Cancer Screening

On average, one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with a form of cancer during their lifetime. Cancer is now the largest cause of disease in Australia, surpassing cardiovascular disease (Cancer Institute NSW). Accordingly, improving cancer screening rates and reducing cancer risk amongst our population are key priorities.

Our Cancer Programs work with primary care and other key stakeholders to increase cancer screening rates and reduce the prevalence of specific risk factors amongst target populations. In particular, our cancer screening and prevention program aims to improve participation in the three national screening programs: cervical, breast and bowel, as well as supporting skin cancer prevention and smoking cessation. This involves integrated cancer focussed strategies in program areas such as quality improvement, chronic disease management, and practice management and accreditation.

Bowel Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Lung Cancer
Resources for Practices
Support for Practices
Contact

Bowel Cancer

Australia has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world. It is the second biggest cancer killer in Australia and NSW after lung cancer. Bowel cancer screening is recommended for men and women aged 50 years and over. In NSW, 93% of bowel cancer is found in people over 50 years.

National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) was initiated by the Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments, to help detect bowel cancer early and reduce the number of deaths from the disease. All eligible Australians aged between 50 and 74 years of age will be invited to complete a faecal occult blood test (FOBT) kit every two years.

The test is completed at home as per the instructions included in the kit, and sent to the laboratory free of charge. Results are provided to the individual directly, as well as to their nominated health professional. Those who receive a positive test result are advised to speak to their GP. Tests are also available to purchase at local pharmacies or to order online at the Bowel Cancer Australia website.

Breast Cancer

One in eight women in NSW will develop breast cancer in their lifetime; 90% of them will have no family history of breast cancer. Guidelines recommended that women aged 50-74 years have a screening mammogram every two years.

BreastScreen NSW

BreastScreen NSW provides free mammography at various fixed and mobile locations for women aged 40 years old and over, particularly targeting those women aged 50-74 years. While no referral is required to use the BreastScreen service, GPs are encouraged to refer their patients, and likewise, patients are encouraged to share their results with their GP.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable – but screening is vital. Around 80 per cent of Australian women who develop cervical cancer do not get screened regularly as recommended, or have never been screened. From 1 December 2017, women in Australia benefit from a new and more effective screening test for cervical cancer — it’s more accurate and requires testing less often:

  • The Pap test was replaced by a new Cervical Screening Test. This new testing detects infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, which if left untreated may eventually lead to cervical cancer.

  • Women should have a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years instead of a Pap test every 2 years.

  • Women with a normal screening history will be due for their first Cervical Screening Test 2 years after their last Pap test.

  • Women will be invited to start screening at age 25 and should have a final (exit) test when they are aged between 70 and 74 years.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) test prevents up to 30 per cent more women from developing cervical cancer because it detects HPV, an early risk indicator for cervical cancer. The Pap test detects cervical abnormalities after they occur. The procedure to collect the sample is the same.

Australia was one of the first countries to roll out a national cervical cancer immunisation program using Gardasil, which protects young women from four strains of HPV. And the new version of the vaccine, Gardasil 9, will protect women against a further five strains of HPV, or approximately 90 per cent of HPV-related cervical cancers. 

The vaccine is offered through the National Immunisation Program as part of school based vaccination programs and as part of a catch up program for individuals up to the age of 19 years. Even with the vaccine, it’s important that women continue to have cervical screening.

Lung Cancer

National Lung Cancer Screening Program

The new NLCSP is a screening program using low-dose computed tomography scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people without any symptoms. It aims to find lung cancer early and reduce deaths from lung cancer. Screening services will begin for eligible people from July 2025.

Resources for Practices

Support for Practices

MPHN can work with practices to ensure female patients are screened through:

  • Support to identify patients due and overdue for screening, including accessing lists from the pap test register / National Cancer Screening Register

  • Support to implement recall and reminder systems

  • Provision of appropriate resources

CONTACT

Georgina Maher

Primary Care Engagement Officer
georgina.maher@mphn.org.au
02 69 317 822

Last updated 29/07/2024