RECENT data has underscored the enduring threat of cancer as the leading cause of burden of disease in Australia, due in part to the gap left in screenings by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With cancer now accounting for three in every 10 deaths, Allison Rossiter, Managing Director of Roche Diagnostics Australia, stressed the imperative of regular screenings, highlighting the pivotal role of early detection in improving patient outcomes.
"As Australia navigates the aftermath of the pandemic, healthcare professionals such as pharmacists and other organisations must continue to advocate for timely cancer screenings," said Rossiter.
Campaigns such as 'Breast Cancer Won't Wait' and 'Don't Wait Mate' underscore the urgency of prioritising health checks and not postponing essential screenings.
According to projections by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of people diagnosed with cancer is expected to surpass 200,000 by 2033.
A report by Cancer Australia revealed an 8% drop in selected diagnostic procedures in 2020, resulting in 163,595 fewer services than expected.
This trend persisted in Victoria, where 6,600 fewer cancer diagnoses occurred between 2020 and 2022 due to decreased screening and diagnostic activities during the pandemic.
Despite incremental increases in cancer diagnosis rates, a post-pandemic lag persists, with screening rates yet to fully recover.
Only 41% of people returned a bowel cancer screening kit in 2020-21, and just 50% of women underwent a screening mammogram in 2021-22. JG
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