A recent study in the New Zealand Medical Journal has shed light on the fact that Pacific Peoples face higher diagnosis and mortality rates for certain cancers compared to Europeans, with poorer survival overall.
The study Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Survival Among Pacific Peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand, revealed disparities in health outcomes.
The study identified key drivers, such as infectious diseases, smoking, and obesity, contributing to the higher cancer rates among Pacific Peoples.
Surgeon Dr. Ineke Meredith, who has Post Fellowship training in Breast Cancer and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, says the report is concerning.
“What are the specific types of cancers that Pacific Peoples vary. With Pacific women being largely diagnosed with Cancer of the breast and uterus. As for the Pacific men largely diagnosed with cancers of the Prostate and lung”.
“Pacific women are predominantly diagnosed with breast and uterine cancers, while Pacific men face higher rates of prostate and lung cancers. Lung cancer, strongly linked to smoking, is a major concern, with a significant number of smokers in the Pacific demographic,” says Dr. Meredith.
Dr. Meredith also expressed concern about the recent repeal of the smoke-free bill and said, “With these well-documented stats, policymakers continued to repeal the smoke-free bill.”
She adds that this decision poses a significant threat to Pacific Peoples’ health, especially with the identified causes of higher cancer incidence and mortality rates.
Dr. Meredith stressed the urgency of multi-system changes to ensure health equity and access to healthcare, urging policymakers and healthcare providers to address these disparities promptly.
