Published
08 Aug, 2022
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 2017. Projected estimates of annual cancer diagnoses are also available for the years 2018 to 2021.1
Data
Summary
Cancer incidence in Australia is increasing overall
From 1982 to 2017, cancer incidence in Australia increased from 47,466 cases to 139,413 cases.
Indigenous persons experienced higher incidence rates for some cancers
In 2012–2016, 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 bladder, cervix, head and neck, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas, unknown primary site, and uterus.
Cancer incidence rates for specific cancers were higher in remote areas
In 2012–2016, age-standardised incidence rates were higher in Remote and Very Remote areas combined, compared to Major Cities for cervical (49% higher), head and neck (68% higher), liver (13% higher), lung (21% higher), oesophagus (29% higher), and unknown primary site (44% higher) cancers.
Cancer incidence rates for specific cancers were higher in the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) areas
In 2012–2016, age-standardised incidence rates were higher in the lowest SES compared to the highest SES areas for all cancers combined (5% higher), bladder (20% higher), cervical (51% higher), colon (14% higher), colorectal (17% higher), head and neck (54% higher), liver (59% higher), lung (76% higher), oesophagus (34% higher), ovarian (11% higher), pancreatic (14% higher), rectum (23% higher), unknown primary site (54% higher) and uterus (16% higher) cancers.
Revision Type
Minor
Version Number
3