Cancer Screening in Australia: Challenges Faced by Indigenous Australians

Assignment
CANCER SCREENING IN AUSTRALIA
Name: Naga Hussain Rao Juneboina
Student Number: 19571001
Subject: social and cultural perspectives on Public health
Subject Code: PHE5SCP
Year: 2019.

PICO Question
Could being an indigenous Australian hinder access to cancer screening?
Cancer screening in Australia
Cancer accounts for around one-fifth of the total disease commonly faced by
Australians. According to Lauby-Secretan et al. (2015), it is more related to the growth of
tumour cells that involves disturbances in energy production through respiration. It is a
metabolic disease, which can be managed by following a body transition. It is of no wonder
that quick detection and screening can prevent premature death. According to Farnsworth,
(2016) Australia needs to be more aware of the ways that increase the chances of cancer
among the population. The most important step in the process is to understand what matters
to people, including their perception of the risks involved and things that counts in making a
quality life. According to Hersch et al. (2015) assessing the effectiveness of the screening
programs is a continuous and difficult method which involves the Government and the
organizations involved in health care.
Australian Statistics
An estimated 138,000 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Australia
this year. Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia where more than 48000 deaths are
estimated for 2018 (Olver & Roder, 2017). While around 69% of people diagnosed with
cancer remain alive five years after the diagnosis is made, the seriousness of the issue cannot
be ignored by the number of deaths happening in Australia. Statistics indicate that around one
in five cancer death are due to smoking, and about 3% of cancers are related to the
consumption of alcohol. Exposure to high radiations, unhealthy habits of eating, high
consumption of fast foods, family history, and lack of proper physical activities are also
responsible for cancer.
Statement of the problem
Indigenous Australians, descended from the original inhabitants of Australia, exhibit
high rates of cancer (Andrew, Tiggemann& Clark, 2016). The absence of proper health care
facilities, awareness programmes, government measures, immunization facilities makes the

problem more severe among remote indigenous communities. The spread of disease at
diagnosis – that is, late diagnosis – reduces cancer survival in this group. Low health literacy
is a major factor contributing to late diagnosis.
The problem of cancer among the indigenous population is further complicated by
multiple cancer diagnoses (Christou et al., 2010). When people are detected with multiple
cancers at similar stages only the initial record persists and the additional diagnoses may be
neglected, making the overall condition more dangerous and deadly. Major differences in the
socio-economic conditions among Aboriginals and the Torres Islanders are another major
problem faced in cancer screening methods. There is a direct relationship in the socio-
economic conditions and the living conditions among any section of the society. Indigenous
Australians as a group are disadvantaged compared with the majority of the population, and
their health suffers accordingly.
Data Methodology
The literature review was obtained through the use of PubMed online site and
Cochrane Review website in assessing and finding the challenges faced by indigenous
Australians.
Literature Review
The key aim of screening programs is to enable improvement of the health outcomes
of the population through detection of conditions associated with increased risks of cancer
and early stage cancer development. The screening tests are economically feasible and
accepted by the general population. Its effectiveness is determined by the population survival
benefit which s assessed based on the clinical and population registration data (Christou &
Thompson, 2013).
Delayed diagnosis of cancer is a potential priority. Identification of patient, health
care and tumour related factors within the primary health care system is key in identifying
delay in diagnosis, this aid in developing programs and strategies which addresses such
delays. The occurrence of poor knowledge, failure and awareness among the aboriginal
women often has lead to increase rates of cancer and low intake of cancer screening (Castles,
Wainer & Jayasekara, 2016).