Stakeholder toolkit

Cancer Council Victoria’s Early Detection campaign is supporting Victorians to put cancer screening and early detection back on the agenda. To achieve this, we’re working with health professionals across a range of disciplines to address the missing cancers that went undiagnosed during the pandemic. 

What you’ll find on this page:

• What’s Cancer Council Victoria’s Early Detection campaign about?
• Key messages
• Social media and newsletter tiles
• Content to promote the campaign to health professionals
• Content to promote early detection to patients and community members
• Translated content for Mandarin and Arabic audiences
• Additional resources

Early Detection Campaign background

Over the last few years, the attitudes of Victorians towards health seeking behaviours have changed. People have changed how they prioritise their health, only seeking help for serious, acute issues and putting off anything they perceive to be non-essential. Insights show that some patients delay or hesitate to book appointments with their doctor to discuss cancer symptoms or for cancer screening as they believe they will not be able to access a health system that is overburdened and that non-urgent issues are not a priority to healthcare providers.

These perceptions may be further reinforced when they find it difficult to get an appointment with their usual HP or if they need to wait for longer than they usually would, as well as a noted increase in cost of GP services and reduced availability of bulk billing. Further qualitative research has also identified prevalent beliefs in the Victorian community that telehealth is preferred by GPs rather than face-to-face, and that consultations have been shortened and limited to the presenting issue, with little opportunity to discuss symptoms or raise concerns. This further deters individuals from booking appointments to discuss cancer screening or unexplained symptoms that may be a sign of cancer.

The Victorian Cancer Registry reported a 7% decline in cancer diagnoses in 2020, with diagnoses declining again in 2021 by 4.3%. This represents around 3,800 fewer cancer diagnoses in Victoria over 2020 and 2021 ( VCR Report, 2022). This is likely because the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the number of Victorians coming forward for cancer screening, testing and subsequent diagnoses.

The Victorian Cancer Registry also reported that the greatest decline in cancer diagnoses occurred in bowel cancer (846 fewer diagnoses), melanoma (827), blood cancers (644), prostate cancer (625) and breast cancer (395) (VCR, 2022).

To address this issue, Cancer Council Victoria is working with a broad range of health professionals to deliver a Victorian Government Department of Health funded Early Detection campaign.  The campaign is informed by Cancer Council Victoria’s Behavioural Insights Research and community consultation which highlighted the need of Victorians to be reassured by doctors to book appointments for symptoms or cancer screening. This campaign will address many cancer types as well as all three national cancer screening programs. In addition to these messages, we will also engage with Mandarin and Arabic speaking audiences through targeted messages and through our partners. If you work or treat any patients who speak these languages, you will find translated materials on this page.

 It is a critical time to change the narrative after so many significant changes to our health system, to ensure Victorians know they can and should make an appointment to get a symptom checked or to discuss cancer screening.  However, we need health professionals to support this message. Research shows that patients are more likely to participate in cancer screening if advised by their doctor or a health professional.

How you can help

It is important for health professionals to opportunistically ask their patients if they’re up to date with cancer screening and if they have noticed any new unexplained changes in their body that could be a sign of cancer.

We also know that being proactive and checking if your patients are up to date with their bowel, breast and cervical cancer screening can encourage participation. You can:

• Discuss cancer screening during an appointment.
• Check if you patient is up to date with bowel and cervical screening through National Cancer Screening Registry (NCSR) portal. 
• During consultations, reassure your patients that if they notice any symptoms, even if their previous screening test was normal, that it's important to see a doctor without delay.

To support you with these actions, Cancer Council Victoria have developed an Early Detection website to learn more about cancer symptoms and screening. Patients can also speak to an experienced cancer nurse on 13 11 20 to learn about early detection and cancer screening, as well as for support for cancer patients.

In addition to these above activities, use this kit to promote messages through your networks.  

We really appreciate your support. Don’t forget to tag us: @cancervic

Early Detection key messages for Victorians:

• We know life has been challenging these last few years, with changes to accessing health care or changes to health priorities which has resulted in less cancers being detected among Victorians. So, we're supporting all Victorians to get up to date with cancer screening and increase their understanding of early detection behaviours to help find cancer early.  
• Early detection can save your life. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat.
• Cancer screening can detect early stages before you notice anything. The earlier a cancer is treated the better for you.
• It is important to protect yourself from cancer, through regular cancer screening and seeking medical support if you notice a change or unexplained symptom.
• One third of cancers can be prevented. Discover simple lifestyle changes that can help reduce your risk which include quitting smoking, reduce your intake of alcohol, eat a healthy diet, keep physically active and protect your skin from UV using all five forms of sun protection. Learn more about how to protect your health through cancer prevention at www.cancervic.org.au/cancer-information/preventing-cancer.
• Visit Cancer Council Victoria’s Early Detection website to better understand cancer symptoms and cancer screening programs you need to be aware of. 
• If you’re not sure about symptoms or need general cancer information and support, call 13 11 20 and speak to one of Cancer Council Victoria’s experienced cancer nurses.

Social media tiles

Health professionals communications

Sample social media posts for health professional audiences:

Newsletter copy for HCP audiences

Consumer facing communications

Sample social media – for consumer-facing channels

Newsletter copy for general public

Support Mandarin and Arabic speaking communities

Part of Cancer Council Victoria's Early Detection campaign is addressing relevant barriers and providing information in language to Mandarin and Arabic speaking communities. Health professionals and organisations that support people who speak these languages can use translated tiles and direct audiences to our dedicated website pages that have been translated and host relevant translated resources.

Translated resources

• Visit our dedicated Mandarin page
• Visit our dedicated Arabic page

Download

Arabic

Download

Cancer Council Victoria’s website has a new tool called ‘Recite Me’ which allows uses to translate the website in any language. If you work with communities outside of our defined language groups, we encourage you to promote this new feature.

Watch our video below to see how to use it.

Find resources and more information for health professionals

Learn more about early detection and increase cancer screening participation including resources for patients.