Australia is a world leader on smoking cession, but lung cancer remains our leading cause of cancer death.
This is partly down to the late stage that most lung cancers are detected – often by the time symptoms present the disease has spread and it is too late for curative treatment.
Part of the solution to reducing deaths is catching the disease early. We already have successful screening programs in place for breast, bowel and cervical cancer and now, for the first time in decades, a lung cancer screening program will begin later this year.
It is estimated that the screening program could reduce mortality rates by 20% and prevent more than 12,000 deaths in its first 10 years.
While prevention is always better than a cure and efforts must still be made to tackle the causes of lung cancer, there is hope this screening program could see Australia become a world leader in lung cancer survival too.
It is estimated that the screening program could reduce mortality rates by 20% and prevent more than 12,000 deaths in its first 10 years.
And now a quick note from me, your new Managing Editor. Health journalism has been my passion for years. I have spent the last nine years living in the UK covering the NHS and health news for national publications, most recently a nurses’ magazine, and I feel privileged to be able to continue that work at Medical Forum.
My door is always open for ideas, collaborations and general chat about the goings on in the local health sector, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I am excited to be continuing to deliver the news and features you want to read in these pivotal times for the industry.
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Want to submit an article? Email editor@mforum.com.au