{"id":32273,"date":"2026-09-18T12:59:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T04:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=advice&p=32273"},"modified":"2026-09-18T13:23:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T05:23:56","slug":"supporting-people-through-every-stage-of-cancer","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/advice\/supporting-people-through-every-stage-of-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting people through every stage of cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For many people affected by cancer, surviving the disease is only part of the journey. The emotional, psychological and physical impacts can continue long after treatment ends. Curtin researcher Dr Chlo\u00e9 Maxwell-Smith is working closely with community, health professionals and local organisations to improve care from pre-screening through to treatment and beyond.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chlo\u00e9 says improving care starts with understanding where people need more support and listening to those with lived experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCancer is a different story for everyone,\u201d she says. \u201cBut there are so many gaps in the journey that we need to pay attention to.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are gaps in diagnosis, screening, seeking treatment, adhering to treatment and gaps when treatment finishes.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding these challenges has been central to Chlo\u00e9\u2019s research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt every stage we\u2019re asking the question, how can we make practical changes to improve the experience for people affected by cancer?\u201d  
– Dr Chlo\u00e9 Maxwell-Smith<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"Woman
Dr Chlo\u00e9 Maxwell-Smith with WA Minister for Science and Innovation, Hon Stephen Dawson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Research shaped by lived experience <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As part of Curtin\u2019s Medical Research Institute, Chlo\u00e9 works closely with a local advocacy group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough our Cancer Domain\u2019s Consumer Advisory Group, I work closely with people affected by cancer, including people with or beyond a cancer diagnosis, carers and community members to inform my cancer research,\u201d she explains.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about doing research in an office or in a lab with my colleagues and students and then sending it out to the world and hoping it\u2019s useful,\u201d she says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about bringing community in straight away. We want to know if the project is valuable from the start.\u201d 
– Dr Chlo\u00e9 Maxwell-Smith<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She also works closely with industry experts, hospitals and local organisations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur most useful projects are linked with external partners,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are consumers across all stages of our research, across different projects. And they are driving our questions and proposed solutions, the way that we research and how to interpret the findings.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning cancer information into action <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One area of Chlo\u00e9\u2019s research looks at why people may delay cancer screening or seeking medical help after noticing symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last ten years, around one million Australians have been diagnosed with cancer1<\/sup>, and the number continues to increase.2<\/sup> Chlo\u00e9 says there is an urgent need for cancer messaging that helps people understand when and how to take action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says it\u2019s not simply about giving people more information. For people to act on it, the messaging needs to be relevant to their circumstances, culturally safe and easy to put into practice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCancer messages can sometimes rely on fear or shock to get people\u2019s attention,\u201d she says. \u201cBut people need to know what to do after noticing something isn\u2019t quite right.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chlo\u00e9 says she works closely with the Cancer Council<\/a> on their Find Cancer Early campaign in regional WA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe investigated the role of doctors modelling simple detection behaviours, and why some messages didn\u2019t stick,\u201d she explains.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe found messages delivered by \u2018regional champions\u2019 \u2013 local members of the community with lived experiences of cancer \u2013 may be a relatable and memorable way to encourage people to take action.\u201d 
– Dr Chlo\u00e9 Maxwell-Smith<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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