Significance of the indicator
Cancer survival is a conventional indicator of cancer prognosis at a population level and of effectiveness of treatment and screening programs. Relative survival refers to the probability of being alive for a given amount of time after cancer diagnosis, compared with the experience of comparable people in the general population. The measure ‘5-year relative survival at diagnosis’ (hereafter referred to as ‘5-year survival’) is used to indicate the probability that an individual will survive their cancer for 5 years after cancer diagnosis.
Highlights
The 5-year relative survival is 71.2% for all cancers combined
In the period 2016–2020, people diagnosed with reported cancers were 71.2% as likely to survive for at least 5 years after being diagnosed compared with comparable members of the general population.
The 5-year survival continued to rise from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, 5-year relative survival increased from 54.5% to 71.2% for all reported cancers combined. The increases in this survival applied to both males (from 50.7% to 69.9%) and females (from 58.9% to 72.7%).
The 5-year survival for all cancers combined has been higher in females
For all reported cancers combined, the 5-year survival was still marginally higher in females (72.7%) than males (69.9%) in 2016-2020.
The 5-year survival is lower in older ages for all cancer types
Charts
About this measure
Survival from cancer can be influenced by many factors including demographic characteristics, tumour type, stage of the cancer at diagnosis, other prognostic characteristics, and ready availability of treatment. Cancer survival refers to the proportion of patients expected to survive at a specified point subsequent to their cancer diagnosis. It is commonly presented as the probability of surviving the cancer at a specified time after diagnosis, e.g., as 1, 5-year or 10-year survival.1,2
The measure ‘5-year relative survival from diagnosis’ is the ratio of the proportion of people who are alive at 5 years after diagnosis of cancer (observed survival), to the proportion of comparable people in the general population who are alive over the same time interval (expected survival).
Cancer survival statistics are made available by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) for individual cancer types and cancer groupings.1
Current status
In the period of 2016-2020, among the five most common cancers in Australia, survival from lung cancer was the lowest at 25.6%, followed by the colorectal cancer survival (71.3%). Melanoma of the skin, breast cancer and prostate cancer had high survival outcomes. Among gynaecological cancers, ovarian cancer/ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube had the lowest survival outcomes (48.1% and 48.9% respectively).
All Cancer combined
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for all recorded cancers combined was 71.2% and higher for females than males (72.7% vs 69.9%). Survival was highest for ages at diagnosis of 20-39 years at 89.7%, and lowest for ages 80 years and over at 47.9%. The pattern of a decrease in 5-year survival with increasing age from 20 years was similar in males and females.
Bladder Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 57.3% (59.3% for males and 50.9% for females) in people diagnosed with bladder cancer. Survival decreased with age in both males and females. The highest survival applied for ages 20-39 years at 72.0%, followed by ages 40-59 years at 69.6%, and the lowest survival was for people aged 80 years and over at 41.2%. (Note: survival in females under 40 years, males and persons under 20 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Brain Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 23.4% (22.0% for males and 25.3% for females) for brain cancer. Survival declined steeply from age 20 years. In 2016-2020, the highest survival applied to ages 20-39 years at 68.5%, which was substantially higher than the 27.6% for ages 40-59 years and the lowest survival of 1.9% for ages 80 years and over. This pattern was similar in males and females.
Survival varies considerably for different types of brain cancer. Glioblastomas, IDH-wildtype (accounting for 65% of all brain cancers in 2020) had a 5-year relative survival of only 5.9% in 2016–2020. Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted, which accounted for only 5.7% of brain cancer cases, had a 84% 5-year survival.1
Breast Cancer in females
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 92.3% for females diagnosed with breast cancer. Survival largely relatively plateaued in the age range from 20-39 to 60-79 years (from 90.1% to 93.3%) and was lower for the ages of 80 years and over (80.6%).
While survival for breast cancer overall is high, there is substantial variation for different types of breast cancer. For females, carcinomas were the most common type of breast cancer accounting for 99% of all cases in 2020. The main types of breast carcinoma were ductal carcinomas (84% of all cases) followed by lobular carcinomas (13%). There are different types of ductal carcinomas which have different survival figures, of which the most common is the infiltrating duct carcinoma (NOS) (74% of all cases), which had a 5-year survival of 93% in 2016–2020.1
Colorectal Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 71.3% (70.4% for males and 72.3% for females) for colorectal cancer. Survival decreased with increasing age, with the highest survival for ages under 19 years at 97.8%, decreasing to 80.1% for ages 20-39 years, and with the lowest at 61.1% for people aged 80 years and over. This pattern was similar in males and females.
