Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Characteristics and Survival in Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Western Australians

Abstract

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of malignancy affecting the oral cavity. While exposures to main risk factors for oral SCC such as smoking and alcohol use are higher amongst the Aboriginal people, little is known about oral cancer in this population. This study aimed to describe characteristics and survival of oral SCC in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Western Australians.Methods: All primary oral SCC cases reported to the Western Australian Cancer Registry (WACR) between 1990 and 1999 were analysed with respect to person characteristics including: date of birth, sex and indigenous status; and disease characteristics including: date of biopsy, disease stage and site as well as date of recurrence and date of death. Exclusion criteria included diagnosis not based on incisional or excisional biopsy, diagnosis other than oral SCC or a history of another malignant neoplasm.Results: Aboriginal individuals were more likely to reside in rural areas. No statistically significant differences in oral SCC characteristics and survival were noted between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Western Australians.Conclusion: This study provides new information on person and disease characteristics of Aboriginal Western Australians diagnosed with oral SCC.

Bayesian Disease Mapping to Identify High-Risk Population for Oral Cancer: A Retrospective Spatiotemporal Analysis

“…In our study, inner regional suburbs Bundaberg Central and Rockhampton City along with Mount Isa which is classified as very remote suburb had the highest incidence risks [26]. Previously, three Australian studies conducted in regional Western Australia reported that an increasing number of oral cancer cases diagnosed in regional and remote areas are classified as in advanced stages of the disease [24,25,27]. Reasons for delay in diagnosis were reported to be regional isolation, lack of knowledge about the risk factors and symptoms, tobacco and alcohol abuse and HPV related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma [27][28][29].…”

“…Regionality plays a significant role in prevalence of chronic health issues in Australia [6,12,22,23]. This may be due higher risk behaviors, lack of awareness around healthy practices, level of education, and limited access to health care facilities [23][24][25]. In our study, inner regional suburbs Bundaberg Central and Rockhampton City along with Mount Isa which is classified as very remote suburb had the highest incidence risks [26].…”

Does one workshop on respecting cultural differences increase health professionals’ confidence to improve the care of Australian Aboriginal patients with cancer? An evaluation

“…Survival rates after 5 years for head and neck cancers in Aboriginal men in NSW were lower than for other men [ 5 ]. However, while squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignancy affecting the oral cavity, there was no statistically significant difference in survival rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians living in Western Australia [ 6 ].…”