Cancer in the Grampians Region
GICS works to improve cancer care systems and services. We act as a driver of change working in partnership with the community, public and private health services providers across the Grampians region.
Our region stretches from the South Australian border in the west, to Bacchus Marsh in the east and from Edenhope to Hopetoun in the north. The area covers almost 50,000 square kilometres and a population of almost 220,000 people and covers the local government areas of; Ararat, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera & Yarriambiack.
Cancer remains a leading burden of disease for people living in the Grampians. In 2018, there were 1636 new cancer diagnoses – 4.5 people were diagnosed with cancer each day. The 5-year average annual mortality for the Grampians was 567 deaths per year (2012-2017) – which means that approximately 11 people die each week from cancer. Our five-year survival rate has risen to 66% and we are working to reduce the gap compared with the State average.
The 5 most common Cancers in the Grampians are: Prostate, Bowel, Breast, Melanoma & Respiratory.
The Cancer in the Grampians Report outlines the data based on Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) notifications (up to the 2018 calendar year) and Victorian Admitted Episode Data (VAED) up to, and including the 2018/19 financial year, for people who reside in the Grampians region.
Population data has been accessed from the Australian 2016 Census website.
Current Work
Symptom Tracking & Patient Reported Outcomes
Project Lead: Glenn Reeves
Symptom management research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) using mobile technologies to stay in touch with patients.
Supportive Care for BAROC Patients
Project Lead: Lea Marshall
This project involves the development of formal processes to ensure supportive care is planned for rural patients who are completing radiation therapy treatment at BAROC.
Community Based Psycho-Oncology Services
Project Lead: Kirsten Ives
Undetected or under treated depression is associated with reduced quality of life.
A successful pilot program investigated the feasibility of a collaborative care model of caring for cancer patients with depression.
Strategic Intentions
Post COVID Surge Planning
Project Lead: Sharon Daly
The number of diagnosed cancers has declined between by 12% since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GICS is working with health services across the region to plan for the increase in service demand.
Planning
Cancer Service Performance Audits
GICS undertakes the audits and reports on four indicators that document evidence of:
-
multidisciplinary recommendations
-
disease staging in multidisciplinary recommendations
-
communication of initial treatment plan to the patient's GP
-
supportive care screening
The indicators are requirements for clinical communication, quality cancer services, and to ensure patient safety.
Cancer Service Performance Indicator Audit 2020 - Information Sheet.
MDM Quality
Project Lead: Louise Patterson
GICS is supporting the implementation of the MDM Quality Framework.
This involves surveying MDM participants regarding their experiences - and this year include a focus on the experience of MDM in the COVID environment.
The Cancer Survivor Guide Podcast Series
Project Lead: Glenn Reeves
There are 3 series of 10 podcasts that interview local medical specialists and talk about what might be involved in the common treatment paths for cancer patients.
The podcasts are available on iTunes, Spotify and cancersurvivorguide.com.
Service Quality
We are proud to highlight the following events, publications, reports and resources that we have worked on over the past 12 months.
GICS Newsletter
The GICS Newsletter contains information on newly released cancer statistics, the latest cancer information from around the Grampians Region, developments in cancer research and best practice methodology, professional development opportunities and much more.
Click on the links below to read the latest news and previous issues:
The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services are supported by the Victorian Government
© 2021 Grampians Integrated Cancer Service
Contact Us
GICS
BRICC Level 2,
Ballarat Health Services
1 Drummond Street VIC 3350
Email: GICS@bhs.org.au
Phone: (03) 5320 4782
The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.
We are committed to safe and inclusive work places, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ communities and their families.