Cancer in Society (MEDI90087)

Intended learning outcomes

This subject aims to provide students with a holistic understanding of the cancer burden in modern society. Students will use the social determinants of health as the foundation to examine risk factors, impact on health services, economic burden and the role of the commercial sector, law and public policy in cancer prevention and control. This subject will arm students with the knowledge required to serve as cancer control advocates in their professional contexts.

At the completion of the subject, student should possess the ability to:

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in the disparities of cancer outcomes amongst different socio-economic and cultural groups nationally and internationally.
• Demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge of the financial and social burden of cancer in the population.
• Communicate well-developed judgment in discussing the evidence base of the burden of cancer, its risk factors and the social determinants of preventable disease
• Discuss future cancer incidence projections and critically examine how these may impact priorities in service and program delivery in Australia
• Critically evaluate the evidence-base linking lifestyle and environmental factors with cancer aetiology
• Analyse the role of the commercial sector in promoting and sustaining cancer risk factors
• Discuss how different public health strategies and interventions can be used to impact on the burden of cancer.
• Analyse the role of public policy (taxation, regulation) from prevention to supportive cancer care
• Discuss the legal processes that underpin the development of policy in cancer treatment, care and control.