Most common cancers in australia are non melanoma

Most common cancers in Australia are non-melanoma skin
cancers which are often self-detected and removed by a GP
o Most frequently life threatening cancers are:
 Men = prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer
and melanoma
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PDHPE HSC
 Women = breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer,
melanoma
 Mortality
o Accounted for 30% of deaths in Australia in 2010
o Major types in lung, breast colorectal, prostate and melanoma
o Lung cancer is a major cause of death – death rates have
declined in men, increased in women (female smoking up),
yet male rates 3x higher
o Cervical cancer dropped significantly due to success of
National Cervical Cancer Screening Program
o Cancer mortality rates could be reduced by changes to
lifestyle, increased knowledge and awareness of risk factors
o Men have higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and
higher risk of dying from cancer than women – indicative of
men’s poor diet and smoking/drinking habits compared to
women
 Lung cancer
o Leading cause of cancer deaths in Australia – highly
preventable
o Most commonly occurring type of cancer
o Female death rate, while lower than men, is increasing
o Risk is 10x higher amongst smokers
o Larger portion die within five years because detection is often
late
o Future incidence looking lower as women smokers decreasing
o 10% of cases are non-smokers – linked to air pollution,
occupational hazards (hairdressers)
 Breast Cancer
o Most common cause of cancer related death in Australian
women
o 2680 deaths in 2007
o As women grown older, both risk and incidence increases
o No known cause – only family history, diet high in fat, obesity,
early menstruation, late menopause, late pregnancy or no
kids.
o Breast self-examination – flat finger, feeling for abnormality on
breast tissue
o Mammographic screening – special x-ray of glands, fat and
blood vessels under skin of breast to identify variations.
 Skin Cancer
o Skin cancer and sunspots (solar keratosis) are the most
common cancer in Australia.
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PDHPE HSC
o Due to prolonged exposure to UV rays  Australian society
o 50% of lifetime exposure occurs in childhood and adolescent
years
o 1400 Australians due from melanoma and non-melanoma skin
cancers each year
o Malignant melanomas spread
Risk factors
 Lung cancer:
o Tobacco smoking
o Occupational exposure to carcinogens (hairdresser or
asbestos)
o Air pollution
 Breast cancer:
o Family or personal history of disease
o High-fat diet
o Early onset of menstruation
o Late menopause
o Obesity
o Benign breast disease
o Late age at first full term pregnancy or childlessness
 Skin cancer:
o Fair skin that burns rather than tans
o Fair or red hair and blue eyes
o A high number of bright sunlight at place of residence
o Prolonged exposure to sun, especially as a child or adolescent
o Number and type of moles on skin
Social determinants
Social
determinants
 People with a family history are more at risk
 Incidence of lung and cervical cancer is higher for