Fed: Didgeridoo blamed when Aboriginal cancer knowledge limited

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2004
Fed: Didgeridoo blamed when Aboriginal cancer knowledge limited

EDS: Embargoed until 0001 AEST Wednesday August 25



By Kylie Walker, National Medical Correspondent

SYDNEY, Aug 25 AAP - As many as one-quarter of traditionally living Aborigines have
never heard the word "cancer" and some still believe cancer can be contracted from playing
too much didgeridoo.

Medical anthropology doctoral student Heidi Lehmann has found a striking number of
Aborigines living in traditional communities in north-east Arnhem Land have very limited
knowledge of cancer.

Speaking with AAP ahead of presenting her study at an indigenous cancer conference
in Darwin today, Ms Lehmann said about one-quarter of the people she had interviewed had
not even heard the word of the disease.

"In terms of risk factors, I heard some interesting stories about it (cancer) being
a contagious disease," the La Trobe University student said.

"Also stories about how it could be caused, such as a sprain from the ankle or playing
the didgeridoo too much."

Overall cancer rates are lower in indigenous Australians than non-indigenous Australians,
but certain cancers buck the trend.

Lung, cervical and liver cancer occur more often and are more usually fatal in Aboriginal
Australians.

The incidence of breast cancer for Aboriginal women is about one-third that of the
general population, but the breast cancer death rates for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
women are about the same.

Those figures highlighted that prevention, screening and treatment messages were not
getting through to many indigenous Australians, Ms Lehmann said.

"There appear to be some messages getting through but they're coming through in bits
and pieces," she said.

"For instance, when I asked one lady when women should start having mammograms her
answer was more suited to the group targeted for Pap smears."

Health authorities should work on finding more culturally-sensitive ways to educate
indigenous communities about cancer, she said.

"I think we need to look at groups on a more individual basis, not just take a single
approach and apply it to all indigenous groups across Australia because they're extremely
diverse," Ms Lehmann said.

"We need to work out how we can work within their systems to deliver our message."

AAP kbw/rgr/de

KEYWORD: BELIEFS (EMBARGOED)

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