Cancer Screening
and Early Detection
Cancer screening and early detection saves lives.
According to the Victorian Cancer Registry, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and three times as likely to die from cancer than other Victorians.
In response to this statistic, VACCHO, with the support of the Victorian Department of Health, developed the Victorian Aboriginal Cancer Journey Strategy 2023-28. Through wide-ranging research and Community engagement, the strategy presents a pathway to closing the gap in cancer outcomes.
Learn more about screening services for Community:
Bowel
Screening
Breast
Screening
Cervical
Screening
Lung
Screening
Bowel Screening
Bowel screening helps detect signs of bowel cancer early, before symptoms appear. When found early, over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members aged 45–74 are eligible for a free bowel screening test as part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
The test is clean, simple and can be done at home. It only takes a few minutes to complete.
Breast Screening
Getting a breast screen every 2 years is the best way to detect breast cancer early.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (including trans-women) and non-binary people aged 40 years and older are invited to have a breast screen via The Beautiful Shawl Project.
The Beautiful Shawl Project is a collaborative, Community-led initiative that provides culturally safe and empowering breast screening experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
Cervical screening
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Having regular Cervical Screening Tests is the best form of prevention.
Women and people with a cervix aged 25-74 years of age are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years. The test helps detect changes to the cervix before they develop into cancer.
Cervical screening self-collection is available for all routine cervical screenings. This method allows individuals to collect their own sample for testing.
Lung Screening
Lung screening can help find lung cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be effective.
Screening is available through the National Lung Cancer Screening Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members aged 50-70 years, who currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 10 years and have a long history of smoking.
Talk to your GP or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCO) to find out if lung screening is right for you.
Need Support?
Have a yarn with your local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation for more information about cancer screening.
Find an ACCO in your area via the link below:
Cancer Journey artwork and words by Keagan Mallia, Wamba Wamba
“This artwork pictures the story of healing, going through the five key priority areas in the cancer journey – prevention, cancer screening and early detection, treatment and support, celebrating survivorship and Journey to The Dreaming.
I hope that this artwork can inspire and bring hope to those struggling with cancer who are going through this journey and encourage people to put their own health as a priority.”
Contact VACCHO’s Cancer Journey Team