New guidelines aim to improve rural cancer survival rates

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 20:31 · Archive

Australia has published new guidelines to address the 13 per cent lower survival rate for rural cancer patients.

Rural Australians are 13 per cent less likely to survive cancer than their urban counterparts, largely due to late diagnoses. Delayed care is typically influenced by vast distances to medical facilities, longer waiting times for GPs and a shortage of specialists.

A national optimal care pathway for rural cancer patients was published on Tuesday, drafted with input from patients with lived experience of rural cancer treatment. The guidelines recommend care as close to home as is safely possible, with greater uptake of telehealth, stronger referral systems and improved financial and travel assistance.

Nurse and midwife Victoria Turner, who discovered a large ovarian tumour in May 2020 after eight months of symptoms were dismissed as menopause and stress, helped draft the pathway. Having no access to a gynaecological oncologist in the NSW Northern Rivers, she had to travel to Queensland for surgery and specialist appointments. She has since defied her five-year prognosis with no cancer recurrence and now advocates for other rural patients.

The gap reflects a wider disparity in healthcare funding. The National Rural Health Alliance found an annual shortfall of $9.23 billion in rural health spending.

How it is being reported

• 'Really traumatic': the postcode lottery of cancer careRural cancer patients and doctors have new guidelines for timely treatment and support, in a bid to improve the "postcode lottery" of survival rates.Perth Now · 19 Oct, 20:01
• 'Really traumatic': the postcode lottery of cancer careRural cancer patients and doctors have new guidelines for timely treatment and support, in a bid to improve the "postcode lottery" of survival rates.The West Australian · 19 Oct, 20:01

In this story: Victoria Turner · Deakin University · National Rural Health Alliance · NSW Northern Rivers · Queensland · Australia

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