Cancer and Aboriginal people in Australia: A review of the literature

This paper provides a thematic review of the literature on cancer in Aboriginal people in Australia, focusing on experiences in diagnosis, treatment and care as well as addressing sociocultural factors to guide the public health response to poorer treatment outcomes. A search of both medical and social scientific databases for journal articles published between 1995 and 2006 show that cancer incidence and possibly survival and mortality data are likely to be underestimated in Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people are more likely to die from cancer than non-Aboriginal Australians. There are significant differences between the cancer experiences of those living in the city and in rural or remote areas. There is also a relative absence of literature on cancer in Aboriginal men, who are likely to have particular needs during diagnosis, treatment and care. In drawing conclusions from these data, it can be seen that Aboriginal people with cancer have poorer outcomes than non-Aboriginal Australians, and there is a need for further research in the patterns of care and predictors of outcomes in Aboriginal men and women with cancer. Particular attention should be given to the different needs and experiences of Aboriginal people in urban or rural/remote areas. These findings indicate an urgent need to allocate additional resources to the treatment and care of Aboriginal people with cancer, in addition to screening interventions. There is also a continuing need to acknowledge cultural differences in the health beliefs of Aboriginal people and to work in partnership with Aboriginal community controlled health organisations.