Lung cancer

Lung cancer can begin in the respiratory system (primary lung cancer) or another part of the body and spread to the lungs (secondary or metastatic cancer in the lung) [44050]. It has a low survival rate [36045] and smoking is the largest risk factor for the disease [44050].

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality [42101]. While a greater proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, than non-Indigenous people smoke on a daily basis, smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has decreased substantially in recent years.

Targeted health initiatives, such as the Australian Government’s Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, aim to reduce smoking rates and lung cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.