Explain the apparent paradox between increasing cancer incidence rates and decreasing cancer mortality rates in Australia. (5 marks)
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- Cancer incidence rates are increasing because Australia has an ageing population, and cancer risk rises significantly with age, resulting in more people reaching ages where cancer commonly develops.
- This occurs alongside improved detection methods such as routine screening programs, enhanced imaging techniques and better diagnostic technology that identify cancers earlier and more frequently than in previous decades.
- However, this creates decreasing mortality rates because advances in cancer treatment, surgical techniques and early intervention strategies have dramatically improved survival rates for many cancer types.
- The relationship demonstrates that while more cancers are being detected, patients are living longer after diagnosis due to better medical care and treatment options compared to previous generations.
- Therefore, the paradox reflects successful healthcare improvements where enhanced detection capabilities combine with better treatment outcomes to reduce deaths despite increasing the number of diagnosed cases across Australian populations.
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- Cancer incidence rates are increasing because Australia has an ageing population, and cancer risk rises significantly with age, resulting in more people reaching ages where cancer commonly develops.
- This occurs alongside improved detection methods such as routine screening programs, enhanced imaging techniques and better diagnostic technology that identify cancers earlier and more frequently than in previous decades.
- However, this creates decreasing mortality rates because advances in cancer treatment, surgical techniques and early intervention strategies have dramatically improved survival rates for many cancer types.
- The relationship demonstrates that while more cancers are being detected, patients are living longer after diagnosis due to better medical care and treatment options compared to previous generations.
- Therefore, the paradox reflects successful healthcare improvements where enhanced detection capabilities combine with better treatment outcomes to reduce deaths despite increasing the number of diagnosed cases across Australian populations.