Regions suffer as cancer hits

A 13 PER CENT improvement in blood cancer survival rates in Australia could save more than 22,000 lives over the next 15 years.

The issue is most critical in regional Australia, where more than half of those diagnosed with a blood cancer aren’t seen by a haematologist until more than a month after they’ve seen a GP.

This includes patients with a blood cancer requiring treatment within 24 hours of diagnosis.

Blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are predicted to kill 186,000 Australians by 2035.

People in regional areas experience longer delays in seeing a haematologist and other specialists than those in the city; are more likely to feel uncertain about their diagnosis and treatment plan; and did not know how to access additional information, the State of the Nation: Blood Cancer in Australia report has revealed.

A new national blood cancer taskforce, lead by Leukaemia Foundation CEO Bill Petch, will provide the Federal Government with a series of recommendations by June this year.

Mr Petch said the issues facing regional Australians had not been fully understood until the report was done.

“It’s clearly not just one issue, it’s complex,” he said.

“The taskforce will look at how we can address that. It’s about equity and continuity of access and the need for specialists, therapies and best medicines in a timely manner.”

Mr Petch said survival outcomes must not be dictated by a person’s postcode, and that would form a key part of the taskforce’s recommendations.