Toowoomba residents more likely to get cancer

TOOWOOMBA residents are more likely to get a majority of cancers compared to the national average, new research from The Conversation has revealed.

Out of all reported cancer cases between 2009 and 2013, residents of the 4350 postcode were 1.08 times the national average of the cancer incidence rate.

Breast cancer was 1.03 times the national average, colorectal cancer was 1.03 times the national average, melanoma was 1.78 times the national average and prostate cancer was 1.02 times the average.

Lung cancer was 0.82 times below the national average.

Despite this, Toowoomba residents were more likely to survive their battle with cancer, with the mortality rate for all cancers 0.97 times before the national average.

Breast cancer and lung cancer were below the national average, but the mortality rates for colorectal cancer, melanoma and prostate cancer mortality rates were slightly above the national average.

These figures were a stark difference to Queensland’s capital city, with the inner west of Brisbane having one of the lowest cancer rates in the country.

Cancer Council Victoria’s Dallas English told The Conversation the analysis showed Queensland residents were more susceptible to melanoma than residents of southern states. The academic publication analysed data from the Australian Institute of Health and Wellness.