New resource to help recognise and manage rare and less common cancers

A new resource developed by Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) in collaboration with the VCCC Alliance will help primary care professionals to recognise and manage rare cancers. 

The free, online educational resource, Rare and less common cancers in primary care: Recognition, referral and support, offers a foundational understanding about how rare and less common cancers are different from common cancers. 

There’s an emphasis on the lived experience of people with cancer, and a focus on the critical role primary care providers can play in early recognition, safety-netting and coordinated care.  

RCA’s Cancer Lived Experience Survey showed 21% of respondents waited at least six months from their first appointment about symptoms to being tested for cancer. That wait was more than three years for 7% of respondents.  

Rare cancers often have vague symptoms, lack screening programs, and awareness in the community and among health professionals may be limited.  

The new course will help those working in primary healthcare to understand and navigate diagnostic uncertainty, referral pathways and multidisciplinary care, contributing to earlier detection and diagnosis, and improved outcomes for people with rare and less common cancers. 

The free educational resource can be found on the VCCC Alliance Centre for Cancer Education platform and takes about three hours to complete.   

Rare and Less Common Cancers in Primary Care | VCCC Alliance Centre for Cancer Education