Latest news with #earlydetection
ABC News
8 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
New lung cancer screening program aims to save 12,000 lives over next decade
If Australia's new lung cancer screening program had been around earlier, Anne Fidler thinks she might have had a lot longer to live. "They probably would have caught it at stage 1 and not now at stage 4," the 62-year-old said. The Brisbane-based real estate agent, who used to smoke, went for an unrelated scan. That was when her lung cancer was picked up. "It was quite bizarre, really, because I had gone to the doctor for a gynaecological reason," she said. "I was super fit, I was going to the gym … I had no evidence, no cough, nothing." The new national screening program starts next month and is open to people with a significant history of smoking. Ms Fidler said she hoped others would not miss out on early detection. "I'm very passionate that nobody moving forward has to go through what I've gone through," she said. "Nobody deserves to have lung cancer. Whether you're a smoker or a past smoker or a non-smoker, nobody deserves it." Radiation oncologist Shalini Vinod said more women died of lung cancer than breast cancer and more men died of lung cancer than prostate cancer. She said not only was lung cancer Australia's deadliest cancer, killing almost 9,000 people a year, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer was just 26 per cent, compared to breast cancer, which was 92 per cent. "When patients are diagnosed, about half of them will present with advanced disease … and that means the lung cancer is incurable and survival is poor," Professor Vinod said. "The idea of lung cancer screening is to try and detect these cancers at a much earlier stage where they can have curative treatment. Chief executive officer of the Lung Foundation Australia, Mark Brooke, said he was optimistic the program would bring hope for lung cancer patients by achieving similar results to the screening programs already in place for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancers. On top of the 15,000 cases of lung cancer already detected each year, respiratory specialists expect an extra 1,500 cases will be picked up in Australia annually through the screening program. It is hoped it will save 12,000 lives in its first 10 years. "We have a whole range of treatments that can absolutely turn around and improve your chances," Mr Brooke said. He said while the increase in diagnoses of early-stage lung cancer would increase pressure on the health system to treat more patients, it would ultimately cut costs. "It costs nearly $60,000 per patient to diagnose them at stage 4 and up to $17,000 depending upon the treatment for patients being diagnosed at stage 1." The screening program will offer a bulk-billed low-dose CT scan for the 930,000 people estimated to be eligible for the program in the first year. Mr Brooke said the eligibility criteria targeted a demographic of people who grew up at a time when smoking was much more common than it is today. "Growing up in the 70s and 80s, when smoking rates in Australia were up around 60 per cent… [these people will] be in their 50s and 70s as this program is introduced," he said. "It was less than 30 years ago that we were allowed to smoke in our workplaces, in our motor vehicles, in our own homes, indoors in pubs and nightclubs." The program will focus on First Nations communities — which have a higher incidence rate of lung cancer — as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and rural and remote areas. Vans fitted with screening technology will travel to remote areas to ensure people have convenient access to the service. "This is the first-ever screening program that has been co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," Mr Brooke said. A third of lung cancer cases are not linked to smoking. Professor Vinod said for now the screening would only be open to people who have smoked, but hoped eligibility might widen at a later date. "It doesn't mean we don't care about those who don't smoke, but I think we have to get started somewhere," she said. Do you have a story to share? Email While Anne Fidler's cancer is incurable, for now, she is in a good place, enjoying time with her adult children, her grandchild and ticking things off her bucket list, such as overseas travel. "I'm extremely grateful that I am very well and my cancer is very stable at the moment," she said. Anne said she wanted those eligible to take advantage of the new program and for it to break down some of the shame and stigma around lung cancer. "I think the problem with lung cancer is that everyone goes 'oh well, you're a smoker, right?' Like it's your own fault, [like] you deserve it. People who have lung cancer with no history of smoking also experience the shame associated with the illness. Mr Brooke said Lung Foundation surveys showed one in three respondents believed if someone was diagnosed with lung cancer it was their own fault. "That stigma of lung cancer has held back community empathy, fundraising, research, investment and, in some cases, the quality of care that patients receive." And for some, it is potentially deadly. "We know from talking to patients that they have withdrawn from care or not sought care because they feel guilty about being a person who currently smokes or who has previously smoked," Mr Brooke said. For people who already have potential symptoms of lung cancer, and therefore ineligible for the screening program, the Health Department recommends consulting with your GP about more in-depth lung testing. Symptoms of lung cancer include changes in coughing, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss, or persistent chest or shoulder pain.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Brave Sir Chris Hoy's cancer openness is helping to save lives as Olympic hero says his Instagram is 'stacked' with messages from men saying they have been spurred on to get tested
