Cancer news

New surgical probes will help surgeons to identify microscopic cancer tissue in real time. This ability to check they have removed all the cancer during the operation will reduce the need for repeat surgery.

The Australian Government will provide more than $1 million to support a clinical trial of new therapies for young patients who cannot make enough blood cells due to bone marrow failure.

The Medical Research Future Fund is providing $35.9 million for 17 cutting-edge research projects. The projects are designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, improve neonatal outcomes and prevent bone loss in critically ill women.

Researchers will study the medical, functional and psychosocial needs of people who have survived brain cancer in a major 3-year research project funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is supporting 6 projects over the next 3 to 5 years to predict changes in cancer trends. This work ensures treatments are based on the best evidence, are targeted to the individual patient and are available where and when needed.

Through the Medical Research Future Fund, the government is funding 10 clinical trials researching treatments for melanoma, reproductive and gynaecological cancers and childhood brain cancer.

The Australian Government has committed $33 million towards research to combat high-mortality and low-survivability cancers and diseases, improve paediatric acute care using genomic medicine, and address the ethical, legal and social issues related to genomics in health care.

Marking World Ovarian Cancer Day, the Australian Government has announced a $16.2 million investment in 8 research projects to beat ovarian cancer.

The Australian Government, together with the Minderoo Foundation, will provide an additional $67 million to ensure every child in Australia with cancer will have access to life-saving treatment.

The groundbreaking ASPiRATION project is the first genomic profiling research project for patients with lung cancer in Australia. Each patient will have their particular disease individually tested, helping doctors to choose the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.

The Australian Government is expanding access to a cutting edge and potentially curative cancer therapy for patients with particular forms of lymphoma.

The Government has added a life changing new medicine for Australians living with advanced breast cancer to the PBS.

A $5 million grant opportunity is now open for research into ways to improve quality of life for individuals with brain cancer. Projects will identify better approaches to address the medical, functional and psychosocial impacts of brain cancer.

From 1 November 2019, Medicare rebates will ensure patients with advanced breast cancer can better manage and plan their treatment.

The ABS’ Causes of Death, Australia, 2018 report notes suicide dropped one place to 14th leading cause of death overall. Rates of mortality due to heart disease and cerebrovascular disease also decreased, however these remain among the leading causes of death in Australia.​​​​​​​

The Australian Government is investing up to $15 million in targeted clinical trials to improve treatments and discover cures for reproductive and gynaecological cancers such as ovarian, cervical and fallopian tube cancer.

The Australian Government will invest $27 million to provide affordable access to 3 new medicine listings through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 September 2019.

The Australian Government will establish an expert National Taskforce, and commission a National Action Plan to improve diagnosis, treatment and the understanding of blood cancers.

Australia’s medical device regulator has announced it is proposing to take strong and decisive action to suspend or cancel and recall certain textured breast implants from the Australian market, following a review of apparent links to rare forms of cancer.