A study by Cancer Council NSW published today in the Medical Journal of Australia has shown that Aboriginal people are diagnosed with head and neck cancers at a significantly more advanced stages than non-Indigenous people.
While the study found that Aboriginal people were 240 per cent more likely to have advanced head and neck cancers, that didn't mean overall cancer rates were higher.
The study showed that Aboriginal people were much less likely to seek medical attention when symptoms first appeared.
Rajah Supramaniam from Cancer Council NSW said it may be due to cultural differences.
"Perhaps Aboriginal people view their bodies a bit differently to non-Aboriginal people, or perhaps are a little bit more shy about talking about a part of their body."
He suggested there's "a need for a renewed effort to make screening programs more culturally acceptable and welcoming in some way".
Rajah Supramaniam spoke to SBS:
Mr Supramaniam said cancer prevention and awareness were the best ways of closing the gap.
"I just want to encourage people to really go and see their doctors or health workers if they do notice a change in their body," he said. "Don't be ashamed or embarrassed."
Mr Supramaniam added that people who detected cancers early had better outcomes.
"It may not be anything, but it's better to have these things checked out as early as possible and give yourself the best chance of getting treated."
The study also found Aboriginal people were also more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cervical, melanoma, prostate and breast cancers, but the differences were not statistically significant.
Cancer Council NSW said it wanted to see more targeted health campaigns that encouraged regular health checks, such as breast, bowel and cervical cancer screens as well as regular dental checks.
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