Radiation Oncology Practice Standards for New Zealand

The Tripartite Committee is the peak group in Radiation Oncology, representing the three key professions involved in radiotherapy:
• The Faculty of Radiation Oncology (FRO), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
• Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR)
• The Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ASPSEM)

http://www.ranzcr.edu.au/quality-a-safety/radiation-oncology/tripartite-radiation-oncology-practice-standards 

Reducing your risk - Heart Foundation

If you have atrial fibrillation (AF) you are at greater risk of having a stroke. DID YOU KNOW? Nearly 80% of strokes in people with AF can be prevented.
The good news is AF can be successfully managed with help from your doctor or nurse. Knowing about and properly managing your AF can lower your risk of having a normal stroke and enable you to live a full and healthy life. 

http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/atrial-fibrillation/living-with-af/reduce-your-risk 

Lung cancer – causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention

Lung cancer is a malignant lung disease primarily caused by cigarette smoking. It often has no obvious symptoms until the disease is quite advanced, and has a low rate of survival. Treatment for lung cancer mainly involves surgery and chemotherapy, while radiation therapy and targeted drug therapies may also be used. 
Lung cancer results from abnormal growth of cells in the lining of the lungs, leading to the growth of a malignant tumour.  

https://www.southerncross.co.nz/AboutTheGroup/HealthResources/MedicalLibrary/tabid/178/vw/1/ItemID/539/Lung-cancer-causes-symptoms-treatment-prevention.aspx

Prevention of Cervical Cancer: A Guide for Women in New Zealand

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable of all cancers. Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus passed on by sexual contact. Most people will come into contact with HPV at some stage during their life. Most HPV infections clear by themselves, but some high-risk types can cause cell changes on the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer 10 to 20 years after infection.
Other types can cause genital warts, but these strains do not lead to cancer. A woman’s best protection against developing cervical cancer is having regular cervical smear tests. A cervical smear test is a screening test to find abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. HPV testing may sometimes be carried out to see if certain high-risk types of HPV are present in the cervix. This helps to define the risk of cervical cancer. 

https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/prevention-cervical-cancer-guide-women-new-zealand 

A review of the Christchurch Hospital Breast Cancer Service ...

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in New Zealand women, affected 2791 women in 2010 (27.5% of all female cancer registrations) and was the second leading cause of female cancer deaths,¹ 641 of 4082 (15.7%).
In Canterbury, 436 patients were recorded on the Christchurch Breast Cancer Patient Register (CBCR) in 2012 comprising 14.5% of all New Zealand breast cancer registrations (n=3003).²

https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/read-the-journal/all-issues/2010-2019/2014/vol-127-no-1399/6240 

Cancer services to 2025 in New Zealand—investing in research-driven quality care

Cancer is the leading cause of death in New Zealand, and is likely to be the defining health issue of the next decade. Cancer incidence increases with age and with our ‘baby boomers’ now turning 70 the total number of people with cancer is moving higher than ever.
In 2010, the Ministry of Health predicted that incident cancers would rise by 29% for males and 12% for females—by 2016.¹ Primary prevention and well health strategies that are generally common to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer are vitally important, but will not begin to impact on the age-related burden cancer will bring over the next 30 years.

https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/read-the-journal/all-issues/2010-2019/2014/vol-127-no.-1395/6154 

Our Cancer Research - Researching Cancer Treatments‎

It is a sobering fact that despite decades of research and billions of dollars of funding, cancer death rates have changed little over the past 50 years. What’s more, cancer remissions are often transient, drug resistance is a major problem and drug withdrawal can result in an aggressive return
of the disease. 

Cancer Immunotherapy was named the breakthrough of the year by the Editorial Board of the highly respected journal Science in December 2013.  In immunotherapy, it’s not the disease but the immune system that is targeted. This marks a new therapeutic principle in medical care and is a focus of much of our cancer research at the Malaghan Institute.

http://www.malaghan.org.nz/what-we-do/cancer/?gclid=CMjctsKzxsoCFdh5vQod8skJDA

Childhood obesity plan

This package of initiatives aims to prevent and manage obesity in children and young people up to 18 years of age.
The package has three focus areas, made up of 22 initiatives, which are either new or an expansion of existing initiatives:

1. Targeted interventions for those who are obese
2. Increased support for those at risk of becoming obese
3. Broad approaches to make healthier choices easier for all New Zealanders.

http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/obesity/childhood-obesity-plan

Faster Cancer Treatment programme

The Ministry is working with the health sector to ensure patients have timely access to appointments, tests which detect cancer and cancer treatment. This work is being done by the Faster Cancer Treatment programme which aims to improve the quality and timeliness of services for patients along the cancer pathway. The Faster Cancer Treatment programme also links with other programmes of work that will improve cancer diagnostic and treatment services.
Significant progress has been made in improving access to cancer services, leading to better outcomes for patients and a better experience of care for patients and their families.

http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/cancer-programme/faster-cancer-treatment-programme

Bowel cancer programme New Zealand

The Ministry of Health established a Bowel Cancer Programme in 2009 to lead work aimed at improving bowel cancer outcomes for all New Zealanders.
The programme priority is to strengthen bowel cancer services across the country to effectively meet the current demand and increased demand in the future. This involves ensuring diagnostic, surveillance and treatment services are working effectively and to a high standard.

