CONFRONTING PICTURE OF GROWING WOMEN’S HEALTH CRISIS IN UTERINE CANCERS. ANZGOG State of the Nation report highlights inequities in uterine cancer outcomes across Australia
With
Associate Professor Yoland Antill, Director and Deputy Chair, Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG)
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | December 2025
Uterine cancers have become Australia’s fastest-growing women’s cancer, with incidence doubling over the past 25 years and projected to continue to surge. Without immediate action, more than 44,000 women are expected to be diagnosed by 2035, and 8,900 will lose their lives to the disease.
Released November 2025, Australia’s first State of the Nation: Uterine Cancers in Australia 2025 report by the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG), reveals a confronting picture of a growing women’s health crisis that has gone largely unseen and one that now requires immediate, coordinated national action.
Once considered a cancer that primarily affected older women, the report highlights an alarming new trend: incidence is now rising fastest among women aged 25 to 44, with cases in this age group expected to increase by around 60 per cent alone, over the next decade.
Despite its growing impact, uterine cancer remains largely invisible in Australia’s cancer conversation. The limited research available notes, 94 per cent of women are unaware of what uterine or endometrial cancers are yet increased awareness of the disease and risk factors could prevent up to 60 per cent of future diagnoses. Research investment for uterine cancers lags far behind other cancers.
In addition, support and psychosocial care for women living with uterine cancers are inconsistent, and currently there is no dedicated national advocacy organisation. Many women face pain, fatigue, anxiety and long-term side effects alone.
State of the Nation report sets out a national plan to reverse the rise in uterine cancers and transform outcomes for Australian women
The report identifies five urgent priorities: halve incidence, eliminate inequities, ensure access to precision care, support every woman to live well, and invest in research and data. Achieving these goals will require united action from government, researchers, clinicians, industry and the community to deliver the innovation, equity and support Australian women deserve.
Source: Adapted from ANZGOG media release November 2025
Report: ANZGOG State of the Nation Report into Uterine Cancers can be read here https://www.anzgog.org.au/sotn-uterine-cancer, prepared by Insight Economics
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Report gives insights to clinical trial activity in Australia
Established in 2024, Bellberry is a Adelaide-based national, not-for-profit organisation that provides streamlined scientific and ethical reviews of human research. It is the 2025 winner of the Championing Health Award in the Telstra Best of Business Awards.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Bellberry Limited CEO, Kylie Sproston on the organisation and the findings in activity documented in the Clinical Trial Activity Report (CTAR) 2024.
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HIGHLIGHTS The power of social determinants of health, panel discussion
Clinicians and consumers know only too well that life circumstances such as poor housing, income and food insecurity can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Conversely, participation in community activities, social connection and access to nature parks and leisure facilities can help maintain health and wellbeing.
More recent phenomena in public health have also focused us on the health and social care connection. Stress factors such as the sudden loss of employment and social interaction, moving to remote work or schooling, and the impacts of sudden, localised COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ to prevent further outbreaks were triggers of increased psychological distress.
And loneliness is being described as our latest epidemic with chronic loneliness inked to a myriad of health problems and earlier death. A recent report found one in four Australians say they feel persistently lonely, and that loneliness costs $2.7 bn a year in health costs alone.
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Thyroid health into pregnancy
‘Without an adequate amount of thyroid hormone mothers can be exposed to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia or eclampsia, which affect around 10% of pregnant women and are the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide. Mothers who suffer from hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are at increased risk of long-term cardiovascular consequences and hypertensive disorders in subsequent pregnancies. Evidence also indicates a risk of reduced cognitive ability to their offspring.
‘Knowing if you are genetically predisposed to Hashimoto’s or Graves’ Diseases, which are both thyroid autoimmune disorders is important to be aware of, to ensure all appropriate tests are ordered. Autoimmune disorders may predispose mothers to a thyroid problem during pregnancy’, says Professor Creswell Eastman, who also serves as the ATF’s Principal Medical Advisor.