Sir Chris Hoy has backed early prostate screening to catch cancer, saying his own diagnosis has 'saved lives' of men across the country. Last year the six-time Olympic winner revealed he had terminal prostate cancer, which had spread to his bones. But far from slowing down, the 11-time world champion track cyclist has turned his attention to campaigning, urging more men to be aware of the dangers of the disease. 'Prostate is the most common cancer in England [in men] so I believe we need to be more proactive in how we screen,' he told the Sunday Times. 'Look at my situation.' Sir Chris, 49, has a family history of the disease but had no symptoms and no warnings before the shock diagnosis last year. 'I would not have got a PSA [blood] test if I'd just gone to a regular GP,' he said. 'They'd have said, 'Come back when you're 50'. But by that point it would have been too late.' Prostate cancer can be largely symptomless in its early form, making it difficult to identify. Early diagnosis is also hampered by the fact that men often feel embarrassed to discuss such an intimate medical issue until it's too late. Consequently, around 20 per cent of cases – including Sir Chris's – have already reached the critical stage four by the time they are diagnosed. This means that the tumour has infected other parts of the body, usually making it incurable. Sir Chris said the inbox on his Instagram account is 'stacked' with men saying news of his diagnosis had spurred them to get tested and they had managed to catch it early. 'That gives me a huge lift,' he said. In a boost for the Mail's campaign to cut prostate cancer deaths, he said he would like to see the NHS proactively offer men tests for the disease, in a move that could prevent thousands of needless deaths.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre hosts charity cricket match, raises upwards of $1M
More than 400 cricketers and celebrities gathered Saturday in Mississauga at the inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer event to raise funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's research. Canadian artist Jully Black was one of the celebrity ambassadors attending the fundraiser and said the event feels "personal" to her. "Cancer has run through my family," she told CBC Toronto on Saturday. "Unfortunately, I lost my mom seven years ago to pancreatic cancer." The Canadian Cancer Society says that two in five Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. When Black was 27 years old, she found a lump in her right breast. She said doctors at the time told her she was too young for a mammogram. She said her doctor had to advocate for her to do all the tests, but that luckily it was just a false alarm. "Early detection is key," she said. "We need the research, but we also need the education and the early detection." Barbados-born professional cricketer Carlos Brathwaite said the fundraising event brings together two things that are close to his heart: cancer and cricket. Brathwaite said his mother battled cancer in Barbados while he was starting his professional career overseas. "I know how difficult it is for friends, for families who can't be there with loved ones," Brathwaite told CBC Toronto on Saturday. He said he also wants to bring awareness to the importance of cancer research and how that helped his mother beat cancer. "When she told me she had cancer, I thought it was a death sentence. And really and truly, because of the research, that means that cancer is not a death sentence," Brathwaite said. "Although she hasn't been treated here, there's a lot of research that has been done by Princess Margaret and that's been disseminated to many other hospitals and cancer centres around the world." Brathwaite said he flew in from Barbados to be one of the event's celebrity ambassadors, alongside Black. Other celebrity ambassadors included Canadian former professional basketball player Jamaal Magloire and Canadian former professional soccer player Dwayne De Rosario. The top fundraising teams had the opportunity to draft the celebrity players onto their teams through a celebrity draft on Friday. The president and CEO of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation said it feels inspiring to launch an inaugural cricket event for the hospital. "Cricket is Canada's fastest growing sport," Miyo Yamashita told CBC Toronto on Saturday. "It's also a sport that is followed hugely by a growing number of Canadians, particularly the Southeast Asian community and the Caribbean community, and those communities have quite unique cancer needs," she said. Yamashita said Southeast Asian Canadians tend to have higher incidences of certain types of cancers, like oral cancers, esophageal cancers, and head and neck cancers. Caribbean men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and are more likely to die from it, she said. WATCH | Toronto hospital network to expand cancer care, research in new building: Yamashita said all the proceeds raised from Saturday's event will go to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and will support three areas: cancer early detection, innovative treatments, and comprehensive cancer support, which includes support for caregivers and mental health support. "We think those areas together can really help create a world free from the fear of cancer," she said. She said the goal for the event was to raise $500,000, but as of Saturday evening, it had already passed a million dollars.
