Published
13 Sep, 2019
All of Australia’s states and territories have legislation mandating the notification of cancer diagnoses and national cancer incidence data are available from these sources for the years 1982 to 2015.1 Projected estimates of annual cancer diagnoses are also available for the years 2016 to 2019.2,3
Summary
Cancer incidence in Australia is increasing overall
From 1982 to 2015, cancer incidence in Australia increased from 47,462 cases to 131,452 cases.
Indigenous persons experienced higher incidence rates for some cancers
In 2009–2013, age-standardised incidence rates for all cancers combined (excluding non-melanoma cancers of the skin) were higher in Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous persons experienced higher age-standardised incidence rates than non-Indigenous persons for cancers of the cervix, head and neck, liver, lung, oesophagus, ovary, pancreas, unknown primary site, and uterus.
Cancer incidence rates for specific cancers were higher in remote areas
In 2010–2014, age-standardised incidence rates were higher in Remote and Very Remote areas combined, compared to Major Cities for cervical (49% higher), head and neck (67% higher), liver (16% higher), lung (27% higher), oesophagus (31% higher), rectal (5% higher), unknown primary site (49% higher) and uterine (9% higher) cancers.
Cancer incidence rates for specific cancers were higher in the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) areas
In 2010–2014, age-standardised incidence rates were higher in the lowest SES compared to the highest SES areas for all cancers combined (5%), bladder (17% higher), cervical (52% higher), colon (14% higher), colorectal (19% higher), head and neck (57% higher), liver(58% higher), lung (72% higher), oesophagus (43% higher), pancreatic (18% higher), rectal (28% higher), unknown primary site (49% higher) and uterus (18% higher) cancers.
Data
Revision Type
Minor
Version Number
3