One in three West Australians do not know how to protect themselves from many common preventable cancers, a report has found.
The report, based on a survey carried out by the WA Department of Health, has prompted authorities to consider ramping up public education efforts, in a bid to help people protect themselves from the deadly disease.
Chief Health Officer Tarun Weeramanthri said it was important people knew what they could do to reduce their risk.
“What we found was that about one of three people surveyed were actually quite surprised by the preventability of cancer,” he said.
“I think there’s some clues then there for us now, about how to talk to the public, and what kind of education messages we can put out.”
The major cancers in Western Australia are skin, breast, cervix, bowel, prostate, and lung.
Oesophageal and stomach cancers, which are also common, tend to be treated together.
The survey showed the latter were the least understood.
Existing preventative messages ‘should be strengthened’
Professor Weeramanthri said some of messages about the causes of cancer were working, while others could be improved.
“Messages about tobacco smoking, about alcohol, about diet, physical activity, we need to reinforce some of the dietary messages,” he said.
“We need to intensify some of the messages we’ve had out there for a long time, such as around sun smart behaviour.
“And we need to strengthen our screening performance, so we’ve got three really good screening programs, for breast, cervical and bowel cancer but our participation rates aren’t high enough in any of those.”
Professor Weeramanthri said it was estimated as many as one out of three cancers were preventable.
He said it was a case of prevention being much better than attempts at a cure.
“We hear a lot about new treatments for cancers and miracle cures but all of that stuff is kind of outside what we can control,” he said.
“There are lots of things you can do in your everyday life which can reduce your own risk of cancer, and that of your family.”
The report Priorities and Preferences for Cancer Control in Western Australia has been released on the eve of World Cancer Day on February 4.