The Experience of Relocation for Specialist Treatment for Indigenous Women Diagnosed with Vulvar Cancer in East Arnhem Land

Abstract

Vulvar cancer is a serious condition that requires a range of specialist treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In Australia, such treatments are only available in major metropolitan hospitals. Thus, women diagnosed with this condition in rural and remote areas must relocate to the metropolitan specialist centers for treatment. The focus of this article is on the experience of relocation for specialist care for Indigenous women diagnosed with vulvar cancer from East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The findings presented in this article explore a range of issues that affect the experience of relocation such as community concerns, cultural distress, loneliness, fear, worry, and physical concerns associated with the condition.

KEYWORDS:

• Indigenous health
• Indigenous women
• vulvar cancer
• relocation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Leonora Addidi for her work as interviewer for the project, Associate Professor John Condon and the genetics team, Dr. Rebbekah McWhirter for administrative assistance, Mr. Hamish Holewa for assistance with Quadrant, and Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama for reviewing the article for the Indigenous Reference Group. The project is a research collaboration between Menzies School of Health Research and Griffith University and is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant (Id No: 1003817).