KILLER IN THE ‘BURBS

FIVE Gold Coast suburbs had more cancer cases per capita than the national average, a new report reveals.

Southport, Nerang, Coolangatta, Robina and Ormeau-Oxenford all rated poorly in a Federal Government study.

If you live in Coolangatta you are more likely to have melanomas.

FIVE Gold Coast suburbs have more cancer cases per captia than the Australian average, a new report reveals.

Southport — which had 533 people per 100,000 diagnosed with the killer disease between 2009-2013 — Nerang (532), Robina, Coolangatta (both 521) and Ormeau-Oxenford (502) were all higher than the national average of 497.

If you live in Coolangatta you are more likely to have melanomas.

A Federal Government study used data collected from diagnoses from 2009-2013, taking in breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, lung and skin cancers.

Southport had 1666 cases of cancer diagnosed in the four years to 2013, the My Healthy Communities report found.

But Surfers Paradise, where the population might have been thought to be skewed towards older people, had a rate of 481.

Bond University professor of evidence-based medicine Paul Glasziou said low or high socio-economic status could affect diagnoses.

“Lower socio-economic groups tend to have higher rates of smoking, and so have higher rates of lung cancer,” he said.

“But they may have lower rates of other types of cancer. They may start younger in terms of having children, and have more children, which in turn prevents breast cancer.”

Southport, Surfers Paradise (both 128 cases) and Gold Coast north region (127) had the highest rates per capita of breast cancer.

Broadbeach/Burleigh (68) Ormeau/Oxenford (64) and Southport (63) had the highest rates per capita of colorectal cancer on the Gold Coast.

Nerang topped the list of lung cancer diagnoses (61). Gold Coast North (48) and Southport (47) were next.

Coolangatta had 188 cases of prostate cancer per capita, followed by Robina (186) and Gold Coast North (173).

Coolangatta had the highest rate of melanoma, with 90 cases, followed by Broadbeach/Burleigh, Southport and Nerang.

Surf Life Saving Queensland Gold Coast coordinator Nathan Fife said Coolangatta residents enjoyed the beach more than most other Coast residents. The northern end attracted more tourists while the Coolangatta area had more locals, he said.

Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillan said rates could vary for many reasons and “overall, cancer rates on the Gold Coast are consistent with the rest of Queensland”.

“More research is needed to help understand why certain disparities may occur, so that appropriate interventions can be introduced.”