Cancer Screening

Statistics

Across South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network catchment, the bowel screening participation rate is slightly higher than the Victorian average (Figure 1). Breast cancer screening participation rates for Port Phillip, Casey South and Stonnington West are among the five lowest in the state. Bowel cancer screening participation rates for Casey South and Stonnington West are among the five lowest in the state. 

Cancer screening participation rates in SEMPHN region - Figure 1

* SEMPHN participation rate is calculated on an average of the 12 listed SA3s.

Source

Note on data: These rates reflect participation in national cancer screening programs and do not include other screening, for example private mammography or faecal occult blood test (FOBTs) undertaken outside the program.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of Bowel, Breast and Cervical Cancer

Bowel Cancer

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have approved the 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer.

These Guidelines provide information and recommendations to guide practice across the continuum of bowel cancer care including prevention, screening and diagnosis, clinical aspects of surgery, treatment, follow-up and psychosocial care.

Breast Cancer

The BreastScreen Australia program aims to reduce illness and death from breast cancer through early detection of the disease. Screening mammography detects unsuspected cancer at an early stage so that prompt treatment can occur. 

Cancer Australia have two web pages that provide guidance in early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Investigation of a new breast symptom - a guide for general practitioners

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of early breast cancer (2nd ed.)

Cervical Cancer

The Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) recommended that the 2005 NHRMC endorsed, Screening to Prevent Cervical Cancer: Guidelines for the Management of Women with Screen Detected Abnormalities guidelines be reviewed. Cancer Council Australia was commissioned to develop these guidelines with the assistance of an expert “clinical management guidelines” working party. Technical support from Professor Karen Canfell and her Cancer Screening Group at Cancer Council NSW was provided in the review.

The guidelines have been developed and published by Cancer Council Australia in accordance with NHMRC recommended processes.

National Cervical Screening Program: Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Optimal Care Pathways

SEMPHN is part of a state-wide initiative to localise Optimal Care Pathways supported by the Victorian Government. The Pathways have been developed to help people diagnosed with cancer receive the best possible care. Optimal Care Pathways have been developed to map a patients optimal cancer journey across 15 different cancer types.

Resources have been developed for both patients and health professionals and describe the key stages in a patient’s cancer journey from diagnosis to survivorship or end of life care and describes the key principles and expected standards of care at each point. The guides have been endorsed by the National Cancer Expert Reference Group, Cancer Australia and Cancer Council Australia. Patients, their family and carers can use the consumer versions to better understand an often complex health system, and to know what questions to ask of their health professionals to ensure they receive the best care at every step.

Optimal Care Pathways Include:

• Detailed pathways and quick reference guides 
• Patient ‘What to expect’ consumer guides
• Instructions on how to import these resources into your clinical software

Implementing Pathways for Cancer Early Diagnosis (I-PACED)

Prostate and oesophagogastric cancer I-PACED resource cards and ‘how-to’ guides have been developed by the Cancer Council Victoria and the University of Melbourne. These resource cards highlight recommendations in the Optimal Care Pathways and provide information and tools to increase GP awareness about:

• Prevention and risk factors relevant to each cancer
• Screening/testing recommendations, including PSA testing decision aid which may assist in conversations with asymptomatic men
• Evidence-based risk assessment tools to help assess patients with symptoms associated with prostate and oesophagogastric cancer, and to identify possible high-risk patients

To view copies of the I-PACED resources, please click on the links below. Alternatively, you can This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain hard copies of the resources (SEMPHN catchment only).

• Prostate cancer IPACED resource card
• Oesophagogastic cancer IPACED resource card
• Lung cancer IPACED resource card
• Colorectal cancer IPACED resource card

Related reading

- Population-based cancer screening

- Report: The role of primary and community based healthcare professionals in early detection and follow up in cancer care: a rapid review of best practice models

Resources

- Cancer Screening – National Screening Program (Bowel, Breast and Cervical)

- BreastScreen Victoria (Screening Bookings)

- Cancer Council Victoria - Resources for Health Professionals

Associated tags

• cancer screening
• general practice
• health professionals