Cancer is the largest disease burden in Victoria and the largest single cause of death in our community. While our survival rates are good on an international comparison, outcomes for many cancers remain unacceptably poor.
Better identification, treatment and management of cancer in Victoria has resulted in vast improvements in overall cancer survival. New technologies, discoveries and better evidence-based care are extending lives and improving quality of life for people living with, and beyond, cancer.
Despite these advances, cancer remains a major health problem and the disparities are widening. Cancer type, where a person lives, their cultural identity and their socio-economic status are key determinants of outcomes.
To affect a tangible shift in a disease as wide-reaching as cancer requires deliberate collaboration at every level.
