http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/ian-olver/ Ian was appointed Cancer Council Australia CEO in May 2006. He is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Sydney and Honorary Associate, Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He currently serves on the Australian Health Ethics Committee and the Board of Cancer Australia and chairs the Board of the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre. Professor Olver has published over 180 articles in journals, written two books and 16 book chapters. In 2008 he was awarded the Cancer Achievement Award by the Medical Oncology Group of Australia. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/finding-the-cancer-at-the-bottom-of-the-pile/ Big winners from last night’s budget include Australians aged 50 and over at risk of bowel cancer – who until now have been among the nation’s most marginalised. The $50 million in new bowel cancer screening funds announced by Wayne Swan and health minister Tanya Plibersek on Saturday may end years of discrimination against a cancer that has been at the bottom of the pile when it comes to understanding and reducing the nation’s overall cancer burden. The pun was intended. I usually refrain from double entendres when discussing bowel cancer, because it is no laughing matter. We should not make light of a human tragedy – and one that’s all the more tragic because of its preventability. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Ian Olver) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/finding-the-cancer-at-the-bottom-of-the-pile/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/finding-the-cancer-at-the-bottom-of-the-pile/#item8455 Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:57 +0000 Ian Olver | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Stop-giving-men-a-bum-steer-on-prostate-cancer/ “Raising awareness” is a catchcry for cancer events. Prostate cancer awareness is complicated like no other cancer by the mixed messages on early detection. Urologists and pathologists urge men over 40 to get tested regularly; others in the clinical community involved in cancer screening advise men to make an informed choice about being tested, after discussing their family history and other personal concerns with their GPs. Why the debate? Because there’s no screening test that adequately distinguishes between an early-stage prostate cancer that may lead to a patient’s death if untreated and a cancer that will do no harm in the patient’s lifetime. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Ian Olver) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Stop-giving-men-a-bum-steer-on-prostate-cancer/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Stop-giving-men-a-bum-steer-on-prostate-cancer/#item6649 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:40:48 +0000 Ian Olver | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/complementary-cancer-therapies-not-an-alternative/ The controversies that have arisen between complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and conventional medical practice may come from a difference in their origins. Conventional medicine is based on evidence, often derived from randomised clinical trials, resulting in detailed knowledge about the likely benefits and side effects. This information can help a patient decide on a treatment recommendation. Moreover, how the medicine works is often known. CAMs are not supported by the same type of evidence. Their proposed mechanisms of action do not accord with the way modern science believes the body works. “Evidence” is commonly from testimonials or generations of use, with little information that would allow a patient to judge their chance of responding. Although the evidence produced for conventional medicine can create uncertainty, CAMs are often promoted without that uncertainty. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Ian Olver) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/complementary-cancer-therapies-not-an-alternative/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/complementary-cancer-therapies-not-an-alternative/#item5462 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:00:58 +0000 Ian Olver | Author bios | The Punch