Health inequities are inequalities that are avoidable. While differences in cancer outcomes between wealthy countries and poorer countries are understandable there is no excuse for such inequities within Australia.

 Yet, the chances of surviving cancer in Australia are greatly impacted on by where you live. Fox & Boyce (2014) found that those living in non-metropolitan areas continue to have 18%–32% poorer survival for prostate cancer; in Queensland, rectal cancer mortality increases by 6% for every 100 km that patients reside from the closest radiotherapy center and early breast cancer patients in rural New South Wales are more likely to receive suboptimal curative therapies, with an 84% higher breast cancer mortality. 

Wilkinson & Pickett (2009) suggest that there are also a range of social determinants such as cultural background, economic status and/or level of education that can negatively impact on health outcomes. These determinants all influence cancer patients and their family’s ability to access, understand, evaluate and communicate health information and services – factors that make up the notion of health literacy. Focusing on improving health literacy is an achievable goal and one that could reduce the barriers to gold standard cancer care available in this country.

 While we continue to make great strides in the development and implementation of new anti-cancer treatments these benefits remain the advantage of a select group in our community. Improvements in treatment without an understanding of the additional hurdles many Australians face in accessing their care is unjust and thwarts the good work of many to improve outcomes for all. 

This presentation will offer current data on the social determinants of health in Australia, the impact of these factors on cancer services and some directions we can take to impact on health literacy for our patients and their families.