Review of cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Introduction Cancer is a major cause of illness in Australia and has substantial social and economic impacts on individuals, families and the community [1]. Findings from the Australian Burden of Disease Study showed that cancer was the greatest cause of health burden in Australia. Socially disadvantaged groups and Indigenous people are particularly at risk, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience nearly twice the cancer burden of non-Indigenous people. The most common cancers diagnosed among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are lung, breast (females), bowel and prostate (males) [2].