Targeting Cancer’s New Zealand Efforts Spotlighted

Targeting Cancer’s ongoing efforts to improve awareness of and radiation therapy utilization rates in New Zealand have been spotlighted once again.

The campaign was highlighted recently by the New Zealand Doctor website, which featured an interview with New Zealand-based radiation oncologist and Targeting Cancer supporter Miriama Delaibatiki.

Dr Delaibatiki said that there was a still a lack of awareness and understanding of radiation therapy as a cancer treatment among New Zealand patients and GPs.

Unlike specialist radiologists who diagnose cancers, and radiation oncologists who treat them, trainee doctors who become GPs are unlikely to receive much training to help guide cancer referrals, she said.

More education is needed for GPs on who to consult, or refer on to, when results show a patient has cancer, Dr Delaibatiki also said.

Click here to read the article in full.

Targeting Cancer, which will shortly celebrate its fifth anniversary, promotes radiation therapy as a treatment option.

Targeting Cancer is an initiative of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists’ Faculty of Radiation Oncology. It is about to mark five years of its campaign highlighting the importance of radiation therapy as a cancer treatment.

More information on the campaign is available by clicking here. Also visit Targeting Cancer’s Twitter and Facebook sites for more information.

If you are a radiation oncologist, radiation oncology physicist or radiation therapist interested in assisting the Targeting Cancer campaign, please email info@targetingcancer.com.au.