Health_Priorities_in_Australia

Yr 12 PDHPE Assessment Task 2 Research Paper Student number: 20421324 Core One- Health Priorities in Australia Skin Cancer Outcomes Assessed: H1 Describes the nature, and justifies the choice, of Australia’s health priorities H2 Analyses and explains the health status of Australians in the term of current trends and groups most at risk H3 Analyses the determinants of health and health inequities H15 Critically analyses key issues affecting the health of Australians and proposes ways of working towards better health for al H16 Devises methods of gathering, interpreting and communicating information about health and physical activity concepts. Introduction: Contents Define the Nature of the Problem Page 3-4 Extent of the Problem Page 5 Risk Factors of priority area Page 6 Identify and Explore the social Determinants Page 7 Groups at Risk Page 8-9 Bibliography Page 10 THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM- Skin is the leading organ in the body, it is made up of a number of different layers of cells.  Skin cancer occurs when cells are damaged from overexposure of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. There are two types of skin cancers and they are grouped into non- melanoma or melanoma. Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common type of skin cancer. While melanoma is less common, it is also the most dangerous as it has the ability to spread to other parts of the body. Ultraviolet rays from the sun damage DNA, which is the genetic materials that make up genes. Genes are in charge of the growth and general health of all skin cells. Depending on how severe the damage is, a normal skin cell may begin to grow and be uncontrollable with out you even noticing, producing a cancer cell. Ultraviolet radiation also causes sunburn, and other harm that makes the skin look prematurely old and wrinkled. Australia has now the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. This is owed to the climate and the fact that most of us have the fair skin features, furthermore people who have a family history of cancer, and also our social attitudes and the love for the outdoors, which unfortunately puts us under a high risk category of skin cancer. Earlier generations where not educated on the suns effects to the body, it’s only now that the damage is done do they realize the extent of the problem. Their skin begins to age a great deal earlier, they come across as more wrinkled and sun spots are becoming more prominent, which then leads to skin cancers. The most common reason why skin cancers come unrecognizable in early stages is because symptoms of the cancer seem to be very ordinary and one can get confused on whether it is another skin related problem. Cancers goes through periods, phases, or stages in its growth. This process determines the stage of cancer. A doctor is required to know the stage of a cancer in order to pick the most successful treatment. Advanced cancer that has spread throughout the body needs treatment that is somewhat different than localized cancer that grows simply in the original spot. Skin cancer is usually divided into two stages, localized and metastatic. Localized skin cancer has not yet moved or spread from its original spot. Most skin cancers are diagnosed in this stage. You test this by taking a biopsy which then determines which stage you are in. Metastatic cancer has spread beyond this point and throughout other parts of the body. The doctor may suspect that the cancer has been growing for a long time or they have symptoms of internal problems, such as a cough or headaches. Additionally, the doctor will take other tests to determine where else the cancer has spread to in the body. Skin cancer is limited, or localized, to one place throughout the body. Skin cancer that has fortunately been diagnosed early usually grows only in a small area that is visible. Although, later in life, if the cancer is untreated, some skin cancers will possible reach a more highly developed stage, spreading to nearby lymph nodes. In this stage cancer has spread to other organs in the body. EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM- Cancer of the skin is the most common of all the cancers. As melanoma accounts for around 4% of all skin cancer cases. Slight changes arise in the skin every time it is exposed to the sunlight. People who burn easily, have a fair complexion or a large amount of freckles, have prominently blonde or red hair, or have blue or gray eyes, experience larger skin changes. Skin cancer is not usually related with single painful sunburn, but somewhat with repeated exposure to the sun. By taking a few simple precautions you may be able to reduce your risk of skin cancer by about 50%. 1000 people are treated with skin cancer in Australia everyday 1700 people die from this disease each year. Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed to Australians right now but it is also the easiest cancer to cure if it is detected and treated early. Although Skin cancer is the easiest to cure it is also the most expensive to treat costing $264 million to make sure all patients are checked and treated appropriately Two in three people will be diagnosed with skin cancer before they reach the age of 70. There is a common trend between the ages of 15 to 44 with more than 10,000 Australians experiencing melanoma, as melanoma is the third most popular cancer within both women and men. The best thing to do if you do have a suspicious spot on your body is to consult your doctor or a skin specialist as most cancers come unrecognizable. And the earlier it is found the easier and more efficient it is to treat. To prevent your skin cells from being damaged SLIP on a long sleeve top preferably with a collar to protect the neck, SLOP on SPF30+ sunscreen, SLAP on a hat with wide brims to protect your ears & WRAP on a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. RISK FACTORS OF PRIORITY AREA- There are many factors