Gastro-intestinal (GI or digestive tract) cancers are the most common form of cancer, affecting 25,000 Australians a year, claiming a devastating 33 lives a day.
GI cancers – oesophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas and bowel malignancies – have low five-year survival rates: the average is 54% and just 5% for pancreatic disease, compared with breast and prostate cancers which have 90%+ survival rates in some cases.
Recent evidence shows GI cancer research is under-funded compared with its death and disease impact. “We need to raise community awareness of gastro-intestinal cancers, and their research funding – to match their devastating burden of death and disease,” said Associate Professor Tim Price, Chairman of the GI Cancer Institute.
As part of this awareness raising campaign, the AGITG (Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group) is running a series of Engage Community Forums which will include GI cancer experts, patients, families and supporters. The Forums are an opportunity to exchange the latest world-leading research developments and share life-and-death experiences.
For more information on the Forums (being held in Sydney, Perth and Canberra in November) visit: gicancer.org.au.
