Produced by AusDoc on behalf of COSA

MORE focus is needed on the growing groups of people living with treatable but generally incurable cancers, Director of the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre Professor Michael Jefford said on Friday.
He said Australia has more than 1.2 million cancer survivors living with or beyond cancer, including an unknown amount with disease that is rarely cured but can be treated to manage symptoms, slow progression and extend lives.

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre medical oncologist told a COSA/UICC plenary on the cost to cure that extended survivorship meant clinical care, policy and research priorities may need reconsidering.

“People are living longer with metastatic cancer; many are unclear about their prognosis and plans for ongoing care and there is a lack of focus on survivorship needs of those with metastatic cancer,” he said. “The Australian Cancer Plan (launched at the ASM) is an opportunity for greater focus locally.”