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The Tea Room

Australia is advancing a national Cancer Plan and Mariella Attard, editor of Oncology Republic’s editor, tells us how GPs will be affected.

Marielle says a key driver of the Australian Cancer Plan is equity.

“Cancer stats have been really good for Australians across the board. It’s reduced by 16% except for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people where it’s actually gone up by 26%. So, the gap keeps growing,” Mariella says.

Mariella also distills the latest oncology research including a link between uterine cancer and some treatments in hair salons. The research, published in the National Cancer Institute, included 34,000 women in the study.

“Some people from different cultural backgrounds use hair straightening more often than others. And although it's a US study, it's still applicable globally,” Mariella says.

Lung cancer has joined the spotlight too, says Mariella who flags a possible targeted screening program for smokers and ex-smokers between 50 and 70 years old. The Medical Services Advisory Committee has given a thumbs up to the program which is now before the government for consideration.

Mariella also spills the tea about what happened after Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds live streamed his colonoscopy. Fortunately a podcast is sound only but tune in for the bottom line.

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