Prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer and melanoma of skin are projected to be the most common cancers diagnosed in the District this year.
Melissa Cumming, Director Cancer Services for Far West Local Health District said the projections are a timely reminder to the local community to put their health first and to take advantage of cancer screening programs and seek help if they notice any changes to their health.”
“I acknowledge and thank the committed teams working in cancer services across the local health district. Every day they provide excellent and compassionate care to patients during their toughest days.”
NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM said someone is diagnosed with cancer around every 10 minutes, with the number of people diagnosed with cancer set to rise exponentially over coming years.
“Cancer affects no two people in the same way and I urge everyone to seek help if they notice changes to their health and as a community, encourage their loved ones to do the same,” Professor O’Brien said.
"We can all take steps to reduce our cancer risk by taking advantage of regular cancer screening if eligible, and by exercising more, eating healthier foods, wearing sunscreen, drinking less alcohol and not smoking or vaping."
Despite these sobering statistics, NSW has some of the world’s best cancer outcomes, with more than 70 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer still alive five years on.
Advances in genetics, immunotherapy and precision medicine are leading to more personalised treatments, improving outcomes and reducing the immediate and often long-term side effects of treatment.
Cutting-edge diagnostics available in NSW are also making it possible to detect cancer earlier when it is most treatable, innovations that offer people the promise of longer lives, better quality of life, and even the possibility of preventing cancer altogether.
The NSW Government invests around $180 million each year, through the Cancer Institute NSW, to improve cancer outcomes in NSW and lessen the impact of cancer for people across the state.
Working together with Far West Local Health District and more than 80 organisations across government, non-government and community, the Cancer Institute NSW is focused on reducing the impact of cancer on the people of NSW and saving more lives.
Key insights from Cancer Institute NSW
- Close to 54,000 people are projected to be diagnosed with cancer in NSW in 2025 with more than 16,000 people projected to lose their lives to the disease by the end of the year.
- One in two people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.
- One in three cancer deaths can be prevented through healthy living.
- Two in 10 cancer cases and three in 10 deaths are from rare and less common cancers.
- Seven in 10 people will survive for five years after a cancer diagnosis. This rate was around six in 10 people 15 years ago.
- Less than 40 per cent of eligible people in NSW are taking part in free bowel cancer screening.
- Close to 52 per cent of eligible people in NSW are taking part in free breast cancer screening.
- Approximately 60 per cent of eligible people in NSW are taking part in free cervical cancer screening.
For more information on cancer prevention and screening, including NSW’s breast, bowel or cervical cancer screening programs visit www.cancer.nsw.gov.au.
