Forum to improve Māori cancer sufferers' outcomes

News release
June 30, 2009

Forum aims to improve outcomes for Māori cancer sufferers

Māori iwis are being urged to ensure they are represented at a critical national forum aimed at addressing the disproportionately high cancer rates among Maori.

Statistics show Māori are 9 per cent more likely to get cancer than non- Māori - and 77 per cent more likely to die of it than other New Zealanders.

In August a coalition of Māori Cancer services is hosting a forum in Rotorua which brings together people from all perspectives of the cancer journey to gain knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure excellence in cancer service and to reduce barriers to access of services for Māori affected by cancer.

Some of the world's leading indigenous medical specialists will speak at the forum, the theme of which is the Revolution of Cancer Care for Māori and Whānau.

Organisers are hoping iwi from throughout the country will participate in the forum on August 12, 13 and 14.

"This is a critical issue for Māori and we are hoping as many as possible will attend this forum and help us formulate a way forward that results in improved health outcomes for all Māori cancer sufferers,'' says forum chair Edith McNeill.

Cancer is the cause of 29.6 per cent of all deaths in New Zealand. At least one third of all cancers are preventable while one third are treatable if detection is made at an early stage. For Māori, diagnosis is more likely to occur once the cancer is spread.

Recently the Health Research Council announced it would give grants totalling $1.2 million to two Massey University research projects aimed at improving overall cancer care for Māori patients and increasing the rate of survival for cervical cancer.

One study will look at the issue of care of Māori patients, the other will investigate differences in cervical cancer survival rates between women of different ethnicities; the study will also look at differences in survival by socio-economic status, age, and proximity to health services at time of diagnosis.

Dr Ellison-Loschmann (Te Atiawa, Ngiā Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa and Tahitian) says access to care, and the quality of care, can have a substantial impact on cancer outcomes, both in terms of quality of life and survival.

"The worldwide burden of cancer has been increasing for the past few decades," she says. "Cancer now surpasses chronic heart disease as the leading cause of death in New Zealand.

"There is evidence of ethnic differences in cancer incidence and mortality, with an approximately 9 per cent higher age-sex-standardised incidence rate, and a startling 77 per cent higher age-sex-standardised mortality rate for cancer overall in Māori compared to non-Māori."

The Revolution of Cancer Care forum is being organised by a coalition of Māori Cancer care services including five Ministry of Health cancer care pilot programmes: Aroha Mai Māori Cancer Support; Kaitiaki Nursing Services; Kimihauora Health Centre; Northern Cancer Network; Tamaki PHO; Te Kahui Hauora; Te Kupenga o Hoturoa - Wai Health; West Coast PHO.

For more information on the forum visit www.maoricancer.co.nz.

ENDS

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