In the 1980s, the cancer survival rate was less than 50%.
Today, 7 in 10 Australians will survive for at least five years after a cancer diagnosis and for some cancer types, survival is more than 90%.
Your support funds improvements in cancer prevention, early detection treatment and care.
Here are some of the many milestones and achievements in cancer research and control since 2000.
2003
The human genome (DNA) is mapped, informing new approaches to cancer research.
2006
Phase-in of National Bowel Cancer Screening Program commences, following Cancer Council advocacy.
First ever national SunSmart campaign run by Australian Government, citing Cancer Council research and analysis.
Since 2006, melanoma mortality in Australians aged 50 to 75 has fallen by 40%, largely through prevention.
2007
Australia become the first country in the world to roll out a free National HPV Vaccination Program. Development of the vaccine was spearheaded by Prof. Ian Frazer AC.
2008
Cancer Council successfully advocates for liquid nicotine for vaping to be a restricted substance due to concerns about addictiveness, toxicity and smoking uptake.
2009
With funding from Cancer Council NSW, Prof Anna DeFazio AM and her team identified two distinct mechanisms that lead to treatment failure in the most common type of ovarian cancer.
2009-2010
Australian Government commits $640 million to regional cancer centres, citing research submitted by Cancer Council and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia.
2011
Cancer Council led advocacy calling on the Australian Government to introduce what is now considered world-leading tobacco plain packaging policy reforms, reducing smoking prevalence by 25% in its first two years.
2013
Australian Government commits to completing bowel cancer screening program by 2020, citing Cancer Council research.
2015
With funding from Cancer Council NW, Prof Murray Norris AM and his team created the ‘Minimal Residual Disease’ model, a tool that can detect traces of residual cancer cells in children suffering with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
2017
Underpinned by Cancer Council NSW research, the new National Cervical Screening Program was introduced, transitioning from two-yearly Pap tests to five-yearly HPV screening tests.
2018
Australian Government funds first ever national mass media campaign to promote bowel cancer screening, citing Cancer Council research estimating potential lives saved.
Australian Government commissions Cancer Council to produce first ever roadmap to risk-adjusted breast cancer screening, a potential global game changer.
2019
Australian Government commissions Cancer Council to develop first ever plan and guidelines to reverse unprecedented increase in liver cancer death rates.
2020
WHO launches global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer, based on Cancer Council’s Daffodil Centre-led research.
Cancer Council NSW grant recipient, Prof Nicholas Gottardo, identifies a new immunotherapy approach for hard-to-treat neuroblastoma in children, helping to decrease the long-term effects of radiation therapy.
2021
The Daffodil Centre, a world-leading research centre on cancer control and policy (a joint venture of Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney) is launched.
2022
Daffodil Centre publishes 35-year study showing optimal care at multiple disease stages is the likely driver of improved prostate cancer survival outcomes.
2023
Daffodil Centre delivers independent NHMRC-approved recommendations to expand bowel cancer screening to people aged from 45.
University of Queensland and Daffodil Centre commence work on first ever guidelines for identifying people at elevated pancreatic cancer risk and with operable disease.
The Fussell Family Foundation commits to expanding support and scope for Cancer Council NSW’s ovarian cancer research stream.
2024
Cancer Council research and advocacy informs government policies aimed at protecting young people from vaping and the link to smoking uptake.
Cancer Council NSW commences scoping to establish a Centre for Survivorship Research in
collaboration with UNSW to grow the evidence base to inform change for ongoing care of cancer survivors.
2025
National Lung Cancer Screening Program to commence informed by research led by Cancer Council NSW.
Professor David Gottlieb’s world-first human clinical trial for patients with serious fungal infections developed post bone marrow transplant, funded buy Cancer Council NSW saved multiple lives.
Launch of a new research program on multi-cancer detection (MCD) tests, led by A/Prof Julia Steinberg at the Daffodil Centre. MCD Spotlight is a 5-year program funded by the Medical Research Future Fund, to determine whether and how new innovative blood tests could help improve early detection of cancers in Australia.
2026
Cancer Council NSW’s Seeds of Change Research Strategy informed by reseacrhers, clinicians, and consumers, including refined funding schemes, is active.
Professor Martin Widschwendter joins as Director of the Daffodil Centre, strengthening and expanding our leadership in cancer prevention and early detection.
2027
With our newly established laboratory space in Cancer Council NSW Sydney office, Professor Widschendter will be pioneering a new era in precision cancer prevention.
Contact Details
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