Cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland

• Reach:

  QLD

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Completed

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The Cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland project was conducted by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, and was a Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) project, hosted by The Lowitja Institute. The aim of this project was to assess differences in disease stage at cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Queensland.

All Indigenous people residing in Queensland and diagnosed with cancer between 1997 and 2002 were identified through Queensland public hospitals or the Queensland Cancer Registry, and were eligible for inclusion. The main findings from the research indicated that:

• the likelihood of death from cancer was about 30% higher for Indigenous than for non-Indigenous cases, after taking into account cancer stage at diagnosis, cancer treatment, and higher rates of comorbidities in Indigenous individuals
• compared with non-Indigenous Australian cancer patients, Indigenous patients of a similar age, sex, place of residence, type of cancer, and with similar access to public healthcare, fared worse
• better understanding of cultural differences in attitudes to cancer and its treatment could translate into meaningful public health and clinical interventions to improve cancer survival in Indigenous Australians.

Contacts

Patricia Valery
Project leader
Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR)
Email: Patricia.valery@qimr.edu.au

Related publications

Coory MD, Green AC, Stirling J, Valery PC (2008)

Survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders after a diagnosis of lung cancer: a matched cohort study.

Medical Journal of Australia; 188(10): 562-566

• Links
• View article: Survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders after a diagnosis of lung cancer: a matched cohort study
• View article: Survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders after a diagnosis of lung cancer: a matched cohort study (PDF - 471.1 KB)
• View website: Medical Journal of Australia

Valery PC, Coory M, Stirling J, Green AC (2006)

Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians: a matched cohort study.

The Lancet; 367(9525): 1842-1848

• Links
• View abstract: Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians: a matched cohort study
• View website: The Lancet

Martin JH, Coory MD, Valery PC, Green AC (2009)

Association of diabetes with survival among cohorts of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with cancer.

Cancer Causes and Control; 20(3): 355-360

• Links
• View abstract: Association of diabetes with survival among cohorts of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with cancer
• View information: Association of diabetes with survival among cohorts of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with cancer
• View website: SpringerLink

Links

• View information: Cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland
• View information: Chronic diseases and cancer research projects
• View website: Queensland Institute of Medical Research
• View website: The Lowitja Institute