Skin cancer by state and territory

Presents the number of new skin cancer problems managed per 100,000 encounters nationally and for each state and territory, from April 2008 to March 2013. Summary There is a paucity of Australian state-based data on the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin are not notifiable diseases and are not collected by the state and territory cancer registries. In a 2002 survey, the Australian age-standardised incidence per 100,000 persons for NMSC was 1170 (BCC 884, SCC 387) , with a higher incidence in the northern latitudes

Opioids for breathlessness: a narrative review

ABSTRACT Chronic breathlessness is a disabling and distressing condition for which there is a growing evidence base for a range of interventions. Non-pharmacological interventions are the mainstay of management and should be optimised prior to use of opioid medication. Opioids are being implemented variably in practice for chronic breathlessness. This narrative review summarises the evidence defining current opioids for breathlessness best practice and identifies remaining research gaps.There is level 1a evidence to support the use of opioids for breathlessness. The best evidence is for 10mg to 30mg daily de novo low dose oral sustained-release morphine in opioid-naïve patients. This should be considered the current standard of care following independent, regulatory scrutiny by one of the world’s therapeutics regulatory bodies.Optimal benefits are seen in steady state, however, there are few published data about longer term benefits or harms. Morphine-related adverse events are common but mostly mild and self-limiting on withdrawal of drug. Early and meticulous management of constipation, nausea and vomiting is needed particularly in the first week of administration. Serious adverse events are no more common than placebo in clinical studies. Observational studies in severe chronic lung disease do not show excess mortality or hospital admission in those taking opioids. We have no long term data on immune or endocrine function.There are promising data regarding prophylaxis for exertion-related breathlessness, but given the risks associated with transmucosal fentanyl, caution is needed with regard to clinical use pending longer-term, robust safety data

General practice activity in Australia 2014–15

This is the 17th annual report and the 38th book in the General Practice Series from the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health) program, a continuous national study of general practice activity in Australia.Australian Government Department of Health, AstraZeneca Pty Ltd (Australia), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd, bioCSL (Australia) Pty Ltd, AbbVie Pty Ltd, Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affair

General practice activity in Australia 2014–15

This is the 17th annual report and the 38th book in the General Practice Series from the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health) program, a continuous national study of general practice activity in Australia.Australian Government Department of Health, AstraZeneca Pty Ltd (Australia), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd, bioCSL (Australia) Pty Ltd, AbbVie Pty Ltd, Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affair