Research commissioned by Cancer Council, Heart Foundation, Public Health Association of Australia and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), shows that Australians overwhelmingly support increased ‘alcopops’ and tobacco tax if funds raised are used for preventive health programs.
A survey of more than 1200 Australian adults showed 84 per cent supported the Government’s proposed ‘alcopops’ tax and 88 per cent backed increased tobacco tax, if most of the revenue funded programs to help prevent diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Cancer Council Australia Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said the Newspoll survey showed Australians strongly supported tax increases that could reduce consumption of harmful products, while raising funds to improve the nation’s health.
Back to top
A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released in September showed that cancer had moved from ninth to fifth on the list of most costly diseases to Australia’s health system in only four years.
Cancer Council Australia Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said the report showed that cancer treatment costs would be difficult to sustain unless long-term structural change in health funding began now.
“For cancer to jump four places on the list of costly diseases in such a short time is a major concern,” he said. “This includes a $393 million increase in annual hospital costs between 2001 and 2005, which reflects the growing number of people developing cancer as our population ages.”
Professor Olver said around a third of cancer deaths in Australia were attributed to lifestyle, yet there was no comprehensive national plan and targets for reducing obesity and tobacco use, nor a long-term commitment to a national skin cancer prevention campaign.
“The Rudd Government has made some promising announcements about re-engineering the health system towards better prevention and eliminating the blame game,” Professor Olver said. “If Australia is to avoid a potentially unsustainable cancer burden as our population ages, government will need to follow through on these proposed approaches over the long-term.”
Back to top
In October, new research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and Cancer Australia suggested skin cancer was responsible for almost one million GP consultations in Australia each year.
Cancer Council Australia said this showed why the Federal Government must commit to a long-term SunSmart campaign or face unsustainable medical costs.
Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said if current trends continued Australia would struggle to pay its skin cancer treatment bill. “New data show that GP consultations to treat non-melanoma skin cancer increased by 14 per cent between 1998-2000 and 2005-2007 – from around 836,500 to 950,000 visits each year,” he said.
Professor Olver said while the report stated that the full extent of non-melanoma skin cancer prevalence remains unclear, what was clear was that the associated cost burden was enormous – and that SunSmart education campaigns could influence behaviour change to reduce it.
“Skin cancer prevention campaigns work, yet they have only been run at the national level since the summer of 2006-07,” he said. “And there is no commitment to a campaign beyond this summer.”
Back to top
Cancer Council Australia President, Professor Ian Frazer, has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. Professor Frazer created the first vaccine to help protect women against cervical cancer.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd presented the annual $300,000 award to Professor Frazer at a Federal Parliament ceremony on 16 October, praising him for his contribution to women’s health.
A former Australian of the Year, Professor Frazer said it was rewarding to work in a field aimed at finding ways to improve people’s lives. “Sometimes it seems almost impossible to believe that something we did all those years ago could have such a dramatic impact on so many people and that down the track cervical cancer will be a much rarer disease as a consequence,” he said.
He also said he would put the prize money towards funding research at the University of Queensland, where he was based, in the hope that the philanthropic sector would be led by example to increase their support for biomedical research.
Back to top
Teens continue to put themselves at unnecessary risk of skin cancer by spending excessive time in the sun and forgetting to protect themselves, according to new Cancer Council research.
Findings from the Cancer Council’s National Sun Protection Survey released during National Skin Cancer Action Week (16-22 November), show teens spend an average of two hours (1hr 51mins) in the sun during peak UV, with almost a third who get sunburnt saying they “forgot” to protect themselves.
Cancer Council Australia Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said that while the research showed adults were behaving more responsibly and burning less, teens weren’t absorbing the SunSmart message as effectively.
“One in four teens is still getting sunburnt on a typical summer weekend, compared with just 14% of adults,” Professor Olver said. “Adults are clearly getting the message, but we need to more effectively target younger people.
Back to top
Cancer Council Australia extends its condolences to the family and friends of internationally acclaimed Australian soprano, Miss Deborah Riedel, who died in January after a 10-year battle with cancer. Miss Riedel was Cancer Council Australia’s first Ambassador, a role she embraced with great commitment.
In 2007, Miss Riedel organised a gala opera event for Cancer Council Australia at Sydney’s Town Hall, which involved pro bono performances from her and a number of Australia’s other leading opera performers.
The event helped to raise cancer awareness among a number of Sydney’s leading business and political figures; its success typified the energy and conviction Miss Riedel brought to her role as our Ambassador.
We remain grateful for Miss Riedel’s important contribution to our work towards reducing the impact of cancer.
Back to top
World Cancer Day’s (Feb 4) theme of childhood obesity highlights the urgency for the Australian Government to adopt its own Preventative Health Taskforce’s recommendations for a comprehensive national obesity strategy in 2009.
Cancer Council Australia Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, said the International Union Against Cancer’s World Cancer Day theme for 2009, with its aim to “encourage an energy-balanced lifestyle”, reflected the significance of childhood obesity to lifelong cancer risk.
Professor Olver said amid the ongoing debate around childhood obesity, there were three important, incontrovertible facts: overweight and obese children were at high risk of becoming overweight or obese adults; overweight or obese adults had a significantly increased cancer risk; and Australia had one of the world’s highest rates of obese and overweight children.
Professor Olver said the Government had shown good leadership in forming a Preventative Health Taskforce comprising some of the nation’s leading experts in chronic disease prevention, which was currently consulting with the community about its draft recommendations.*
“But the test will be the Government’s willingness to implement the taskforce’s recommendations, which will require tough decisions around food marketing, production and labelling, and building communities that support physical activity,” he said.
“With government looking to circulate surplus budget funds to help offset the global financial downturn, World Cancer Day 2009 is also a timely reminder that funding public health programs is a proven investment, providing strong returns through reduced healthcare costs and a healthier, more productive population.
“Obesity cost Australia’s health system $2 billion last year and reduced productivity by $3.6 billion – so investing in a strategy to reduce obesity and overweight would make good economic sense, while helping thousands of Australians to reduce their risk of cancer over the long term.”
*Available at www.preventativehealth.org.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/discussion-technical-1
Back to top
Put the kettle on and bust out the biscuit tins – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is back for its 16th year on Thursday 28th May.
Last year over one million people stirred themselves into action at morning teas across Australia, raising a record-breaking $10 million!
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is not only a great way to catch up with family, friends and colleagues, it’s also an easy way to fundraise for Cancer Council, helping those affected by cancer and their families.
The official tea party date is Thursday 28th May, however you can host events throughout May and beyond.
If you would like to take part or find out more about Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea log on to www.biggestmorningtea.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85. Registered hosts will receive a fundraising pack full of ideas and information including posters, invitations and competitions.
Back to top