http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/cancer-programme/bowel-cancer-programme 

New Zealand: 1st Conference On Alcohol, Cancer

First ever New Zealand Conference Focussed on the Link Between Alcohol Use And Cancer The first New Zealand conference on the association between alcohol use and cancer was held on June 17, 2015, at Te Papa, Wellington, the capital city.
It has been documented in scientific literature for at least 50 years that alcohol is carcinogenic, and it has been scheduled as a Group 1 carcinogen (an agent that directly causes cancer) by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 1988. However, this information is not familiar to the public of New Zealand.

http://iogt.org/news/2015/06/20/new-zealand-first-conference-on-link-between-alcohol-cancer/ 

Sunsmart Schools New Zealand

Skin cancers are the most common form of cancers in New Zealand.  The incidence of melanoma skin cancer is among the highest in the world.

• The SunSmart schools website provides information for teachers, students and parents on how to be SunSmart. 
• The SunSmart schools programme provides Cancer Society approved guidelines on how to make your school a safe place for students and the school community.

http://www.sunsmartschools.co.nz/

Cancer New Zealand - Cosmetic, Skin & Hair Care Course‎

“Being in a room with a group of people going through the same experience as you is empowering. It was a day filled with light, sunshine and laughter.” Did you know? Look Good Feel better (LGFB) is the only worldwide cancer support charity providing free, practical support for people dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment. 

Creating smiles for people dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment. More than 200 Feel Better Classes in over 30 locations nationwide with more than 460 volunteers giving generously of their valuable time to provide support for people with cancer.

 
http://www.lgfb.co.nz/?gclid=CJPR7qTJocoCFVgHvAod7ggL1w

World-leading Kiwi researcher to shed light on vitamin C cancer treatment

New research is underway which might shed much-needed light on a popular but highly controversial cancer treatment.

Thousands of cancer patients worldwide are turning to high-dose infusions of vitamin C in the hopes of halting the cancers' spread. However to date there has been little to no hard scientific evidence the treatment can help with this.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/world-leading-kiwi-researcher-to-shed-light-on-vitamin-c-cancer-treatment-q13022 

The New Zealand Children’s Cancer Registry

Purpose The New Zealand Children’s Cancer Registry (NZCCR) is under the governence of the National Child Cancer Network. The registry holds verified demographic and treatment information for all children receiving treatment in a New Zealand paediatric oncology centre since January 2000.

The NZCCR Working Group monitors the collection and reporting of child cancer data in New Zealand. It ensures high quality data is available for guiding clinical practice, informing child cancer service planning and evaluating health outcomes for children with cancer in New Zealand.

http://www.childcancernetwork.org.nz/Pages/NewZealandChildCancerRegistry.aspx 

Children's cancer services in New Zealand

How common is childhood cancer? In New Zealand, approximately 150 children (birth to 14 years) are diagnosed with cancer each year. Childhood cancer is rare - one percent of the total of newly diagnosed New Zealanders with cancer.
More than eighty percent of patients diagnosed with a childhood cancer are cured as the result of treatment and it is estimated that one in 900 people aged between 16 and 34 years are childhood cancer survivors.

http://www.kidshealth.org.nz/childrens-cancer-services-new-zealand 

A new model for cancer care in New Zealand

An ageing population, earlier diagnosis and advances in oncology treatment are contributing to a rising number of cancer survivors in New Zealand. This is placing an unsustainable pressure on oncology services, which has led to the announcement of a new national framework for managing people with cancer.
The new model of care focuses on a wider level of involvement in cancer care, for a more diverse range of clinicians, using a tiered approach to treatment, based on patient needs. It is likely that primary care clinicians will play a role in this new framework, which is to be implemented within the next three to five years.

http://www.bpac.org.nz/BT/2012/October/cancermodel.aspx 

Skin cancer in New Zealand: the facts and statistics

It’s difficult to get exact numbers on how many New Zealanders are affected by skin cancers each year because only melanoma skin cancers and other skin cancers on the genital organs are required to be registered. However it is by far our most common cancer.  Lastest figures from the Ministry of Health for 2012 show there were:

• 2,324 melanoma registrations (1228 for males and 1096 for females)
• 131 'other' skin registrations (72 male and 59 female)
• 354 deaths from melanoma (222 for males and 132 for females)
• 132 'other' skin cancer deaths (70 male and 62 female)
• 486 deaths from skin cancer in 2012.

http://sunsmart.org.nz/skin-cancer/skin-cancer-facts-and-statistics 

About Stomach Cancer

n estimated 1-3% of cases of stomach cancer are caused by inherited syndromes. Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an inherited cancer syndrome that leads to an increased risk for both diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer. Patients who inherit the genetic mutation for HDGC are at high risk for developing stomach cancer at a young age.
In 1964, stomach cancer was noted in a Maori tribal family in New Zealand, following an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. CDH1 gene mutations were first described in patients from three Maori families in 1998. At this time, the International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium (IGCLC) was formed, and the name “Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer” was introduced. Families with multiple cases of diffuse gastric cancer, lobular breast cancer, or both may be affected by hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome.

http://www.nostomachforcancer.org/about/hereditary-diffuse-gastric-cancer?gclid=CMmz1LTEocoCFQ8DvAodm3YO6w