Planning for our future:
NSW Cancer Plan 2011 – 2015
There are few in our community who have not been affected by cancer. Be it a personal diagnosis, or the diagnosis of a relative, friend or colleague.
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One-in-two men and one-in-three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. In 2009 there were 38,116 new cases of invasive cancer projected diagnosed in NSW, with new cases set to increase by 5,000 every five years and be greater than 50,000 new cases in 2021.
Improving survival rates and quality of life for people with potentially fatal or chronic illness through improvements in health care is a key commitment of the NSW Government and reinforced with targets set out in the State Plan (Priority S2). The NSW Government is also committed to improved health for the NSW community through reduced obesity, smoking, illicit drug use and risk drinking (State Plan, Priority S3).
The maintenance of a continued downward trend in cancer death rates in NSW and the reduction in smoking rates by one per cent per annum to 2010, then by 0.5 per cent per annum to 2016 are key targets of the NSW Government.
In 2003 the NSW Parliament unanimously passed the Cancer Institute (NSW) Act 2003 which established the Cancer Institute NSW with the objectives to:
- Increase the survival rate for cancer patients
- Reduce the incidence of cancer in the community
- Improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their carers
- Operate as a source of expertise on cancer control for the government, health service providers, medical researchers and the general community.
The NSW Government is consulting with the NSW community on a plan that will reduce the number cancers, improve the lives of people with cancer and, ultimately, save lives.
The NSW Government is consulting with the NSW community on a plan that will reduce the number cancers, improve the lives of people with cancer and, ultimately, save lives.
NSW is among the most successful places in the world in managing cancer with 63 per cent of people now alive more than five years after their diagnosis. This five-year cancer plan will help us identify how we can further improve survival and the quality of life for patients, their families and carers.
Development of the NSW Cancer Plan 2011 – 2015 is an opportunity for the NSW community to help set the priorities for cancer control in our State for the next five years. The result of this process and subsequent consultative workshops will be the third State-wide blueprint for cancer control implemented by the NSW Government.
The first NSW Cancer Plans, 2004 – 2006 and 2007 – 2010, delivered major improvements in reducing smoking rates, improved screening services and breast screening technology, provided new staff and innovative programs in hospitals and increased cancer research in our hospitals and research institutes.
The NSW Cancer Plan 2011 – 2015 will set priorities for cancer control across the five pillars of:
- cancer prevention
- detecting cancer early
- improved cancer services and professional development
- cancer research
- relevant cancer data and information.
Together, we can set a blueprint for cancer that will ultimately save lives and reduce the impact of cancer on individuals, families and our community.