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre hosts charity cricket match, raises upwards of $1M
Social Sharing More than 400 cricketers and celebrities gathered Saturday in Mississauga at the inaugural Cricket to Conquer Cancer event to raise funds for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre's research. Canadian artist Jully Black was one of the celebrity ambassadors attending the fundraiser and said the event feels "personal" to her. "Cancer has run through my family," she told CBC Toronto on Saturday. "Unfortunately, I lost my mom seven years ago to pancreatic cancer." The Canadian Cancer Society says that two in five Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. When Black was 27 years old, she found a lump in her right breast. She said doctors at the time told her she was too young for a mammogram. She said her doctor had to advocate for her to do all the tests, but that luckily it was just a false alarm. "Early detection is key," she said. "We need the research, but we also need the education and the early detection." Barbados-born professional cricketer Carlos Brathwaite said the fundraising event brings together two things that are close to his heart: cancer and cricket. Brathwaite said his mother battled cancer in Barbados while he was starting his professional career overseas. "I know how difficult it is for friends, for families who can't be there with loved ones," Brathwaite told CBC Toronto on Saturday. He said he also wants to bring awareness to the importance of cancer research and how that helped his mother beat cancer. "When she told me she had cancer, I thought it was a death sentence. And really and truly, because of the research, that means that cancer is not a death sentence," Brathwaite said. "Although she hasn't been treated here, there's a lot of research that has been done by Princess Margaret and that's been disseminated to many other hospitals and cancer centres around the world." Brathwaite said he flew in from Barbados to be one of the event's celebrity ambassadors, alongside Black. Other celebrity ambassadors included Canadian former professional basketball player Jamaal Magloire and Canadian former professional soccer player Dwayne De Rosario. The top fundraising teams had the opportunity to draft the celebrity players onto their teams through a celebrity draft on Friday. The president and CEO of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation said it feels inspiring to launch an inaugural cricket event for the hospital. "Cricket is Canada's fastest growing sport," Miyo Yamashita told CBC Toronto on Saturday. "It's also a sport that is followed hugely by a growing number of Canadians, particularly the Southeast Asian community and the Caribbean community, and those communities have quite unique cancer needs," she said. Yamashita said Southeast Asian Canadians tend to have higher incidences of certain types of cancers, like oral cancers, esophageal cancers, and head and neck cancers. Caribbean men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and are more likely to die from it, she said. Yamashita said all the proceeds raised from Saturday's event will go to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and will support three areas: cancer early detection, innovative treatments, and comprehensive cancer support, which includes support for caregivers and mental health support. "We think those areas together can really help create a world free from the fear of cancer," she said.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Experts' warning over 'silent' cancer most people have never heard of as cases soar in under 50s - the symptoms everyone MUST know
A kidney cancer campaigner has urgently warned people not ignore the early signs of the disease that most people either don't know about or don't take seriously. In the UK, around 13,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer—38 every day. The 'silent' cancer, which is among the fastest growing, is often symptomless in early stages so is often not diagnosed until later stages, when it has spread to other areas of the body and survival rates plummet. This warning has come over fears a lack of awareness of seemingly harmless symptoms is putting lives in danger. Despite being the sixth most common cancer, Malcolm Packer, CEO of Kidney Cancer UK, told the Huffington Post, it is 'dangerously under-recognised'. 'Kidney cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers in the UK,' he said. He warned a lack of awareness and funding to tackle the condition which has no routine screening programme has 'real consequences'. 'Unlike some other cancers, there are no routine screening programmes and symptoms can be vague or easily dismissed. 'As a result, many people aren't diagnosed until stage two or three—at which point treatment becomes more complex,' he said. Mortality rates for kidney cancer have risen by 73 per cent in the UK since the 1970s, with cases soaring among those under 50. However, the CEO, highlighting the importance of knowing the early signs, said: 'Catching kidney cancer early can dramatically improve outcomes.' He shared the key symptoms to look out for, including those that 'seem mild or unrelated at first glance'. Blood in the urine—even once— is the most common and potentially most telling early sign. And the discolouration is not always obvious, according to Mr Packer. It may appear bright pink or red, but it can also feature a very slight tinge. Either way, it shouldn't be ignored. A dull or persistent discomfort in the lower back or either side of your spine below the ribs, known as the flank, can be caused by kidney cancer, he added. As can a mass or swelling in your side, which could be a tumour in or near the kidney area. If weight loss is sudden and unexplained, particularly if you are experiencing other symptoms, this is also a red flag. This warning comes not long after high profile former American basketball point guard Dwayne Wade revealed he had kidney cancer. NBA legend Dwayne Wade, 43, revealed subtle stomach pains and a routine check-up led to his kidney cancer diagnosis. He shared earlier this year that he had 40 per cent of one of his kidneys removed in December 2023, after finding a stage one cancerous tumour. He said: 'I talked about just having a slow stream, like sometimes when I would go to the bathroom, my urine would come out little slow. 'I had some cramps, some pain, a little bit at times in my stomach that I did not understand. 'But I didn't think nothing of it. And so, once I finally went in, I was like, 'OK, I just want to know everything''. Both Wade's father and grandfather had battled prostate cancer—a fact that had always kept him worried about his health. He told TODAY: '[The doctor] expressed to me that it was very early, but they thought they saw something on my kidneys. 'I didn't go in for my kidneys. I went in to check what was going on my stomach and my prostate'. A report by Kidney Cancer UK published earlier this year revealed that almost all cases of the disease are spotted by accident. That means patients are only being diagnosed when they have a scan for an unrelated condition or in an emergency department. Just one in five of the patients polled by the charity said their condition was spotted because they were sent for relevant tests by their GP. Risk factors for the cancer include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or family history. Treatment may include surgery, cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. But, individual treatment plans depend on what type of cancer you have, where it is, how big it is, if it has spread, and your general health.
