Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of cancer. National screening programs are available in Australia to detect breast cancer, bowel cancer and cervical cancer. Screening and early detection is a key focus of our research. Through our Pathways to a cancer free future program, our researchers continue to investigate how to optimise cancer screening and early detection in Australia, providing crucial evidence to support policy and investment.
Thanks to our supporters, we're:
- Building evidence on the benefits, potential harms and costs of different breast screening approaches to optimise early detection and ultimately save more lives.
- Investigating the options for lung cancer screening in Australia to identify cost-effective, systematic ways to find lung cancer early in people with increased risk.
- Supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health leaders to develop and implement a global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health issue.
- Evaluating the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to help guide investment, and support uptake of the program across Australia and to help inform strategies for targeting vulnerable groups.
Our strong links within the NSW community enable us to also support the national screening programs at a local level. In collaboration with Cancer Institute NSW, last year more than 50 of our staff were upskilled on upskilled on the three national screening programs for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
This means we can play an important role in providing the community with education on bowel, breast and cervical screening. We've already held 72 community engagement activations, helping 11,000 people across NSW learn about bowel screening.
