Lung disease information for First Nations

Lung cancer, and lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis, are more common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to a range of factors. These factors include the targeting of First Nations communities by the tobacco industry and the legacy of colonisation. 

This page provides links to information on these diseases that has been put together with the guidance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Information on lung cancer

This page from Our Mob and Cancer gives information on signs and symptoms, tests, and treatments of lung cancer. Our Mob and Cancer is a project between Cancer Australia and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Reference Group. You can read more about the Group here.

Information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

This booklet from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) gives information to support you or someone you care about living with COPD. It has information on:

• What causes COPD
• Signs or symptoms of COPD
• The tests needed for COPD
• How to look after yourself with COPD, and;
• What medicines are needed for COPD.

The COPD Action Plan, also from NACCHO, is a tool to help you look after your COPD and know what to do when you’re not feeling right.

Information on bronchiectasis

The Bronchiectasis Flipchart, developed by the Indigenous Respiratory Health Work Group at Queensland Health and the Indigenous Reference Group at Menzies School of Health Research (among others), explains this disease. It talks about the causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, tests and treatments for bronchiectasis.

This disease occurs most in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids in remote communities, particularly in central Australia, but many First Nations adults also live with it. An ancient virus called HTLV-1, that is common to Indigenous populations worldwide, is linked with bronchiectasis.