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‘Back to basics’ for blood cancer detection
With cases predicted to spike in the next decade, ‘good old-fashioned medical care’ can still help GPs to detect the cancer early.
Older Australians are at increased risk of developing blood cancer, which the Leukaemia Foundation says will become the country’s most common and deadly cancer.
Blood cancer cases in Australia are predicted to almost double by 2035, making it the country’s most common and deadly cancer, according to a new call for greater support from the Leukaemia Foundation.
According to the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare’s age-standardised data, in 2004 there were 10,857 cases of blood cancer in Australia, but by 2024, this increased to 20,044 cases.
With this 79% increase in cases in the past 20 years attributed to Australia’s significant population growth, one expert says getting ‘back to the basics’ of medical training can empower GPs to help detect the disease in patients early.
Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Cancer and Palliative Care, Associate Professor Joel Rhee, said a ‘driving factor’ in the increase of blood cancer cases is Australia’s ageing population.
He said there are symptoms and signs GPs can be alert for, but that in essence ‘it all comes back to medical school training’.
‘It’s just providing good old-fashioned medical care; listening to the patients, taking your time to take a comprehensive history, being on the lookout for any concerning symptoms, and then doing your physical examination,’ Associate Professor Rhee told newsGP.
Associate Professor Rhee said the main symptoms of blood cancer included tiredness, unexpected or unexplained bleeding, serious or frequent infections, bone pains, weight loss, bruising, and enlarged organs or lymph nodes.
The Leukaemia Foundation’s Chief Executive Chris Tanti said blood cancer is on track to become the most prevalent cancer in Australia without more investment in blood cancer research.
‘With an approximate one in 12 Australians set to be diagnosed with blood cancer in their lifetime, being able to diagnose and treat the disease earlier, and provide the best possible support to those impacted, is going to make a significant impact on the rising incidence and mortality rates in Australia,’ he said.
‘Unlike most other prevalent cancers like lung, breast, prostate, skin, and bowel, you cannot currently screen for, prevent or reduce your risk of being diagnosed with blood cancer.
‘We simply don’t have the knowledge or tools to enable us to do so.’
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