Research highlights huge gaps in screenings for different types of cancer

More than 230,000 deaths have been prevented by Australian cancer control measures during the past six decades, new research shows. A study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Wednesday points to anti-smoking campaigns and breast cancer screenings in particular as saving thousands of lives. “What we’re seeing is a snowball effect – we’re now seeing the result of investments made in cancer control over the many decades,” lead researcher Brigid Lynch said. Since the mid-60s, more than 230,000 lives have been saved by developments in cancer controls. Sixty-five per cent of the avoided deaths occurred in the final 10 years of the study period (2009 to 2018), showing progress in the fight against cancer has accelerated, the researchers say. The study finds the mortality rate for breast, cervical and stomach cancer has dropped considerably. However, the chance of dying from liver or brain cancer continues to rise. “These are trends we’ve seen both in Australia as well as around the world,” Associate Professor Lynch said. “While we know more women are diagnosed with breast cancer today because of increased screening, thanks to early detection and improved treatment options, that mortality rate is falling. “Quit campaigns in the 1980s impacted smoking prevalence and led to a drop in lung cancer deaths.” The study involved Cancer Council Victoria, the University of Melbourne, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, and Monash University. Cancer Council Australia scientific adviser Bernard Stewart, who was not involved in the study, said the lives saved over the past decades were a result of prevention, early diagnosis and better treatments. But the research showed nothing more precise for cancer generally, as various cancers “must be considered separately to reveal specific achievements or lack thereof”. “Frustratingly, specific progress for one type of cancer is rarely applicable to all tumour types, illustrating what an insidious disease cancer is,” Professor Stewart said. “Concerning prevention, we know the cause of virtually all cervical and lung cancer cases, some bowel and breast cancer cases, while brain and prostate cancer can’t be described this way. “Early diagnosis comes from screening for cervical (to be displaced by vaccination), breast, bowel and lung cancer, but prostate cancer remains challenging and no screening yet for liver, stomach or ovarian cancer. “Markedly improved survivability is evident for breast, bowel and other cancers but not for lung, pancreatic and brain cancer.” For this latest study, the researchers took World Health Organisation global health data, and analysed it against age-standardised cancer mortality rates from 1950 to 2018, finding more than 230,000 deaths have been avoided. Professor Lynch hopes the findings help health authorities prioritise cancer funding and campaigns. “It’s vital that society increases investment in cancer prevention and early detection efforts to help save lives,” she said. “We are anticipating a significant increase of cancer incidence over the coming years due to our ageing and growing population. “Prevention is the only way we can reduce the health, social and economic burden of cancer and protect our healthcare system.”