News

Congratulations to all of our supporters who raised a cuppa for cancer this year; you have helped Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea raise over $9 million – one of our best results yet!

Thousands of people from across the country joined in the fun this year, hosting teas in the workplace, at home, in schools and just about every where you can imagine – stretching across Australia from the top of Sydney’s Centre Point Tower, to the Swan Bells in Perth.

All money raised goes towards Cancer Council Australia’s work in the areas of research, support and education, helping to make a difference to the lives of cancer patients today, and into the future.

Cancer Council Australia would like to thank all of our hosts and their guest for helping us to achieve this wonderful result, and we look forward to doing even better in 2009!

5 June 2008

Sydney has won the right to host the World Conference on Lung Cancer in 2013 in an announcement yesterday by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) in Chicago.

The conference, which is expected to attract up to 8000 international experts, will address the latest advances in the battle against lung cancer and mesothelioma. 

Cancer Council Australia had strongly supported the Sydney bid. Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, met with the delegation from IASLC in Sydney early this year  to promote Sydney’s bid over rival Hong Kong.

“Cancer Council Australia is delighted that this significant event will be held in Sydney in 2013 and we look forward to being involved and supporting it,” Professor Olver said. “It will attract the world’s top lung cancer experts and will create important opportunities for our own medical research sector.”

Sydney’s bid was led by the Australian Lung Foundation and the Sydney Cancer Centre, and was supported by the Cancer Institute of NSW, Events New South Wales, Cancer Research Australia, the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia and Cancer Council Australia. 

The event, to be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 27 to November 1, is the biggest event secured by the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau this financial year.

The World Conference on Lung Cancer is held every two years, with past host cities including Seoul, Barcelona, Vancouver, Tokyo and Dublin. The conference will be held in San Francisco in 2009 and Amsterdam in 2011.

1 June 2008

A significant decline in breast cancer rates amongst Australian women aged over 50 years has been linked to a recent dramatic decrease in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), according to new research by Cancer Council NSW.

The research, published in Medical Journal Australia, found that the use of HRT in Australia dropped by 40 per cent from 2001 to 2003 following the US Women's Health Initiative study, which highlighted HRT's adverse effects. During the same period, there was a significant seven per cent drop in breast cancer rates among women aged 50 and over, which is equivalent to 600 fewer cases of breast cancer among Australian women.

Dr Karen Canfell, lead author of this breakthrough Australian research said, “This research replicates recent findings from the US, which also showed a substantial decline in breast cancer attributed largely to declining use of HRT”.

Associate Professor Emily Banks at Australian National University, co-author of the study added, “To increase the reliability of our study, we ruled out breast cancer screening trends and other factors, including use of medication, as major contributors to this fall in breast cancer incidence in women 50 years and over.”

Dr Andrew Penman, CEO at The Cancer Council NSW believes these findings are positive, indicating that the decision of women and their health professionals to curtail the use of HRT has resulted in a substantial drop in breast cancer at population level.

For more information:

Media release

Study summary and FAQs

Research report

April 2008

Cancer Council Australia CEO, Professor Ian Olver, was invited to attend the Australia 2020 summit in Canberra on 19-20 April 2008.

Describing the overall environment as “one of enthusiasm and optimism for the future,” Professor Olver participated in the health stream, which focused on future challenges and opportunities in health. Prevention was identified as a strong priority, along with recognition of the importance of providing research leadership to the world. 

“It was exciting to be part of such a focused creative environment,” says Professor Olver.
“There was firm support for increasing taxes on products that lead to poor health outcomes, such as tobacco, alcohol and junk food, and to put that money back into public health. The group also looked at banning junk food advertising that targets children, and introducing a food labelling system that enables healthier consumer choices and measures to better promote physical activity in our daily lives - all important for cancer control.”

A key goal was establishment of a single health system in Australia offering optimum treatment and best outcomes in all stages of people’s lives. 

The health stream also set goals to address health inequalities and redesign the health workforce to better meet the associated demands. The introduction of a health literacy program in schools would include first aid training. The creation of ‘Healthbook’ (like Facebook) could allow Australians to take greater ownership of their health information.

“The key aims of creating a health system structured around the person rather than the provider, focusing health policy on prevention, and becoming a world leader in research and translation, are all achievable,” Professor Olver said. “Cancer Council Australia looks forward to being involved in the realisation of these goals.”

April 2008

A valuable new teaching resource from the Cancer Council educates secondary students about the dangers of skin cancer and the importance of skin care. The package includes a teachers’ guide and a DVD that examines the main issues relating to young people and skin cancer.

The Real stories about skin cancer and skin damage package will help students understand the risks of tanning and of getting burnt by the sun and solariums. It will encourage young people to examine their own attitudes about tanning and skin cancer and to understand the need for SunSmart behaviour now in order to prevent cancer later in life.

The DVD contains news items of varying lengths from TV programs such as 60 Minutes, the 7.30 Report and short news bulletin items. Also included is the story of young Melbourne woman, Clare Oliver, who was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 22 and who died four years later in 2007.

Cancer Council Australia CEO Professor Ian Olver welcomed the resource. “This is an effective and powerful way to educate secondary school students about the dangers of tanning and to reinforce the importance of SunSmart behaviour,” he said. “We hope all schools take up the package.”