Overview
Rare cancers account for 20 per cent of cancers diagnosed in Australia, and 30 per cent of cancer-related deaths. People with rare cancers are more likely to die from their disease than people with more common cancers.
The outlook for people with rare cancers is not as good as that for people with more common cancers because:
- Rare cancers are often diagnosed at late, more advanced and harder to treat stages, because there are no effective screening strategies For patients and their health professionals may not recognise the symptoms of rare cancers
- Treatments for many rare cancers have not advanced at the same pace as treatments for more common cancers in recent years. This is because it is much harder to research or perform clinical trials for rarer diseases and there is often less support for researchers or clinicians.
The COSA Rare Cancers Group was established to help support and improve outcomes for patients with rare cancers. We work with community support groups such as Rare Cancers Australia (rarecancers.org.au) and the Cancer Council's Rare and Less Common Cancers Working Group.
We take an Australia-wide and international approach as collaborations are vital to more rapidly develop rare cancer knowledge and provide the most robust evidence-based for rare cancer patients.
Our membership is open to allied health and medical practitioners, and cancer researchers, with an interest in rare cancers. We also work with other tumour stream specialty groups to promote and develop rare cancer trials and research.
Group information
Read the Rare Cancers Group Terms of Reference
Read the AGM Minutes from 7 December 2020
What’s the latest
Group Chair

Group Chair
Clare Scott
Rare Cancers Group Chair & ANZGOG Representative
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COSAoncology 5 hours ago
Thank you, @dietitiansaus for continuing your COSA Associated organisation membership! DA members are invited to join or renew with COSA at discounted rates: bit.ly/3s5mOC6
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COSAoncology 9 hours ago
Did you know ANZHNCS members can join COSA at a discounted rate? Thank you to @anzhncs for continuing Affiliated organisation membership with COSA. bit.ly/3s5mOC6
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COSAoncology yesterday
Cancer pharmacists will gather in Melbourne this weekend for the COSA CPG Clinical Practice Course. There are streams for those with a basic knowledge and those with an advanced clinical level in oncology and haematology pharmacy practice.
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COSAoncology yesterday
Our April member newsletter is out now with Group updates, new resources, journal articles, oncology events and more. Check your inbox or view the COSA eNews online at bit.ly/42SWNrG
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COSAoncology 2 days ago
Join or renew as a COSA member by 16 May 2025 to make a saving! For members, your renewal email is in your inbox today. bit.ly/3hXsDLm
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Cancer Nurses Society @CNSA_ORG, thank you for continuing your COSA Affiliated organisation membership. CNSA members are invited to save on COSA membership: bit.ly/3s5mOC6
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COSAoncology 8 days ago
Thank you @BCTrialsANZ for continuing your Affiliated organisation membership with COSA. BCT members can join or renew with COSA at discounted rates: cosa.org.au/membership/mem…
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COSAoncology 14 days ago
Thanks to the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy for renewing as a COSA Associated organisation. #ASMIRT members are invited to take advantage of discounted COSA membership: cosa.org.au/membership/mem…
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COSAoncology 14 days ago
Thank you, @PathologyRCPA for continuing as a COSA Affiliated organisation. Did you know RCPA members can join or renew with COSA at a discounted rate? bit.ly/3s5mOC6
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COSAoncology 15 days ago
The latest Cancer Pharmacists Group eNews in CPG members' inboxes and on the COSA website. Stay up to date and stay connected. bit.ly/3RhZY6Q
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