Breast Cancer In Australia: Burden, Social Determinants Of Health, Mitigation Strategies - Essay.

• Reducing tobacco use
• Improving access to and the consumption of a healthy diet
• Increasing physical activity to reduce obesity
• Increasing cancer screening and prevention
• Improving immunisation coverage
• Reducing alcohol and other drug harm
• Promoting and protecting mental health

Burden of Breast Cancer in Australia

1. Analyse the burden of this issue in Australia.

Use current statistics, data, demographics (E.g who it affects, age, gender, cultural background, geographic location, socio-economic background) to describe this public health problem (150 words)

In 2017, it is found that the occurrence of breast cancer is the generally diagnosed reason of cancer in Australia as well as the cancer which are diagnosed in females. The estimation is made that it will turn to be the most commonly dialogised cancer among the overall population and females in 2021 (Cancer Australia, 2022). In the year 2017, the age-standardised rate of incidence was 65 cases per 100,000 individuals (Cancer Australia, 2022). The estimation is made that in 2021, that an individual will have one in fifteen risk of getting diagnosed with breast cancer by the time the person reaches age of 85 (Cancer Australia, 2022). In 2021, the estimation is done that the age-standardised rate of incidence will get enhanced to 68 cases per 100,000 persons (Cancer Australia, 2022). It is predicted that the rate of incidence regarding breast cancer will get increased with age for both males and females, which will reach its peak at the age range of 70–74 years for females (Cancer Australia, 2022).

The Aboriginal and Torrens islander, who are residing in the remote regions of Australia, face obstruction to access healthcare systems for their cultural, socio-economic and geographical location, which leads to cancer survival among these populations (Cancer Australia, 2022).

Analyse how the social determinants of health influence this health problem. Use examples ( five (5) or more would be excellent) in your analysis. For example: Mental health/suicides in farmers due to depression related to trauma/drought, financial stress, homelessness etc. (350 words)

SDOH or the Social determinants of health are regarded as the vital source associated with the inequalities related with cancer care. The inclusion of certain factors which provides impact o health beyond the aspects of biology are transportation, employment and many more.

Modifiable factors of risk are the major cause behind the occurrence of cancer and it is food that 90% of the cancers are preventable, if changes in lifestyle are made. Reduction in extent of tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, and ineffective dietary habits should be avoided to mitigate this preventable disease (Cancer Council, 2022).

The genetic transformations to telomeres can enhance the risk of cancer. The ATSI individuals are exposed to adverse kind of epigenetic complexities as they are prolonged subjected to intergenerational trauma and colonisation (Cancer Council, 2022)

Housing, income and education can impact the life of an individual. The linkage between the individuals suffering from a major health issue like cancer and being homeless is increasing, in accordance with Homeless support groups (Abc, 2022). The leading reason of death for Australia’s homeless population is cancer.  The increased cancer risk profile is connected with attitude and lifestyle of these homeless people, comprising enhanced tobacco and alcohol usage, chronic infections, increased sexual behaviour. People, who are unemployed and have less income, face issues to access healthcare facilities.

Risk factors such as ultraviolet radiations and risk factors are termed as occupational carcinogens. The analysis that was performed recently highlighted that the occupational factors of risk might account for 6.5% of the new cancer cases which are diagnosed in Australia per year (Cancer Council, 2022).It leads to nearly 5000 cases because of workplace exposures (Cancer Council, 2022).

Social Determinants of Health and Breast Cancer

The situational aspects associated with social exclusion comprise accommodation, transport system and the Aboriginal people are not socially included to access the cancer care services (Cancer Council, 2022). This makes them prone to get affected from the concerned disease. Lack of locally accessible healthcare leads to ineffective health outcomes.

People of Australia seriously lack health related literacy. The individuals with decreased literacy are more likely to get hospitalised and suffer from greater healthcare costs. In Australia, the price of low health literacy is found to be between 3 and 5% regarding the overall price of the healthcare system (Ama, 2022). Therefore, it contributes to increased prevalence of cancer in these individuals.

