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G. Colburn



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    MS 18 - Advocacy Snapshots (ID 36)

    • Event: WCLC 2015
    • Type: Mini Symposium
    • Track: Advocacy
    • Presentations: 1
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      MS18.01 - Tobacco Controls Impact on Lung Cancer (ID 1926)

      14:20 - 14:35  |  Author(s): G. Colburn

      • Abstract
      • Presentation

      Abstract not provided

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    MS 27 - Advocacy in Practice (ID 45)

    • Event: WCLC 2015
    • Type: Mini Symposium
    • Track: Advocacy
    • Presentations: 1
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      MS27.04 - Let's Yarn About Lung Cancer - An Indigenous Community Project in Regional Australia (ID 1971)

      14:50 - 15:05  |  Author(s): G. Colburn

      • Abstract
      • Presentation

      Abstract:
      Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, with Indigenous Australians 70% more likely to die from lung cancer than non-Indigenous Australians. (1) Lung cancer is the most common cancer in Indigenous men and the second most common cancer in Indigenous women. In fact, the incidence and mortality rate of lung cancer is higher for Indigenous than for non-Indigenous Australians. (1)Figure 1Evidence indicates that Indigenous people experience poorer outcomes following a cancer diagnosis because this population has later presentation to healthcare and later diagnosis. In 2012, Lung Foundation Australia, a national non-government lung health organisation, in partnership with Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Services (Hume RICS) led a community engagement and cancer education program within the regional Indigenous community of Albury/Wodonga situated on the New South Wales and Victorian state borders. At the time, Albury/ Wodonga had a population of 4,000 Aboriginal people and Hume RICS Cancer Support Nurse had only cared for three identified Aboriginal cancer patients in the last five years. The Let’s yarn about lung cancer” project was a 2 year project that aimed to raise awareness and understanding of lung cancer risks and symptoms within the Indigenous community in Albury/Wodonga and to encourage those who have concerns about their lung health or the health of community members to take action. At the same time, the project team developed innovative and culturally sensitive ways to educate Aboriginal Health Workers and local community health providers in the early diagnosis, treatment and supportive care needs of local Aboriginal cancer patients and their families - with a focus on lung cancer. A suite of culturally sensitive, evidence based patient resources were produced including :- a lung cancer symptoms and risks community education DVD entitled “Let’s Yarn about lung cancer” 3 patient DVD stories around being proactive about potential symptoms, curative treatment away from “country” and life after treatment including a survivor story from highly respected Indigenous singer/songwriter, Archie Roach. an Aboriginal lung cancer awareness pin Integral to the success of this project was the appointment of a local Aboriginal Project Officer who had strong relationships within the local Aboriginal and community health sector, was well respected in the local Aboriginal community and who ensured that culturally sensitivity was a key component of the project deliverables. National cancer control agency, Cancer Australia acknowledges that “there is no word meaning “cancer”, in most, if not all Indigenous Australian languages. Unlike many other illnesses, the concept of cancer is not embedded in the traditional Indigenous Australian story-telling”. (2) Prior to the “Let’s yarn about lung cancer” project, cancer was not a topic that was on the “radar” for local Aboriginal Health Workers or the Albury/Wodonga Aboriginal community. Cancer was not openly discussed. Let’s yarn about lung cancer project deliverables and highlights included: Establishment of a dynamic project advisory group with strong representation from the local Indigenous health and community health services. Delivery of a series of culturally sensitive cancer education sessions on lung cancer, treatment options and palliative care services to local Aboriginal Health Workers within existing Chronic Health events. Local Aboriginal health workers attended interactive educational sessions at the local radiation, chemotherapy and palliative care units. These “walk-thru” visits provided an understanding of treatment options, referral pathways and the supportive care services available. Provision of training for key Aboriginal Health Workers in culturally sensitive cancer support group facilitation and palliative care training. In summary, the Let’s yarn about lung cancer project partners (Lung Foundation Australia and Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Services) developed a stronger collaborative relationships with the Aboriginal Health Workers and the local Aboriginal community, resulting in barriers to treatment and care being reduced. In turn, local cancer services have become more culturally aware, with health workers and community members feeling more comfortable accessing the local cancer services with their clients.Figure 2 References Cancer Australia. Report to the Nation - Lung Cancer 2011. Cancer Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2011. Cancer Australia, 2015. Lung cancer in our mob: a handbook for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers. Cancer Australia, Surry Hills, NSW.





      Only Members that have purchased this event or have registered via an access code will be able to view this content. To view this presentation, please login, select "Add to Cart" and proceed to checkout. If you would like to become a member of IASLC, please click here.