Govt grants to help mark World Cancer Day
The Minister for Health Nicola Roxon has announced that from the beginning of February, women under 50 at high risk of breast cancer and with no symptoms are eligible to receive a Medicare rebate for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) breast scan. The announcement was made on 4 February to mark World Cancer Day.
The Government has also announced that Australians living with cancer will be able to use four new resources to help them establish and maintain support groups and to contribute to national cancer policy and programs, including research, prevention and treatment.
Being at high risk of breast cancer can cause significant anxiety. MRI scans can help reduce unnecessary concern, and help pick up breast cancer early. This decision will reduce the financial barrier of the cost of an MRI scan to encourage these women in the high risk category to monitor their health.
Women at high risk of breast cancer include, for example, women with three or more close blood relatives diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer.
Further details about the women eligible for this Medicare rebate are available from MBSonline at www.health.gov.au
The launch of the new cancer publications recognises the importance of continually improving the services and support available to people living with cancer, and their families and carers.
Two of the new resources – Cancer support groups: A guide to setting up peer facilitated supports and Cancer support groups: Skills resource for peer facilitators – are tools to help set up and maintain support groups for people living with cancer.
The other two resources –Consumer participation guide and Consumer training and mentoring guide – will help people build their skills to provide insight into the health system and national cancer policy and programs, as well as their ability to mentor other consumers to participate at a national level.
The resources were commissioned by the Australian Government’s national cancer agency, Cancer Australia, which ensures people affected by cancer and their families are central to the Government’s cancer programs.
The Government has also contributed funding to support 44 cancer support groups and networks nationally, through the Building Cancer Support Networks program. This includes support groups specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer and women with gynaecological cancers.
The resources are available from the Cancer Australia website: www.canceraustralia.gov.au
Despite improved survival rates, more than 100,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer every year.
