Improving blood cancer outcomes for regional, rural, and remote Australians
Over seven million Australians live in regional, rural, and remote (RRR) areas – and research has consistently shown there are disparities in health outcomes between RRR Australians and people living in metropolitan areas.
Combined with the fact that blood cancers are among the most prevalent and deadly cancers out there, people in RRR Australia are at more of a disadvantage. In 2022, people in RRR areas made up 41% of the country’s blood cancer cases.
To address the needs of RRR Australians, the Leukaemia Foundation is launching the RRR Program to support timely diagnosis of blood cancer and enhance post-treatment support through primary healthcare services.
The challenges of blood cancer
There are more than 120 types of blood cancer; they are non-hereditary, spontaneous, and usually present with symptoms that overlap with other illnesses. Therefore, they are challenging to readily diagnose. Traditional population screening and lifestyle prevention modalities also do not apply to blood cancers.
A general lack of understanding and recognition of blood cancer symptoms contribute to delays in diagnoses. More than a third of blood cancer patients experience a delay in their journey to diagnosis[1].
Rural Australians also face longer wait periods and navigate greater distances to receive specialist health care, and experience worse health outcomes than people in major cities. People living in regional areas are 17 times more likely to report locational and financial barriers to care than people living in metropolitan areas[2].
About 150,000 Australians of all ages are living with a blood cancer and 145,000 people will die because of blood cancer between now and 2035. By 2035, blood cancer will cost the Australian economy approx. $72 billion each year[3].
Modelling data suggests that removing blood cancer care variations between metropolitan and regional areas could improve survival outcomes by approximately 5% of expected mortality to 2035. That translates to saving more than 7000 lives over the 2022-2035 horizon.
RRR Program activities
The four interventions in RRR Program have been designed to be implemented as an integrated program of work – or can be implemented and measured as standalone bodies of work.
The RRR Program will test both methods of implementation, to enable comparison of community impact and effectiveness.
The four interventions to be tested in the RRR program:
1. More eyes on the patient
2. Enhance support to GP at the point of care
3. Phone a friend
4. Blood cancer wellness program
Project benefits
The immediate outcomes of this pilot program will show evidence of improved awareness and skills to support diagnosis and care for blood cancer patients in primary care within RRR locations.
This program is the first horizon in a three-phase vision and will deliver impact metrics and learning to enable future service deliver scale and expansion, supported by new revenue streams. The RRR Program is a core pillar of the Leukaemia Foundation’s Patient First Strategy, focused on equitable patient experience and broadening of reach.
Ultimately, success of this RRR Program principle and methodology will potentially be useful for early detection of other non-screenable cancers – e.g. ovarian cancer, head and neck cancers, and pancreatic cancer. The rollout of RRR Program will also decrease health system expenditure by decreasing the number of patients who present to the system with late-stage disease.
Collaborators and partners
- HealthShare Digital
- Western New South Wales Primary Health Network
Resources for healthcare professionals
Head to our resources for healthcare professionals page to access the Leukaemia Foundation’s referral form, information on Optimal Care Pathways and ordering information booklets for patients.
Help for patients
If you or someone you know is living with blood cancer, see how the Leukaemia Foundation can help.
Find out more about blood cancer
Get more information, including signs and symptoms, about the diseases we support as well as finding out more about how we are closing the blood cancer health divide for LGBTQIA+, First Nations, and non-English speaking people.
Keep up-to-date
‘Training on blood cancer signs and symptoms for allied health staff and nurses – as part of ‘more eyes on the patient’ intervention component – will be available soon. If you would like to be notified of this and our future training programs or have any questions related to the above training, please fill out your details in the form below.
References
Last updated on November 26th, 2024
Developed by the Leukaemia Foundation in consultation with people living with a blood cancer, Leukaemia Foundation support staff, haematology nursing staff and/or Australian clinical haematologists. This content is provided for information purposes only and we urge you to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis, treatment and answers to your medical questions, including the suitability of a particular therapy, service, product or treatment in your circumstances. The Leukaemia Foundation shall not bear any liability for any person relying on the materials contained on this website.