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Cancer Control in New Zealand

News and Updates


2009


16 Nov: Updated section - Bowel (Colorectal) Cancer Screening Programme for New Zealanders

4 Nov: Cancer Connections newsletter, Spring 2009
The latest issue of the Cancer Connections newsletter is now (temporarily)unavailable.

29 Sept: Management of Early Breast Cancer - Evidence-based Best Practice Guideline
The purpose of this guideline is to provide an evidence-based summary of best practice in the management of early breast cancer in order to promote best clinical practice in relation to the care and management of women with early breast cancer. The recommendations are based on clinical effectiveness and other considerations (including quality of life), but not on an analysis of cost effectiveness or quality of life years gained.

11 Sept: Suspected Cancer in Primary Care: Guidelines for investigation, referral and reducing ethnic disparities
The guideline aims to alert primary care practitioners to features that should raise their suspicion of cancer, so they can refer patients early for further investigation. It also reviews issues around disparities and access to care, and their impact on cancer diagnosis and outcomes.

13 August: The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) provides the Director-General of Health with independent advice on screening policy, practice and research.

NSAC has recently published two statements of advice. In the first statement of advice, NSAC reviews the interim results of the European and U.S. Trials of Prostate Cancer Screening.http://www.nsu.govt.nz/Files/Prostate_screening.pdf.

In the second, NSAC notes that there is no evidence to support a population-based screening programme for melanoma, and considers that health promotion campaigns should continue.http://www.nsu.govt.nz/Files/Melanoma_screening.pdf

For more information about the National Screening Advisory Committee, see http://www.nsu.govt.nz/About/1614.asp


7 May: Cancer Connections, Autumn 2009
The latest issue of the Cancer Connections newsletter is now available.

17 Mar: Bowel (Colorectal) Cancer Screening Programme for New Zealanders - information updated.

2008


19 Dec: 2008/09 Cancer Control Programme Sector Plan - now available

10 Dec: Information for patients about the Funding 12 Months Herceptin Policy
The Prime Minister has announced 12 months funding for Herceptin for patients with early stage breast cancer.

21 Nov: A National Professional Development Framework for Palliative Care Nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand
This document, like the complementary A National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand (in publication), provides a set of competency indicators that describe generalist and specialty practice in palliative care nursing, for nurses, managers and educators. It was developed as part of the implementation of the New Zealand Palliative Care Strategy (Ministry of Health 2001) and the Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005–2010 (Ministry of Health 2005).

13 Nov: Clinical Practice Guidelines in Australia and New Zealand for the Management of Melanoma
The New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan has specific actions for prevention, early detection and treatment goals that have supported the collaboration between Australia and New Zealand to develop this guideline.

29 Sep: Prostate cancer resources - now available
Two resources on testing for prostate cancer are now available in the Publications and Resources section. One is a consultation resource for primary health care practitioners and the other is a information brochure for men and their families.

16 Sep: Guidance for Improving Supportive and Rehabilitative Care for Adults with Cancer in New Zealand
The draft Guidance for Improving Supportive and Rehabilitative Care for Adults with Cancer in New Zealand aims to improve the quality of life for people affected by cancer by improving access to and the quality of supportive care in New Zealand. Update: Submissions closed: 28 October and the guidance will be finalised in 2009.

28 Aug: Cancer Connections Newsletter, Winter 2008
The latest version of the Cancer Connections newsletter is now available. Cancer Connections, is put out by the cancer team at the Ministry of Health to ensure you stay up to date with some of the great work being done about the country.

28 Aug: A report on Palliative Care and Cancer Nurses’ Educational Needs (PDF, 1 MB)
This report provides comprehensive information on the cancer and palliative care nursing workforce in New Zealand, with particular emphasis on education. National, regional and local data have been presented, which will serve as baselines against which future evaluations of the workforce can be made.

12 Jun: Bowel (colorectal) cancer screening programme for New Zealanders
On 30 May 2008, the Minister of Health, Hon David Cunliffe, and the Associate Minister of Health, Hon Damien O’Connor, announced that the Government was committed to acting as quickly as possible to set up a bowel cancer screening programme in New Zealand.

More information on this decision and the development of the bowel cancer screening programme in New Zealand is now available.

24 Apr: Cancer Connections Newsletter, Autumn 2008
The latest version of the Cancer Connections newsletter is now available. Cancer Connections is a quarterly newsletter that aims to link together the thousands of professionals working within the cancer community.
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Page last updated: 16 November 2009