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Table 1 Priorities for cancer control developments likely to have benefits within five years, identified by consultations by the National Cancer Control Initiative (1997)

From: Cancer control policy in Australia

Primary prevention

1*

Tobacco

Preventing tobacco-related cancers: strengthen tobacco control measures

2

Skin cancer

Reducing risk

Population-based screening and early detection

3

Breast cancer

Improving BreastScreen Australia

4

Breast cancer

Promoting prompt diagnosis

5

Cervical cancer

Improving Pap smear programs

6

Cervical cancer

Handling Pap smear results

7*

Colorectal cancer

Developing faecal occult blood testing: develop demonstration program and evaluation, and produce evidence-based guidelines

8*

Prostate cancer

Rationalising prostate-specific antigen testing: discourage inappropriate use of PSA tests and develop educational program for GPs

9*

Skin cancer

Improving diagnostic skills: design and evaluate programs to improve GP's skills in diagnosis of early skin cancer

Treatment

10*

Guidelines

A national approach: identify priority areas and develop and disseminate evidence-based clinical guidelines

11*

Multidisciplinary care

Evaluation and facilitation: identify benefits and costs of multidisciplinary care and improve consultations especially in rural and remote areas

12*

Palliative care

Filling gaps: develop national strategies and research on co-ordinated palliative care

13*

Prostate cancer

Dealing with treatment uncertainties: assess the treatment and outcome of early and advanced prostate cancer

14*

Psychosocial care

Defining, implementing and monitoring: define appropriate psychosocial care, develop a strategy, and establish national consumers' forum in cancer control

General

15*

General practice

Promoting participation in cancer control: improve preventive, screening and early detection, and cancer management, in general practice

16

Equity

Implementing culturally relevant cancer control measures

17

Consumer

Facilitating involvement

18*

Research

Continuing the national commitment: maintain and extend

19*

Familial cancers

Organising education and resources: develop educational approaches, link genetic registries, and promote research

20*

Data collection

Meeting urgent national needs: develop a national standard for clinical data registries, add staging information to registries

21

Clinical trials

Encouraging participation of doctors and patients

  1. *The 13 out of 21 proposed actions recommended for priority implementation. Table reproduced from Cancer Control Towards 2002 [23]