around one-fifth (19%) of the total disease burden. Most of the burden from cancer was due to dying prematurely, with only a small proportion due to living with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer is not a single disease There are around 90 disease classifications that are considered to be a type of cancer. These diseases present different symptoms, require different treatments and have different outcomes. Outcomes for Australians with cancer have improved significantly in the past 30 years. The current overall relative five-year survival rate is 68 per cent for all types of cancers combined – equivalent to the best in the world. Improved survival rates highlight the progress the Australian Government has made in cancer control. This progress has been achieved through sustained investment in research, the introduction of cancer prevention and detection programs as well as access to high quality health care. In addition to the funding provided for preventive health measures, the Australian Government invested over $10 billion for cancer control activities over four years from 2013-14 to Figure 1: Australian Government investment in cancer control (by financial year). This investment includes funding for cancer research, and provides Australians with access to treatments such as radiotherapy, and medicines that cancer, cancer screening for targeted age groups and cancer support programs such as specialist cancer nurses. Figure 2: Allocation of over $10b Australian Government funding from 2013-14 to 2016-17. Cancer There are approximately 130 cancer treating medicines currently available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Cancer medicines cost the Government around $2 billion in 2016-17 – around one in every six dollars of PBS expenditure. The Government trial
20180709%20Cancer%20Fact%20Sheet.docx