An overview of colorectal cancer in the Australian healthcare system over the past 20 years

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) places a heavy burden on both the Australian health care system and the economy. CRC is the third most diagnosed cancer and carries the second highest cause of mortality. Prognosis has improved over recent years attributable to multiple factors including the introduction of a free national bowel screening program, improvements in medical and surgical treatment, and nationally funded subsidisation of some treatments. However, given Australia’s ageing population and that the incidence of CRC increases with age, this disease is likely to continue to place a heavy burden on the health economy. This paper provides an overview of the management of CRC in the context of the Australian health system over the past 20 years. It will consider the epidemiology of CRC, the various cancer registries that exist in Australia, the structure of the Australian healthcare system (mixed public and private) in which patients are treated, and finally the treatment options available to patients with either primary or metastatic CRC.