A call for better cancer prevention, to prevent a spike in cancer harm

The Cancer Control Agency's latest State of Cancer report has found more people are being diagnosed with cancer, and new cases are set to increase by 50-percent in the next two decades.

It's calling for ongoing investment to ready the health system.

Otago University Medical Oncologist Dr Chris Jackson says says we also need to do more to address the causes of cancer - like reducing smoking, obesity, and exposure to the sun.

He says our skin cancer rates are higher than Australia's, and we all need to be doing more to prevent sun damage.