Peter Mac applauds anti-smoking and vaping campaign
2 min read 03 May 2023
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre welcomes Federal Government initiatives to restrict illegal vaping and discourage smoking.
Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer, accounting for about 90 per cent of lung cancer cases in males and 65 per cent in females.
In 2021-22, lung cancer patients were admitted to Peter Mac more than 2800 times. More than 6500 lung cancer patients were treated at Peter Mac over the past five years.
Peter Mac Chief Executive Professor Shelley Dolan welcomed the $737 million that is to be invested in the 2023-24 Federal Budget, with a focus on protecting Australians from tobacco and vaping.
“Our mission at Peter Mac is to provide research-led expert cancer care – and we all know that prevention is incredibly important” Professor Dolan said.
“At Peter Mac, we stand with the Australian Government, prevention and advocacy bodies and health service colleagues to prevent cancers caused by tobacco and vaping.”
Professor Dolan said the $63 million commitment for a public health campaign to discourage smoking and vaping, and the $30 million committed towards cessation programs were much needed.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with tobacco use remaining the single greatest preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.
Peter Mac and Royal Melbourne Hospital Respiratory Physician, Associate Professor Lou Irving, said the funding announcement was very exciting for the lung cancer community in Australia.
“These new measures will help prevent people from taking up what can become a deadly habit,” Associate Professor Irving said.
“Screening is particularly important because we know it can detect lung cancer at a time when it can be successfully treated.
“This increased screening alongside additional education about smoking cessation will save lives, including among high-risk groups across Australia both in metropolitan and rural areas,” he said.
Peter Mac currently employs two Specialist Nurse Consultants who provide specialist smoking cessation advice and support.
Associate Professor Irving said the community can be confident that there is extraordinary expertise in lung cancer at Peter Mac from diagnosis to the latest treatment and clinical trials.
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About Peter Mac
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.