THE results hardly come as a surprise, but they’re still shocking. Women in the country are dying at a much higher rate from breast cancer than their metropolitan cousins, and it’s getting worse.
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It’s particularly shocking given survival rates for the disease are improving.
There’s no clear cut reason for this terrible disparity and herein lies part of the problem.
If there was just one thing behind these statistics, it would be easy to address. But there are multiple reasons why women in regional and rural areas are more likely to succumb to breast cancer and some of them are as complex as the disease itself.
There’s no doubt community awareness about cancer checks and symptoms has greatly increased thanks to an emphasis on education programs, but realising there may be a problem is no guarantee a person will take the next step and visit their GP.
And in areas where GPs are in short supply – or maybe no supply at all – a simple check-up is not so simple.
And if there’s then a problem that requires follow-up visits, tests and maybe treatment, it can suddenly become very complicated – and very costly.
And the reality is that if you live outside a metropolitan centre, travelling and accommodation costs just add to the huge financial impost of treating the disease.
The lack of specialists in country areas is another obvious complication when it comes to rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment.
In a country like Australia – “lucky” in so many ways – it’s a terrible thing that where you reside might mean the difference between living and dying.
It means we can’t afford to take our eyes off the ball and must allocate health resources accordingly.
Transport subsidies and assistance for those who need them and affordable city accommodation options for patients and their families should be a funding priority.
Sick people and worried families have enough on their minds without wondering how they can get to an appointment or where they’re going to stay once they arrive.
Providing more specialists and cancer treatment services is about more than just funding though, and we must continue to pursue innovative solutions to get these professionals into areas that are in desperate need.
People accept that all the benefits of country living come with a bit of a trade-off – but a compromise on their health shouldn’t be one of them.
