Archive for category: Data

In partnership, Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have released their new version of the Australian Cancer Atlas, an online cancer map revealing startling new geographical patterns across Australia.

Latest results from the Australian Cancer Atlas 2.0 shows the impact of cancer varies substantially depending on where Australians live. While the patterns vary for different cancer types, where there are differences, the consistent pattern is that Australians living in regional and remote areas experience poorer survival than those living in urban areas.

Cancer Council Queensland’s Professor Peter Baade says Cancer Atlas 2.0 provides unique information about the extent and characteristics of these geographical patterns, which is crucial for motivating the next step of understanding why these disparities exist.

“There is substantial evidence that, when it comes to cancer, where you live really matters. Our research demonstrates the disparities faced by Australians living in regional and remote areas have not improved over time,” said Professor Baade.

QUT Centre for Data Science Director, Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen says this tool is critical in helping define rural and regional health care planning.

“Now we have the data, the next step is understanding the ‘why.’ Once we do that, we can make informed changes to reduce these differences in cancer rates. By using the Cancer Atlas along with the new Australian Cancer Plan, we can give policymakers, advocates, and communities the tools to make better health outcomes for all Australians.”

The Leukaemia Foundation is using the Australian Cancer Atlas to enhance their research to better understand the impact of blood cancer across the country.

Tim Murphy, General Manager Blood Cancer Partnerships at the Leukaemia Foundation says the Australian Cancer Atlas is a valuable tool to ensure the right resources are in the right places.

“The Australian Cancer Atlas will assist the sector to explore the essential data needed to address blood cancer more effectively and provide crucial insights to help us improve how we support affected communities in Australia,” said Mr Murphy.

“The cancer atlas will bring us closer to understanding blood cancers reach and impact and enable us to enhance our research and tailor our interventions more precisely to shape future healthcare strategies and to fight blood cancer head on.”

The MPN AA is delighted to showcase version 2 of the Cancer Atlas of Australia which includes updated data on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

MPN incidence and MPN patient survival are mapped in detail across the country.  Across all cancer types, the consistent pattern is that Australians living in regional and remote areas experience poorer survival than those living in urban areas. MPN survival data is no different. Cancer Council Queensland’s Professor Peter Baade explains that “The atlas shows which areas have above-average risk factors for cancer, which areas have low screening or testing rates, higher rates of cancer diagnoses, and which areas have poorer survival rates.”

The MPN AA continues to highlight disparities in MPN incidence across the country. We believe some differences may be due to inconsistent reporting to cancer registries. Efforts in recent years to improve MPN reporting may show more consistent incidence across Australia in future atlas updates. If not, reasons for such disparities in incidence will need to be closely examined.

Of even greater concern are the vastly different survival rates of MPN patients across the country. Hopefully this will be the subject of future research.

MPNs are listed as ‘classic MPNs’ in the atlas. You may wish to follow the visual explainers.  
It is available HERE.

Images below show the differences between MPN incidence and survival based on the latest available data from 2019.

The colour “ramp” visualises how the impact of cancer varies in a specific area compared to the Australian average. Blue means lower than average (or for survival, better), yellow represents the Australian average, and orange/red means higher than average (or for survival, worse).