Colon Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year survival was 71.4% (70.6% for males and 72.2% for females) for colon cancer. Survival decreased with increasing age, with the highest for ages under 19 years at 98.3%, followed by 81.5% for ages 20-39 years, and with the lowest for ages of 80 years and over at 63.6%. This pattern applied to both males and females.
Head and Neck Cancer (including lip)
In 2016-2020, the 5-year survival was 72.4% (71.8% for males and 73.9% for females) for head and neck cancer (including lip). Survival decreased with increasing age, with the highest for ages under 19 years at 91.2%, followed by ages 20-39 years at 87.9%, and with the lowest at 57.1% for ages 80 years and over. This pattern was similar in both males and females.
Liver Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 24.2% (24.4% for males and 23.7% for females) for liver cancer. Survival has remained relatively low. It was the highest at ages under 19 years at 85.1%, decreasing markedly to 50.4% at ages 20-39 years, followed by 31.8% in ages 40-59 years, and decreasing further to the lowest at ages 80 years and over at 10.8%. This pattern applied to both males and females. (Note: survival in females under 20 years was not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Lung Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 25.6% for lung cancer. Survival was higher in females than males (31.1% vs 21.3%, respectively). It was the highest at ages 20-39 years (60.4%), then decreasing with age to the lowest for ages 80 years and over at 13.6%. This pattern was similar in males and females.
(Note: survival rates in people under 20 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Melanoma of the Skin
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 94.1% for melanoma of the skin. Survival was higher in females than males (95.8% vs 92.9%, respectively). It was generally similar from ages under 19 years to ages 40-59 years at 97.0% and 96.6%, then marginally decreasing to 94.5% in ages 60-79 years. The lowest survival was for ages 80 years and over at 84.4%. This pattern applied to both males and females.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 77.1% for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Survival was higher for females than males (78.7% vs 75.9%). The highest survival figures applied to ages 20-39 years and 19 years and under at 91.4% and 91.1%, respectively. The lowest survival was in people aged 80 years and over at 56.9%. This pattern was similar in males. In females, the highest survival for ages 20-39 years followed by ages 40-59 years at 94.6% and 90.5%, respectively.
Oesophageal Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 25.1% (24.5% for males and 26.6% for females) for oesophageal cancer. The highest survival figures were for ages 40-59 and 60-79 years at 29.4% and 28.4%, respectively, but more than halved to 11.8% for ages 80 years and over. This pattern was similar in males, whereas in females, survival started to decrease in ages 60-79 years (31.4% vs 40.3% in ages 40-59 years).
(Note: survival figures in ages under 40 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Pancreatic Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 13.0% for pancreatic cancer (12.3% for males and 13.7% for females). Survival decreased steeply with increasing age. In 2016-2020, the highest survival was for ages 20-39 years at 60.4%, with a markedly lower at 24.2% for ages 40-59 years, and approximately half that at 13.0% for ages 60-79 years, and decreasing to the lowest survival for ages 80 years and over at 3.3%. This pattern was similar in males and females.
(Note: survival figures in ages under 20 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Rectal Cancer (including rectosigmoid junction)
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 71.1 (70.2% for males and 72.6% for females) for rectal cancer. Survival plateaued in the age range from 20-39 to 40-59 years at 77.1% and 77.6% respectively, then marginally decreasing to 72.6% in ages 60-79 years. The lowest survival was for ages 80 years and over at 53.0%. This pattern was similar in males and females.
Unknown primary site cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 13.2% for cancers of unknown primary site. Survival was higher in males than females (15.7% vs 10.2, respectively). Survival decreased steeply with increasing age. In 2016-2020, the highest survival was for ages 20-39 years at 50.9%, decreasing markedly to 31.5% in ages 40-59 years, to approximately half that at 16.3% for ages 60-79 years, and with the lowest survival applying to ages 80 years and over at 4.0%. This pattern was similar in males and females.
(Note: survival figures in ages under 20 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Uterine Cancer
In 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival was 82.3% for uterine cancer. It decreased with increasing age. In 2016-2020, this survival was highest at ages 20-39 (93.7%), followed by ages 40-59 years (88.8%) and ages 60-79 years at 81.3%, and with the lowest survival for ages 80 years and over at 63.5%.
