NEW RESOURCES AND SURVEILLANCE GUIDES TO SUPPORT EARLY DETECTION OF PANCREATIC CANCER Pancare Foundation disseminates material commissioned by Cancer Australia and developed by UQ and Uni of Melbourne
With
Dr Michael KC Lee,
Medical Oncologist,
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Mark Buzza,
Head of Research, Innovation and Advocacy,
Pancare Foundation
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | February 2026
Pancreatic cancer remains one of Australia’s deadliest cancers, with five-year survival rates hovering at just 14%, with little improvement over several decades. Often called the ‘silent killer’, the disease frequently presents with minimal or vague symptoms, resulting in late diagnoses and poor outcomes. Pancare Foundation is leading the rollout of new clinical resources and surveillance guides to support healthcare professionals in identifying at-risk patients and promoting early detection.
More than 4,500 Australians are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, and the disease is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Despite advances in treatment, the lack of a population-level national screening program, as there is for bowel cancer for example, means that healthcare professionals play a critical role in early detection and patient education.
“Early identification is key,” said Dr Mark Buzza, Head of Research, Innovation and Advocacy, Pancare Foundation. “These new resources provide practical guidance for clinicians on risk assessment, surveillance protocols, and patient communication. By equipping healthcare professionals with the latest evidence-based tools, we can improve detection rates and ultimately patient outcomes.”
The resources highlight key risk factors to be aware of including a family history of pancreatic cancer, smoking, long-term diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, heavy alcohol use, and obesity.
Importantly, pancreatic cancer can also occur in patients without obvious risk factors. Developed by the University of Queensland (alongside their contributors), the new surveillance guides offer clear recommendations for monitoring high-risk individuals, identifying early symptoms, and coordinating referral pathways for diagnostic investigations.
In addition, the University of Melbourne provides pain and palliative care education resources for healthcare professionals, ensuring clinicians are equipped to support patients throughout the continuum of care.
Source: Adapted from Pancare Foundation media release
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Supporting the mental health of the Australian health care workforce
Tara Hurster, is the CEO of The TARA Clinic and a psychologist who started working within the area of addiction in 2010. The TARA clinic, short for Therapeutic Addiction Recovery Assistance, recently started offering online programs to overcome and recover from addiction.
Tara spoke with Australian Health Journal about the early warning signs of anxiety and stress in health staff and executives, including irritability, changes in sleep patterns and diet leading to more serious mental health decline. These behaviours and symptoms increase the risk of substance abuse that could take the form of excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use, porn, sex and gambling.
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25 years of non-indexation of nuclear medicine impeding access & affordability
The President of the Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists (AANMS), Associate Professor Sze Ting Lee spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
Usual levels of nuclear medicine services in Australia each year
Current levels of nuclear medicine services in Australia
How changing demographics in people moving to regional areas has impacted access to nuclear medicine services
The nuclear medicine workforce including trainees
The key recommendations from the pre-budget submissionIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Inaugural Rural and Remote Health Awards
Rural communities are a foundation of the economy and society and must be kept healthy.
There are significant personal, professional and financial rewards for rural healthcare professionals. However, there are also challenges – isolation, long hours, confusion about where to turn for support.
To acknowledge and celebrate the work of Rural and Remote Health Professionals, Rural Health Pro have launched the inaugural National Rural and Remote Health Awards.
