Category: Cancer
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“Radical, or plain common sense?” Public health’s perennial question
Terry Slevin I was recently invited by ABC Radio Adelaide to talk about our policy asks ahead of the March 2026 state election. The invitation followed the release of our association’s South Australian Branch election platform on 13 February. The host of the Mornings programme, Rory McLaren, opened with a…
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Playing the long game: 40 years of Quit
Thomas Kehoe Australia is lauded for its leadership in the global fight against tobacco. This is exemplified in passing new tobacco control interventions to tackle tobacco induced disease, which began on 1 July. Measures include graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and sticks, and a ban on menthol and other…
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Jim St John – Pioneering a nation’s fight against bowel cancer
Thomas Kehoe, Terry Slevin, Kate Broun, and Craig Sinclair Professor Donald James St John AO (“Jim”) passed away on Monday 25 August. A brilliant clinician, scientist, and advocate for public health. His five-decade-long, distinguished career in gastroenterology contributed to establishing the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, which has saved thousands…
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UK expert urges caution as new cancer test technologies emerge
Professor Bob Steele from the University of Dundee presents at the Cancer Screening Symposium Public Health Association of Australia A leading UK cancer screening expert has urged Australian public health experts to exercise caution and “temper enthusiasm” in the face of rapidly emerging cancer test technologies. Prof Bob Steele,…
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National alliance urges five key steps to reduce harms from alcohol
Introduction by Croakey: If the Australian Government is to achieve the stated goal of a 10 percent reduction in the harmful use of alcohol by 2028, some significant policy changes are needed, according to Hannah Pierce, Executive Officer for Alcohol Change Australia. Below she outlines five evidence-based areas where the Government can…
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An early career researcher’s perspective of the 9th Australian Lung Cancer Conference
Nathan Harrison, PHAA member Following significant progress on lung cancer control in Australia, 2022 Konrad Jamrozik Student Scholarship recipient Nathan Harrison attended and presented at a national conference on the topic. He shares his insights with Intouch readers. I was fortunate to be the 2022 recipient of the PHAA South…
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‘I take it with a pinch of salt’: why women question health warnings linking alcohol with breast cancer
Belinda Lunnay, Torrens University Australia; Paul Ward, Torrens University Australia, and Samantha Meyer, University of Waterloo Up to one in ten cases of breast cancer in Australia is linked to drinking alcohol. Midlife women are already at increased risk for breast cancer because of their age, and tend to drink…
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Why cancer economics research matters
A/Prof Louisa Gordon (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute), Dr Daniel Lindsay (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute), Dr Nikki McCaffrey (Deakin University), Dr Alison Pearce (The Daffodil Centre Sydney University), and Dr Katharina Merollini (University of Sunshine Coast) Each year 150,000 Australians are told they have cancer, leaving them fearful and…
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Making every global crisis a marketing opportunity: alcohol industry corporate activism
Abbie-Clare Vidler and Keira Bury The alcohol industry were among many organisations participating in World Environment Day, held by the United Nations Environment Programme on 5 June. The theme of the celebrations was ‘Only One Earth’, a call back to the theme’s use at the world’s first environment conference 50…
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Study tracks sun protection behavioural changes as world meets for COP26 climate summit
Jeremy Lasek – PHAA For the first time in nearly two years the world’s attention is about to switch from the battle against COVID-19 to the fight to control global warming. World leaders will gather in Glasgow in the next week for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also…
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Henrietta Lacks’ iconic story of inequity, injustice, and disparities in health holds Australian relevance
Dr Mary-Anne Land (PHAA) & Associate Professor Lisa Whop (ANU) As a young mother, Henrietta Lacks and her husband were raising five children near Baltimore when she fell ill. She went to Johns Hopkins – one of the few hospitals at the time which would treat black people – after…
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Dr Dawn Casey PSM wins Sidney Sax Medal for her COVID leadership
Jeremy Lasek – PHAA Introduction After a long and distinguished career of public service, Dr Dawn Casey PSM, while a relatively late arrival on the public health scene, is now recognised as a national leader and inspiration for her active and passionate protection and promotion of public health within Australia.…
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A rare COVID silver lining – Lauren Richardson on meeting ‘her people’ in VIC Department of Health
Jeremy Lasek, PHAA Our recent request for your stories to capture the essence of a career in public health has uncovered fabulous case studies. Today, we meet Lauren Richardson, who found herself swept up in the Victorian Department of Health’s COVID-19 response. Let’s start at the beginning. Lauren says she…
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WHO warns of global e-cigarette health threat, as WA survey shows teens use growing rapidly
Jeremy Lasek – PHAA Today marks International Youth Day (IYD). IYD is celebrated on 12 August each year to bring youth issues to the attention of the international community and to celebrate the potential of youth as active members in the global society. The advent of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)…
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The worrying impact of COVID on cancer screening and detection
Public Health Association of Australia While the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated our lives and public health efforts over the past 18 months, there is still a need to be urging Australians not to ignore the other ‘Big C’. Cancer remains one of the biggest killers in Australia, but with so…