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Cancer Control in New Zealand

www.moh.govt.nz/cancercontrol

Cancer is a major health issue for New Zealanders. One in three New Zealanders will have some experience of cancer, either personally or through a relative or friend.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death (29 percent) and a major cause of hospitalisation (7 percent) in New Zealand. There are about 17,000 new registrations of cancer each year, with the highest rates in the middle and older age groups.

New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy and Action Plan
Cancer control is an organised approach to reducing the burden of cancer through prevention; screening and early detection; treatment; support and rehabilitation; palliative care; and data and research.

New Zealand has developed the Cancer Control Strategy, which sets principles and goals to guide existing and future actions to control cancer. The key purposes of the Strategy are to:

reduce the incidence and impact of cancer
reduce inequalities with respect to cancer.

Following the release of the Strategy in August 2003, the Cancer Control Taskforce was established to produce the Cancer Control Action Plan, which describes in detail how the objectives of the Strategy will be achieved.

Read more about the Cancer Control Strategy and Action Plan

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Page last updated: 12 June 2008

Latest news

Bowel (colorectal) cancer screening programme for New Zealanders (12 June)

Cancer Connections Newsletter, Autumn 2008 (24 April)

Related information

Cancer Control Council
The Minister of Health has appointed an independent advisory body, the Cancer Control Council to provide strategic advice on matters related to cancer control and to monitor implementation of the Cancer Control Strategy.

National Clinical Director Cancer Control
In addition, the Director-General of Health has appointed Dr John Childs as national Clinical Director, Cancer Control.

Dr Childs, who has over 25 years experience in clinical oncology and radiotherapy, will drive the implementation of the Strategy from within the Ministry of Health .