The Wire

Indigenous Australians are more likely to die from cancer than non-Indigenous Australians, as a result of poor access to healthcare and limited knowledge on what causes cancer. A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that Indigenous people suffered from a higher incidence and mortality of lung, cervical, pancreatic and breast cancer than non-Indigenous people.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Indigenous people after cardiovascular disease. However Aboriginal people had lower mortality rates for melanoma of the skin, bowel cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma compared to non-Indigenous Australians.