Recent shocking figures by Cancer Council Victoria has revealed that 2959 Victorian residents who were born in Greece died of cancer from 2006 to 2010.
This amounts to two Greeks dying of cancer every day in Victoria. The most prevalent cancers, from most to least common, are bowel, prostate, lung, breast and stomach. This differs slightly from all other residents of Victoria, among whom the two most common form of cancers are bowel, then lung. Kate Broun, Manager of Screening at Cancer Council Victoria, told Neos Kosmos: ‘The types that are affecting Greeks are very similar to the types that are affecting the rest of the Victorian population…
We’re obviously looking at smaller numbers when we’re looking at those in Victoria born in Greece as opposed to the whole Victorian population – that could account for the difference [in most common cancers].’ The good news is that the most common cancer, bowel, is one of the most preventable. Anyone over 50 can buy a bowel cancer screening test from their local pharmacist.
Some Australians are eligible to receive one of these tests free of charge from the Australian Government. If you are aged 50, 55 or 65, you can order one of these tests to be sent to your home free in the mail. ‘What we really would want to encourage people to do if they receive that test kit in the mail…that they read all the information and then do the test. And for those outside of those three age groups older than 50, we would encourage them to speak to their GP or look at purchasing a bowel cancer screening test from their local pharmacist’, Kate Broun adds.
Testing for the next most common cancer, prostate cancer, is not as easily available, but is still a possibility. Broun says, ‘The key thing is to really encourage men to chat to their GP about whether or not prostate cancers are right for them.
There are many pros and cons for prostate testing, so it’s very important that they talk to GPs.’ The reasons for the higher incidence of this type of cancer among Greeks could simply be attributable to the higher number of men who are now speaking to their GPs about this type of cancer. Preventing lung and breast cancer is also possible. Regarding lung cancer, Broun emphasises, ‘Obviously quitting smoking is one of the key ways that you can prevent lung cancer.’
Breast cancer is also preventable, with women over 50 in particular encouraged to undertake a mammogram with breast scan every two years. Broun adds, ‘Again, that’s a very important thing to do to find breast cancer early, which if we find it early, has a greater chance of success in treatment.’ More valuable information is available from the Cancer Council Victoria website, which has numerous fact sheets available in Greek. These are easily accessed by pressing on the word ‘Eλληνικά’ on the home page.
The Cancer Council Victoria website is located at http://www.cancervic.org.au/
