Latest News

Study finds early detection of bowel cancer can save lives

[1.4.13] The Cancer Council has called for the rollout of the national bowel cancer screening program to be sped up, after research showed it could save hundreds of lives. Research published in The Medical Journal of Australia on Monday shows that people who participated in the screening program were twice as likely as others to be diagnosed [...]

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Leading health professionals support the need for a comprehensive sun protection policy in NSW primary schools

Leading skin cancer and public health experts join the campaign Over 20 leading health professionals have joined our campaign calling for the Minister for Education to issue an up to date and best practice sun protection policy for NSW primary schools. View their letter of support. Draft revised guidelines released Draft guidelines have been shared with [...]

Should smoking be banned outdoors at restaurants?

[3.3.13] Last week, the Loaded Dog forum in the Sun Herald, asked the public, “Should the NSW government rethink the statewide ban planned for 2015?” This was in response to the City of Parramatta Council overturning its ban on smoking in outdoor sections of restaurants. So we asked our CanAct Community to submit a response [...]

Parramatta smoke-free backflip – whose freedom counts? [by Anita Tang]

[1.3.13] This week, a city council in Western Sydney overturned its own policy decision made in July 2010 for smoke-free outdoor dining. For those who care about community health and good governance, the two and a half year saga of Parramatta Council’s smoke-free outdoor policy has been disturbing. How is it possible for a policy [...]

Restaurant smoking ban goes up in flames

[27.2.13] After a two-year battle, smokers will light up their cigarettes again when dining outdoors in Parramatta, after the council surrendered to restaurateurs concerned about lost profits. Cancer Council NSW was shocked by the council’s backflip and said it ignored the dangers of second-hand smoke. ”The state government will bring in the same ban in [...]

Day’s worth of fat in child’s fast food meal

[22.2.13] Children’s fast food meals vastly exceed the amount of energy, salt, sugar and saturated fat children should eat in one meal, according to a damning report from the Cancer Council NSW. The Fast Food: Exposing the Truth report shows an urgent need to reduce the amount of energy and unhealthy ingredients in fast food meals, the [...]

Say “no” to gene patents

[21.2.13] A recent Federal Court ruling to uphold the validity of patents on a human gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer, highlights the need to change the law to protect health consumers from commercial gene monopolies. If human genes can be patented, accessing testing and treatments could become increasingly costly and slow. Furthermore, patents [...]

Health claims on food face new scrutiny

[18.1.13] Nearly a third of all health claims on food sold in NSW supermarkets will have to be removed under laws to be introduced from Friday, research has found. The laws mandate basic standards products must meet to promote the benefits of ingredients, preventing products making claims such as ”high in calcium for healthy bones” [...]

Lymphoedema services expanded at Royal North Shore Hospital

[14.1.13] The passionate advocates at Northern Suburbs Cancer Action Network (CAN) have started 2013 with a win for lymphoedema sufferers on the north side of Sydney. Under the leadership of Liz Hing as Chair, and with support from Lauren Shore at the Crows Nest office, and Carolyn Grenville from the Policy and Advocacy team, the [...]