that affect the risk of you developing skin cancer. Some of these risk factors can be fortunately changed or avoided, but there are also some that can’t. For example fair skin, people with darker hair and skin have a reduced amount of chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer, as their skin cells contain a lot more melanin which protects them from the UV radiation (Ultra Violet Radiation) produced by the sun. Whereas fair skin people have a lot higher chance of developing skin cancer for the reason that their skin does not provide the protection that it does for darker skinned people therefore the UV radiation is a lot more harmful towards the skin and can damage the cells very easily. Living in a warm and sunny climate also increases your chance of skin cancer as you tend to spend most your time outdoors. It is also more common to wear less clothing in these conditions consequently it leaves more of your skin exposed to the sun. Increasing age is a risk factor of developing skin cancer as your skin becomes more delicate as you get older so it is additionally more common for you to get burnt as well your immune system is lower which can increase the risk by about 50%. Having a history of cancer in the family, not necessary skin cancer but any types of additional cancer may put you in the high risk category of developing skin cancer easier than others. Not protecting yourself when heading outdoors into the sun gives you a high chance of developing skin cancer as you often don’t realize you are getting burnt, trade men are often in the sun a lot more frequently then the standard person as they work outdoors all day, what people don’t realize is that you can get burnt on cloudy days the same as you can on sunny days, its just that the cloud scatters the Ultra Violet Radiation in all directions and although you receive less UVR you may receive it indirectly. IDENTIFY AND EXPLORE THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS (or socially based casual factors)- The social determinants of Skin cancer are the conditions in where one is born, where they grow, where about they live and what climate, their age and most importantly their current health status. There are many Australians who have a genetic heritage of fare skin and fare hair who live in hot, sunny climates, who enjoy the beach and water activities. The media is a target of advertising ‘the fit aussie body’ as an ideal image to promote showing off the tanned beauty and sexuality implicated. The growing desire for sun exposure to imitate these images can increase the risk of developing dangerous skin cancers. Skin cancer is increasing as a result of improved education relating to recognition. If people are educated and made more aware of the importance of getting tested, so the more people diagnosed the quick the treatment could start. For many decades, people have been taught that a tanned, attractive body is healthy and its not until now that they are coping the consequences. This is due to the media and what image they are portraying to people who generally live in hot, sunny climates. The attitudes towards skin cancer in this country have changed. People are now becoming more aware which is reducing the rates of deaths as cancer are being detected early so treatment is easily fixed. This is giving Australia a better opportunity to reduce the amount of skin cancer deaths each year. Socioeconomic determinants include the education and background of each individual, and the critical factors that can arise from skin cancers. People who are socioeconomically disadvantaged don’t have the understanding of the dangers involved in skin cancer. They may also not be able to be checked or treated for the disease if they are diagnosed with skin cancer due to their nature of living. Living on the coast and being at the beach and in the sun a lot increases your rate of environmental determinants due to lifetime benefit of being in a dryer, prominently hotter area. GROUPS AT RISK- Anyone is at risk of developing skin cancer, although the older you are the more your chances increase. Your skin type is the main factor in your risk of skin cancer, Groups that are regularly affected by developing skin cancer are skin types 1,2 and 3. As they are highly susceptible to skin damage as well as cancer. Determining your resistance to skin cancer through skin type Living in a geographical region that is closer to the equator, where sunlight is the strongest have a greater risk then those who live in colder climates. Elderly people or younger children have a much higher risk as they are not educated on the damage the sun can do to your body and how to prevent this from happening, as there skin in very delicate. Although most cases of skin cancer are diagnosed to those over the age of 50 and who have fair skin. But in general it depends on an individual’s lifetime exposure to the sun which determines the risk. . Bibliography Books: ‘The Fight Against Cancer” Cancer trends in Australia, possible preventions, types of cancer and treatments, coping with cancer diagnosis. By Kaye Healey Internet: eHealthMD.com ‘Truly reliable health on the web’ 2000-2010 New South Wales Government ‘Department of health’ www.health.nsw.gov.au/topics Skin Cancer Foundation ‘Information packs and preventions’ http://www.skincancer.org SunSmart Cancer Research ‘2009’ http://www.sunsmart.org ----------------------- Skin Type I II III IV V VI Response to skin exposure Always sunburn, Don’t tan Always sunburn, minimal tan Sometimes sunburn, Tan moderately Seldom sunburn, Tan easy Rarely Sunburn, Tan profusely Never Sunburn, Deeply pigmented Examples Fair skinned, freckled & blue eyes Fair skinned, Blonde hair & blue eyes Fair skinned, brown hair, brown eyes & unexposed skin is white Light brown skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and Mediterranean background Brown skinned, brown hair, Eastern or Indians Blacks Resistance Very high High Average Low Very low Minimal