Cancer Australia is today launching Our Lungs, Our Mob, using interactive touchscreen technology to increase knowledge and awareness of lung cancer focussing on rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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.
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and currently, 42% of Indigenous Australians smoke on a daily basis, compared with 16% of non-Indigenous Australians.
With two Indigenous Australians diagnosed every day, lung cancer is also the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and is more common in more remote areas.
Cancer Australia is reaching Indigenous people in rural and remote communities across Australia through a national network of kiosks, and through Cancer Australia’s website.
Cancer Australia’s Manager of Indigenous and Rural Projects, Isabella Wallington explained, “Using interactive audio-visual technology enables us to inform and engage with Indigenous people, with the aim of addressing the poorer lung cancer outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Our Lungs, Our Mob features personal stories from Indigenous people with a lived experience of lung cancer, including singer/songwriter Archie Roach, and provides important information on:
- risk factors;
- prevention and early detection;
- lung cancer symptoms; and
- who to see when experiencing symptoms of lung cancer.
“Our Lungs, Our Mob is an important resource for Indigenous communities because it reinforces lung cancer awareness messages in an accessible way,” said Associate Professor Noel Hayman, Clinical Director at the Inala Indigenous Health Service.
“It is important that these messages are reaching as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as possible. Having an interactive touchscreen resource in our health service allows our patients to hear positive messages from people with a lived experience of lung cancer, and receive expert advice on what to look out for and help them to consider their own health more proactively.”
The Our Lungs, Our Mob interactive resource is available on the Cancer Australia Website and interactive kiosks in Aboriginal health services and youth centres across Australia.
For more information about the Lung Cancer in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, please visit the Cancer Australia Website, canceraustralia.gov.au. To access the resource, Our Lungs, Our Mob, please click here.
For media enquiries, please contact Amy Cook on (02)9357 9401, 0438 209 833 or amy.cook@canceraustralia.gov.au