Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Lung cancer screening: considerations from an Aboriginal community controlled perspective (#112)

Clare O'Reilly 1 , Jonathan Gillies 1 , Vijaya Joshi 2
  1. Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

There should be strong evidence to support the implementation of a lung cancer screening program with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The 3rd edition (2018) of the NACCHO/RACGP guide to a preventative health check has not yet recommended population screening for lung cancer: “Population-based screening of either high-risk or low-risk people with either chest X-ray or low-dose computed tomography (CT) is not recommended at this time.” In addition to evidence to support the efficacy of a screening program, a number of workforce, cultural safety and treatment access considerations need to be taken into account. Chief among these is adequate resourcing to be provided to participating Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to a) ensure adequate preparation for Aboriginal communities prior to implementation of a lung cancer screening program and b) ensure lung screening follow-up can be undertaken. This presentation will highlight the workforce and system needs required to achieve a culturally safe and effective lung cancer screening program for the Victorian Aboriginal Community.