Through Balanda Eyes

Cancer in Kakadu

ABC News online

Last Update: Thursday, November 23, 2006. 10:19am (AEDT)
Indigenous cancer rate 90pc higher in Kakadu region

An ABC news report yesterday indicated that the incidence of cancer among Indigenous people living in Kakadu is considerably higher than the national average and also much higher than other Aboriginal populations in the Northern Territory.
Questions are being directed toward a link between cancer and the peoples proximity to the Ranger Uranium Mine.
Although no evidence or proof of a connection was put forward that suggested the cancer stems from mining activities, it seems bizar the the NT Health Department would make a statement that appears to exhonorate the mine before any furhter investigation is conducted.
According to the ABC report:
"The NT Health Department says the high cancer rate is lifestyle related."

Now I wonder if they have conducted the research that will show a direct link between these peoples lifestyle and the cancer that appears to be prevelent in their community?
They must have some unique activities that they do not share with the rest of the population. What is so different about these peoples lifestyle? If the Health Department know so much about it they must have a program in place to deal with this apparent epidemic. I wonder what they are doing to help these people avoid their cancer causing activities?

I wonder if the lifestyle choices they are talking about include drinking contaminated water, breathing the same air that contains dust from the mine? Or maybe they have been deliberately eating the yellow cake.