Category Archives: cancer

At last, a REAL cancer breakthrough (and why some politicians deserve a cuddle)

May 8, 2012 – 12:03 pm

Among the many announcements ahead of tonight’s Federal Budget was this one of an expansion of  bowel cancer screening. In the article below, Terry Slevin, Education and Research Director at Cancer Council WA, explains some of the background to the announcement, and also suggests that the Ministers responsible “deserve a cuddle”. *** How this “historic [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in evidence-based issues, Federal Budget 2012-2013, public health, screening | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (4)

The Federal Budget and health: what’s on the table (or not)

May 8, 2012 – 11:41 am

Below is a short summary of items related to tonight’s Federal Budget and health: what is promised/likely; what has been asked for; and what seems to be missing. What is promised/likely in the federal budget • Expansion of the national bowel cancer screening program (Some reaction to this will follow in the next post.) • [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, complementary medicines, Federal Budget 2012-2013, mental health, private health insurance, rural and remote health, tobacco control | Tagged , | Comments (1)

What can bloggers do for public health and the greater good?

April 24, 2012 – 6:53 pm

Public health advocates can learn a lot from how corporates and non profits are reaching out to bloggers, according to Cairín Conway, Media & Communications Advisor for SunSmart at the Cancer Council Victoria. She says the blogosphere offers huge opportunities for health organisations wanting to engage with audiences, and offers some practical advice in the article below. (And [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in public health, social media and healthcare | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Media coverage of genetic technologies is of variable quality, and here is how it could be improved

March 19, 2012 – 11:24 am

The latest update from Media Doctor Australia examines media coverage of new technologies for diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders, and makes some recommendations to help journalists. *** Some tips for covering genetic testing and treatment technologies Adam Carroll writes: BREAKTHROUGH DIAGNOSIS; GENETIC SCREEN; RARE DISORDER; NEW HOPE: great words to capture attention and entice [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in evidence-based issues, genetics, health & medical marketing, Media Doctor Australia, Media-related issues | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Behind the alarming headlines about sleeping pills and red meat

March 14, 2012 – 8:08 pm

For those who have been alarmed by recent headlines about the dangers of sleeping pills and red meat, below are links to some further analyses that are worth reading, courtesy of Media Doctor Australia and the NHS Behind the Headlines service. (Perhaps every GP, hospital and other health service waiting room should advertise these websites [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in cardiovascular disease, Food, health and medical research, Media Doctor Australia, Media-related issues, pharmaceutical industry | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Researchers investigate ways of improving the diagnosis of ovarian cancer

March 1, 2012 – 7:37 pm

In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports on efforts to improve the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in primary care. *** Working to improve the diagnosis of ovarian cancer  Amanda Carne writes: Each year in February, Ovarian Cancer Australia runs a national Ovarian Cancer Awareness [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health and medical research, primary health care | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

World Cancer Day, inequities in global access to palliative care – and a film that will matter to us all, sooner or later

February 3, 2012 – 4:45 pm

On the eve of World Cancer Day, Claire Maskell of Palliative Care Australia describes global variations in access to palliative care, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. *** LIFE before death: the film Claire Maskell writes: Palliative and end of life care doesn’t get much attention in the public health world. Prevention and health promotion might [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in Health inequalities, palliative care, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

A call for regulatory action on unregistered health practitioners

January 24, 2012 – 7:52 pm

An ACCC investigation into breast imaging highlights broader concerns about a lack of regulation of unregistered health practitioners, writes Rebecca Johnson, Policy Advisor, Cancer Council Western Australia. *** Why are health regulators leaving the heavy lifting to the ACCC? Rebecca Johnson writes: Early in January, the ACCC launched legal proceedings  against two commercial breast imaging [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health & medical marketing, health regulation, public health, quality and safety of health care, screening | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

A rather large wrap of recent Croakey articles: public health, health reform, media coverage of health and more

January 11, 2012 – 10:25 am

As previously mentioned, Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please send your email or leave it below. Here is the latest compilation, covering from 6 October – December 23, 2011. The latest readership figures are now also available, showing that [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in abortion, alcohol, child health, childbirth and maternity services, climate change, complementary medicines, conflicts of interest, consumer health information, death and dying, dental care, evidence-based issues, Food, global health, health and medical research, health financing and costs, Health inequalities, health reform, health workforce, Hospitals, Indigenous health, infectious diseases, Media Doctor Australia, Medicare Locals, mental health, MyHospitals website, obesity, pain, palliative care, pharmacy, physical activity, prevention, primary health care, public health, quality and safety of health care, rural and remote health, SensaSlim, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, TGA, The Conversation, tobacco control, vaccination, vaccines, WHO | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

The Ministerial reshuffle and health: plus analysis of Roxon’s tenure and advice to Plibersek

December 13, 2011 – 1:18 pm

Much of the post-shuffle focus in health has been on the new Minister, Tanya Plibersek (The Australian has her prioritising dental reform, while the Sydney Morning Herald has her bedding down the health reform agenda). But let’s not forget that many portfolios are important for health (some of which are mentioned at the bottom of [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in child health, childbirth and maternity services, dental care, disabilities, e-health, education, general practice, health reform, Indigenous health, Medicare Locals, mental health, NHMRC, pharmacy, prevention, primary health care, private health insurance, public health, social determinants of health, TGA, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)