Kimberley residents urged to act on cancer symptoms amid worrying new data

Kimberley residents are being urged not to ignore potential cancer symptoms, with new data revealing almost half of regional West Australians would wait to see if symptoms disappeared on their own before seeking medical help.

Cancer Council WA has relaunched its Give Yourself the Best Chance campaign under its Find Cancer Early program after survey results showed 16 per cent of respondents would simply ignore symptoms entirely.

Kimberley regional education officer Michelle Wilson said while early detection messages were starting to resonate, there was still a long way to go.

“The Give Yourself the Best Chance campaign urges regional West Australians over 40 to give themselves the best chance of being around longer for their family and friends by seeing their doctor early if they notice any unusual changes in their body, like blood in their poo or wee, or coughing up blood,” Ms Wilson said.

“These latest survey results back up what previous research in WA has shown — people living in regional areas tend to seek help later than those in the city.”

Ms Wilson said this could be due to lower awareness of cancer symptoms, a more laid-back attitude, or travel barriers that discouraged people from seeking help, all of which could lead to later stage cancer diagnoses.

“We know that people in regional Australia have lower five-year survival rates for all cancers combined when compared to metropolitan Australians,” she said.

“Putting off seeing your doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker could cost you a good outcome.”

The Cancer Council has urged people in the Kimberley region older than 40 to act on any unusual changes in their bodies and not to delay seeing a medical professional.

“If you notice blood in your poo or wee, or if you’ve coughed up blood, don’t wait. Getting it checked doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but it’s better to be safe,” Ms Wilson said.

The organisation also reminded residents that national screening programs such as bowel cancer screening kits, cervical screening, and mammograms were only for people without symptoms, and waiting for screening instead of seeking immediate medical advice could lead to dangerous delays.