The Blood Cancer Taskforce supports the Australian Cancer Plan on behalf of blood cancer patients

The Blood Cancer Taskforce[i] welcomes today’s release of the Australian Cancer Plan – Australia’s first national plan to combat cancer.

Established in 2019 as a consensus voice for the Australian blood cancer community, the Blood Cancer Taskforce developed the National Strategic Action Plan[ii] for Blood Cancers – the blueprint helping to tackle the key issues in blood cancer facing Australians today and into the future.

Blood Cancer Taskforce Co-Chair, Chris Tanti, said that the Australian Cancer Plan provides the Taskforce, and the wider blood cancer community, with a new opportunity to further improve and support blood cancer control, and ultimately save lives.

“The Taskforce was commissioned by the Australian Government to improve blood cancer diagnosis, treatment, and our understanding of blood cancer in Australia,” said Mr Tanti.

“With 32 of this nation’s leading haematologists, researchers, patients, and members of the blood cancer community, the Taskforce has already made significant strides when it comes to cancer-related projects.

“One of these projects is a critical initiative featured in the Australian Cancer Plan, Optimal Care Pathways, which when combined with clinical guidelines will form future national standards of care for blood cancer treatment in Australia.”

Blood cancer incidence continues to increase in Australia with figures soaring 47% in the past decade[iii]. In conjunction, blood cancer cannot be screened for early detection, and is non-preventable, meaning more needs to be done to tackle the precarious issue of blood cancer in this country.

According to Blood Cancer Taskforce Co-Chair, Professor John Seymour, in conjunction with the Leukaemia Foundation the Blood Cancer Taskforce is well placed to work with the government on the implementation of the Australian Cancer Plan as well as partnering on further Plan initiatives.

“We endorse the release of the Australian Cancer Plan as we continue to work together with the government to further champion change and improve the lives and survival outcomes of Australians living with blood cancer,” said Professor Seymour.

The Blood Cancer Taskforce is Co-Chaired by Chris Tanti and Professor John Seymour, Director Department of Clinical Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, and together with the entire taskforce they look forward to continuing to work with government to implement key initiatives from the National Action Plan and incorporate these into the Australian Cancer Plan.