Disability and Cancer reports

In the 2020 State of Cancer Report, Te Aho o Te Kahu Cancer Control Agency found gaps in what cancer outcomes look like for disabled people. We set up the Disability and Cancer project to work with disabled people and the disabled sector to identify data, evidence and insights into how disabled people experience cancer services and care. The information gathered has been collated in two reports which highlight the experiences of disabled people with cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are: 

• Disabled People and Cancer: Literature Review — Ngā Tāngata Whaikaha me te mate pukupuku: he arotakenga mātātuhi (PDF 1.18mb)
• Disabled People and Cancer: Literature Review — Ngā Tāngata Whaikaha me te mate pukupuku: he arotakenga mātātuhi (Word 1.83mb)
• The Burden of Cancer Among Disabled People: Diagnosis Insights — He taumaha te mate pukupuku ki ngā tāngata whaikaha: Ngā Kitenga (PDF 2mb)
• The Burden of Cancer Among Disabled People: Diagnosis Insights — He taumaha te mate pukupuku ki ngā tāngata whaikaha: Ngā Kitenga (Word 2.15mb)

The literature review summarises international and local research, highlighting barriers disabled people face in accessing cancer care and pinpointing areas where more research is needed.  

 The diagnosis insights report analyses cancer diagnosis rates among disabled adults in New Zealand based on data from 2018–2022. It shows: 

• higher diagnosis rates for disabled people across all demographics analysed when compared to the total population. 
• there are significantly higher rates for lung, breast and bowel cancer among disabled people. which is likely to reflect differences in exposure to cancer risk factors (such as smoking) and social drivers of health (such as income and housing), as well as barriers to screening and access to primary care. 

Both reports reinforce the need for a continued focus on providing accessible, inclusive, and equity-focused cancer services. It also underscores the importance of robust data, collaboration, and co-design of health services with disabled communities. 

How these reports are being used
These reports are being used to increase the Agency's understanding and help influence the design and delivery of equitable cancer care services to improve health outcomes for disabled people with cancer.

Downloads

• Disabled People and Cancer: Literature Review — Ngā Tāngata Whaikaha me te mate pukupuku: he arotakenga mātātuhi (PDF 1.18mb)
• Disabled People and Cancer: Literature Review — Ngā Tāngata Whaikaha me te mate pukupuku: he arotakenga mātātuhi (Word 1.83mb)
   
• The Burden of Cancer Among Disabled People: Diagnosis Insights — He taumaha te mate pukupuku ki ngā tāngata whaikaha: Ngā Kitenga (PDF 2mb)
• The Burden of Cancer Among Disabled People: Diagnosis Insights — He taumaha te mate pukupuku ki ngā tāngata whaikaha: Ngā Kitenga (Word 2.15mb)

• Frequently asked questions on the Disabled People and Cancer reports  (PDF 240kb)

• Frequently asked questions on the Disabled People and Cancer reports (Word 148kb)

• Large print — Frequently asked questions on the Disabled People and Cancer reports (PDF  248kb)

• Large print — Frequently asked questions on the Disabled People and Cancer reports (Word  103kb)

• Large print —Disabled People and Cancer: Literature Review — Ngā Tāngata Whaikaha me te mate pukupuku: he arotakenga mātātuhi (PDF 185kb)

• Large print — Disabled People and Cancer: Literature Review — Ngā Tāngata Whaikaha me te mate pukupuku: he arotakenga mātātuhi (Word 181kb)

• Large print — The Burden of Cancer Among Disabled People: Diagnosis Insights — He taumaha te mate pukupuku ki ngā tāngata whaikaha: Ngā Kitenga (PDF  185kb)
• Large print — The Burden of Cancer Among Disabled People: Diagnosis Insights — He taumaha te mate pukupuku ki ngā tāngata whaikaha: Ngā Kitenga (Word 161kb)

Audio, NZSL, Easy Read and Braille versions will be added to the website as they become available.  

Publishing information