An alarming number of cancer "hotspots" identified in a James Cook University-led study has prompted calls for better education of the warning signs in regional Queensland.
Using historical data provided by the Queensland Cancer Register between 1982 and 2018, researchers found people living in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Longreach, Tablelands, Mareeba and Western Downs were at the highest risk of head and neck cancer in the state.
"There are many factors influencing those statistics, mainly the distance to a tertiary hospital and a lack of awareness about risk factors, such as tobacco, alcohol and chewing betel nut," study lead author and JCU PhD candidate Dr Poornima Ramamurthy said.
"There's also the issue of a delayed diagnosis because of that lack of awareness. People are presenting late to a hospital when they are at an advanced stage of the disease."
Of the 59 LGAs classified with higher than-average risk, 22 predominantly rural and remote LGAs showed significantly higher risk of head and neck cancer occurrence.
Quilpie, Yarrabah, Murweh and Hinchinbrook were identified as the four LGAs with the highest rates of mortality from head and neck cancers.
The study is the first of its kind in Australia to use 'Bayesian' mapping, a specialised epidemiological approach used to identify and measure variations and patterns of diseases among small population areas in a country or state.
LGAs with a general population aged 15 years and above were used to map hotspots in Queensland for the study, which not only looked at the rates of incidence and mortality rates but also mortality rates at three year and five year intervals.
"It was important to identify the local areas most at risk so we can develop intervention strategies to help reduce those rates of incidence and mortality," Dr Poornima said.
"It comes down to educating and increasing awareness within the population, which is the main reason people are presenting to a hospital or clinic late with an advanced stage of the disease."
One of those intervention strategies could include cancer navigators - public health workers who specialise in educating the population about risk factors and the early signs of oral, head and neck cancers and can advise on a healthier lifestyle post diagnosis.
With head and neck cancers known to originate from the inner lining of the oral cavity, Dr Poornima said it was imperative that a national oral cancer screening program was also established.
"Unlike breast cancer and cervical cancer, we don't have a national oral cancer screening program in Australia at the moment," she said.
"So long term, that is another program which the government needs to facilitate in the regions. It will make treatment much easier if it can be identified in the earlier stages.
"In the meantime, I would encourage residents living in those regional hotspots to get regular dental checkups."
The study was completed in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Oral Cancer Network and involved PhD candidate Dr Poornima Ramamurthy, Professor John Adeoye from the University of Hong Kong, University of Newcastle Head of Oral Health Professor Dileep Sharma, and JCU Head of Dentistry Professor Peter Thomson.
