Why closing gap in cancer care is a must

Disadvantaged at greater risk of dying, writes Penny Egan

Every Tasmanian has a cancer story. We don’t need reminding that cancer impacts all our lives in some way. However, World Cancer Day, on February 4, does remind us that there is still much work to do.

Inequality in cancer care is a global concern. Internationally and locally, who you are, where you were born and where you live could mean the difference between life and death.

The international theme for World Cancer Day 2023 is Closing the Gap in cancer care.

This is not simply providing everyone with equal resources, as every diagnosis demands a different solution, it is about equity and giving everyone what they need to bring them up to the same level.

Australia has some of the best cancer survival rates in the world, with the survival rate across all cancers five years post-diagnosis at 69 per cent.

However, statistics indicate that Australia’s most disadvantaged populations are 37 per cent more likely to die of cancer than the richest.

Even in our beautiful island state where you would hope that all Tasmanians have access to quality health care, there are still inequities.

Most Tasmanians are geographically only three hours’ drive from accessing a hospital, but their ability to access may be limited due to physical, social, financial and transit issues.

There is a growing body of research that can be applied to Tasmania which indicates how the social determinants of health impact cancer – from exposure to a broad range of risk factors from prevention, detection and diagnosis through to treatment, support and the impact on quality of life. Those social inequalities include income, occupation, literacy, language barriers and educational levels.

Financial toxicity is an unintended harm caused by a cancer diagnosis. For some it causes a huge gap which can be difficult to close.

The financial costs to cancer patients can vary widely. Being a public or private patient, where you live, cost of medications, specialist fees and gap payments, travel and accommodation as well as childcare and car parking all increase the financial gap.

Cancer Council Tasmania offers a number of financial assistance programs for people impacted by cancer to help close that gap but we know that financial pressures can be ongoing for a long time.

One in three cancers is preventable. The investment into prevention must continue. The federal government has recently invested in the national bowel screening and SunSmart campaigns. The indications are that people are watching but we must see behavioural change. All of us can play a part in supporting others to reduce their cancer risk.

More than 10 Tasmanians a day are receiving a cancer diagnosis. The impact on them and their families will be huge.

The imperative for government to ensure that all Tasmanians have access to the health care and the support they need is a priority.

No Tasmanian should be disadvantaged and no Tasmanian should be making a decision between the best treatment and the treatment they can afford or access.