MISSION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF SARCOMA AND CLINICAL TRIAL FUNDING Research lagging for sarcoma, despite accounting for one third of adolescent cancer deaths
With
Associate Professor Jeremy Lewin, Medical Oncologist,
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre & Medical Director,
Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service &
Research & Education Lead – Sarcoma, VCCC Alliance
Dr Vivek Bhadri,
Paediatric and Adolescent Medical Oncologist
Chris O’Brien Lifehouse & Westmead Public Hospital &
Board Director
Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA)
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney & Melbourne | September 2025
Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, remains the deadliest cancer for children and young adults, accounting for nearly one third (30%) of cancer-related deaths among those aged 15–24 and one tenth (10%) of those aged 0–14. Further, still severely under-diagnosed, sarcoma only accounts for one sixth (15%) of all cancer diagnoses in the 15 – 24 age group, and less than a tenth (8%) among children under 10.
Despite this, public awareness and research funding for sarcoma funding remain critically low, with sarcoma receiving just $4.6m in funding for research in 2018-2020 – compared to the tens of millions other cancers receive. Sarcoma gets only a tiny fraction of funding for research that more common cancers receive, despite having the same costs to conduct studies.
The lack of funding reflects long-term survival rates for sarcoma which remain concerningly low, at just a 50% 10-year survival rate, while five-year survival rates for common cancers such as prostate and breast cancer have increased to over 90% in the past four decades (96% and 92% respectively).
Accounting for just 1% of all adult cancer diagnoses, sarcomas are rare and complex cancers that form in bone, cartilage or soft tissue8. There are over 100 different subtypes of sarcoma, which each require their own diagnostic and treatment pathways, which is why continued research is essential to improving patient outcomes.
Research indicates sarcomas are misdiagnosed in nearly one third (30%) of cases, emphasising the importance of ongoing research to support diagnostic developments, alongside improvements in patient treatment and management pathways.
Source: Australian and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA) media release 1 July 2025
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Medical research institutes association responds to draft national research strategy
On 27 August 2025, the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing announced the release of the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy (the National Strategy).
Involved in the initial consultation phase, was the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for medical research institutes across Australia. Member institutes work on a broad spectrum of human health issues such as preventive health, chronic disease, mental health, immunology and Indigenous health. Their research ranges from fundamental biomedical discovery through to clinical research and the translation of research findings.
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Dental marketing insights from leading authority
Winning the Australian Dental Industry Award for Marketing has had a big impact to Dental Marketing Solutions. As Angus comments in closing, “Receiving the award is social proof to say, well, these guys must know something, because an independent body of their peers has assessed them and said”. He added, “Certainly it’s been good in terms of building our business.”
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Nuclear medicine funding a win for men with prostate cancer
Australian men with higher risk prostate cancer now have access to a nuclear medicine scan to help detect and treat metastatic disease, after it was listed on the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) from 1st July 2022.
In 2021 over 18,000 Australian men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, resulting in over 3,000 lives being lost – and making prostate cancer Australia’s second most common cause of cancer death in men.
Australian Health Journal spoke with AANMS President Associate Professor Sze Ting Lee and Dr Geoff Schembri on the MBS listing and the efforts to get it listed.
