YourHealth
Cancer support
Information about New Zealand’s most common cancers, and organisations that can help people affected by cancer. Read more
Cancer programme
The Ministry leads a national work programme which provides a strategic focus for cancer control, and for system-wide improvements across the spectrum of cancer services.
Cancer is a major health issue for New Zealanders. One in three New Zealanders will have some experience of cancer, either personally or through a relative or friend.
Cancer is the country’s leading cause of death (29.8 percent) and a major cause of hospitalisation.
In 2008 more than 20,300 people were diagnosed with cancer in New Zealand and 8566 people died from the disease. In that year, prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer, followed by colorectal and breast cancer. Lung cancer was the greatest cause of cancer death.
Reducing the burden of cancer in our community is one of the Government’s priority areas.
New Zealand has developed a Cancer Control Strategy, released in August 2003, which sets principles and goals to guide existing and future actions to control cancer. The New Zealand Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan 2005-2010 describes in detail how the objectives of the Strategy will be achieved.
Since 2008, the Ministry of Health has led a systematic and co-ordinated approach to cancer control through a national work programme involving District Health Boards (DHBs) and regional cancer networks. The national programme provides a strategic focus for cancer control and for system-wide improvements across cancer services.
Latest updates
28 Feb 2012: Guidance on Surveillance for People at Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer
12 Oct 2011: Bowel screening pilot begins in Waitemata and resources have been developed for people taking part.
12 Oct 2011: The Price of Cancer: The public price of registered cancer in New Zealand
In this section
- The priority of the Bowel Cancer Programme is to strengthen bowel cancer services across the country so they can effectively meet both the current demand and increased demand in the future. Read more
- The New Zealand Cancer Registry (NZCR) is a population-based register of all primary malignant diseases diagnosed in New Zealand, excluding squamous and basal cell skin cancers. Read more
- Surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy are the main cancer treatment methods. Read more
- The Ministry is integrating all major sources of cancer data into a National View of Cancer (NVC). A NVC will enable access to high-quality, accurate and timely data on cancer incidence, treatment and outcomes enabling better control of cancer. Read more
- Cancer Connections is a quarterly newsletter that aims to link together the thousands of professionals working within the cancer community. Read more
- There are four regional cancer networks in New Zealand that work across organisational boundaries to promote a collaborative approach to service planning and delivery. Read more
- Cancer resources and information covering prostate cancer and melanoma. Read more
- New Zealand has developed a Cancer Control Strategy, which sets principles and goals to guide existing and future actions to control cancer. The Action Plan describes in detail how the objectives of the Strategy will be achieved. Read more
- Supportive care aims to improve the quality of life for people with cancer, their family and whānau through support, rehabilitation and palliative care. Read more
- Publications relating to cancer in New Zealand. Read more
Page last updated: 02 October 2011
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