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 11 hours ago
The Tom Reeve Award recognises a national leader who's made significant contributions to cancer care. The award will be presented at COSA-IPOS 2025 in Adelaide in November where the recipient is invited to deliver an address. Nominations closing 14 July. bit.ly/3hIXWcV
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COSAoncology 4 days ago
Have you renewed your COSA membership yet? You might like to renew before 30 June 2025: bit.ly/4cI0nc3
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COSAoncology 6 days ago
Our June member newsletter is out now. Check your inbox for the latest COSA news and updates including new resources, events, opportunities and peer-reviewed journal articles. Or log in and view it online anytime at bit.ly/4kRIRpp
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COSAoncology 7 days ago
COSA is the national oncology community bringing together multidisciplinary health professionals across all cancers to advance care and improve outcomes. More on member benefits here: bit.ly/3BwXvwL
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COSAoncology 14 days ago
If you selected automatic renewal, expect to see an email from COSA today. Please check your details in the email, and update your billing in your COSA account if needed. bit.ly/4cI0nc3
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COSAoncology 14 days ago
Check out what your membership supported COSA to achieve in the last year! Renew your membership to continue collaborating with COSA: bit.ly/4cI0nc3
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COSAoncology 18 days ago
COSA is a truly multidisciplinary community providing opportunities to connect with leaders in cancer healthcare, build networks and collaborations, access professional development, drive advocacy and facilitate research. Join or renew today: cosa.org.au
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COSAoncology 20 days ago
Did you know COGNO members can join COSA at a discounted rate? Thank you to @cogno_trials for continuing Affiliated organisation membership with COSA. bit.ly/3s5mOC6
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COSAoncology 20 days ago
Thank you @MASC_Trials for continuing your Affiliated organisation membership with COSA. Don’t forget, MASC Trials members can join COSA at a discounted rate. bit.ly/3s5mOC6
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COSAoncology 21 days ago
Congratulations COSA members and friends who were recognised with #KingsBirthdayHonours including oncology nurse and researcher, Catherine Johnson AM, and radiation oncologists and researchers, Prof Michael Poulsen AM and Prof Gerard Fogarty OAM. These honours are well deserved
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