Analyse two (2) mitigation strategies to address this problem and explain how these strategies demonstrate health promotion and disease prevention related to this health issue. Include an example or examples of any relevant funded programs that have been established to address this issue. For example, ‘Farm Link’ program funded by Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, NSW targets farmers experiencing mental health issues (500 words)

1. strategies and two relevant funded example-

The establishment regarding varied strategies to prevent cancer is performed by Australia, one of which is Slip! Slop! Slap! Seek! Slide! Campaign.  This campaign educates the Australians to protect their skin from getting exposed to sunrays, that the UV radiation, therefore helping the individuals to get protected from skin cancer. The campaign helped to develop early identification of cancer, help them in screening cancer in the early stages and leads to optimal health results of the individuals. When the diagnosis of colorectal, breast cancers are done at an earlier phase, the rate of survival is found to be very near to 100% (Cancer Council, 2022). Australia is present with three population oriented screening programs for cancer.

The design of this program is done with the objective to lessen the incidence of skin cancer, mortality as well as morbidity via a targeted early detection and prevention program (Sun Smart., 2020). The behaviour of the Australians is found to transform in a dramatic manner since the launch of Slip! Slop! Slap!' campaign (Department of Health, 2022). The official launching of this program began in 1988 when the cancer council of Victoria, received finance or funding from Victorian Health Promotion Foundation.  The funding of this program is done by Breast Cancer Network Australia, Cancer Australia. The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is termed as a community funded firm of Australia which raises finance for research into the cure and prevention of breast cancer (Department of Health, 2022).  This finance has been utilised to fund over 370 research projects that are Australia based throughout every territory and state (Department of Health, 2022).

National Bowel Cancer screening program is with the objective to lessen the deaths of individuals from bowel cancer by developing detection regarding the early signs of the particular disease (Department of Health, 2021). The people of Australia, who are diagnosed with National Screening cancer programs, are found to be less subjected to the risks of breast and bowel cancer.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is the firm of Australia which is funded by the community and money is raised by the firm to prevent individuals from breast cancer. The research projects which are based in Australia are funded by this firm. Also, Cancer Council Australia is regarded as the optimal independent funder regarding the Australian cancer research projects. It performs the work regarding educating individuals regarding cancer; make them understand the ways by which they can prevent themselves from cancer and provide complete support to them. The individuals who are affected by Cancer, are suggested to contact and take suggestions from Cancer Council Help lines, and take suggestions from people who themselves have faced cancer.  

References 

Abc (2022, March 31) Link between long-term illness and homelessness growing. ABC https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-30/homeless-with-cancer/9882028.

Act Cancer (2022, March 31) Skin Cancer in Australia. Cancer Council ACT. https://actcancer.org/prevention/sunsmart/skin-cancer-in-australia/.

Alvarez, H. A. O., Kubzansky, L. D., Campen, M. J., & Slavich, G. M. (2018). Early life stress, air pollution, inflammation, and disease: an integrative review and immunologic model of social-environmental adversity and lifespan health. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 92, 226-242. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05337.x

Ama (2022)  (March 2022 March 31) AMA 

https://ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2021-01/Health%20Literacy%202021%20-%20AMA%20Position%20Statement.pdf.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (March 2022 March 31)  Cancer in Australia https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/d28edaea-2324-43dc-a416-ae53fc2c2867/ca91-4-c02.pdf.aspx.

Breast Cancer Network Australia (2022) Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Network Australia https://www.bcna.org.au/

Cancer Australia (2022). (2021, March 31) All cancers in Australia Cancer in Australia Statistics  

https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/impacted-cancer/what-cancer/cancer-australia-statistics.

Cancer Council  (2021, March 31) Building Social Inclusion Cancer Council

https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Building-Social-Inclusion-paper.pdf.

Cancer Council (2020, December 31) Risk factors Prevention policy Cancer Council

https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/policy-and-advocacy/prevention-policy/risk-factors

Cancer Council (March 2022 March 31) Workers’ compensation claims paid in Australia 2000-2012 Cancer Council Western Australia

https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/occupational-exposures-to-carcinogens-in-australia.

Department of Health (2022, March) National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Australian Government 

https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program#:~:text=The%20National%20Bowel%20Cancer%20Screening,that%20is%20done%20at%20home.

Sun Smart, (2020, December 31) SunSmart Program SunSmart

https://www.sunsmart.com.au/about-sunsmart/sunsmart-program#:~:text=Our%20world%2d Leading%20SunSmart%20program,prevention%20and%20early%20detection%20program.