(Note: survival figures in ages under 20 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Cervical Cancer
In 2016-2020, 5-year relative survival was 75.5% for cervical cancer. Survival decreased with increasing age. In 2016-2020, this survival was highest at ages 20-39 (89.8%), followed by ages 40-59 years (76.2%) and ages 60-79 years at 60.3%, then dropping to the lowest at 29.0% for people aged 80 years and over.
(Note: survival figures in ages under 20 years were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns.)
Ovarian Cancer/Ovarian Cancer and Serous Carcinomas of the Fallopian tube
In 2016-2020, 5-year relative survival was 48.1% for ovarian cancer. In 2016-2020, the highest survival applied to ages 19 years and younger at 97.8%, followed by ages 20-39 years (84.7%) and ages 40-59 years at 65.4%. The lowest survival was seen in women aged 80 years and over at 11.8%.
In 2016-2020, 5-year relative survival was 48.9% for females diagnosed with ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube. In 2016-2020, the highest survival applied to ages 19 years and younger at 97.8%, followed by ages 20-39 years (84.4%) and ages 40-59 years at 64.4%. The lowest survival was seen in women aged 80 years and over at 14.2%.
Ovarian cancer time series can be misleading due to measuring different sub-sites at different points in time. The new combined reporting group (ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube) is more stable over time and avoids this problem.1,4
See data caveat with more details in reference 4.4
Prostate Cancer
In 2016-2020, 5-year relative survival was 95.8% for males with prostate cancer. This survival remained high from ages 40-59 to 60-79 years at 98.2% and 97.7%, respectively. The lowest survival was for people aged 80 years and over at 78.1%.
In 2016-2020, the overall prostate cancer 5-year survival was strongly influenced by the 5-year survival of adenocarcinomas (for which survival was 98% and with this histology type accounting for over 96% of prostate cancers).1 While prostate cancer survival in general is high, the 5-year survival for neuroendocrine neoplasms (0.1% of prostate cancers diagnosed) in 2016– 2020 was only 9.9%.1
Trends
Several factors may have contributed to survival increases, including advances in diagnostic methods, earlier and increased detection through screening programs, and improvements in treatment.1 Between 1991-1995 and 2016-2020, an increase in 5-year survival generally applied for all recorded cancer types, except bladder cancer where it decreased (from 64.0% to 57.3%). The largest differences were for pancreatic cancer, with increases from 3.7% to 13.0%, liver cancer with increases from 7.8% to 24.2%, and lung cancer with increases from 10.3% to 25.6%. A smaller increase in survival was also observed for melanoma of the skin from 90.0% to 94.1%.1-3
In sex-specific cancers, from 1991-1995 and 2016-2020, the 5-year survival increased for prostate cancer from 69.7% to 95.8%, and for breast cancer in females from 79.4% to 92.3%. By comparison, cervical and uterine cancers showed little increase in survival (from 72.9% to 75.5% and 77.5% to 82.3%, respectively). The 5-year survival for ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube also increased from 40% to 48.9%.1-3
All cancers combined
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, 5-year relative survival increased from 54.5% to 71.2% for all recorded cancers combined. Increases in survival applied to males (from 50.7% to 69.9%) and females (from 58.9% to 72.7).
Survival increased in all age groups but were more pronounced in ages 60-79 years (from 50.1% in 1991-1995 to 71.4% in 2016-2020).
For all recorded cancers combined, the 5-year relative survival was marginally higher in females (72.7%) than males (69.9%) in 2016-2020. A corresponding difference was evident since 1991-1995 with a decrease in scale to 2011-2015, but with increases again occurring in 2016-2020.1
For all recorded cancers combined, relative survival seemed not to be greatly different by age such that unadjusted survival likely provided a reasonably accurate indication of changes in survival. Increases in survival may have been slightly under-stated, however, because of gains being offset by increasing proportions of older people diagnosed with cancer as the Australian population ages (note: older people generally have a lower cancer survival).1
Bladder Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for bladder cancer decreased from 64.0% to 52.6% in 2006-2010 but then increased to 57.3% in 2016-2020. The same pattern was found in females and males from 56.7% and 66.4% to 45.6% and 54.9% respectively in 2006-2010, with increases to 50.9% and 59.3% in 2016-2020, respectively. The lower survival in 2006-2010 is thought to have been affected by a more complete exclusion of in-situ cases.1
The 5-year relative survival, as measured, decreased from 1991-1995 to 2006-2010 in all age groups and then increased through to 2016-2010, except for in ages 20-39 years where it continued to decrease to 72% from 92.3%.
(Note: survival figures for ages 19 years and under were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Brain Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for brain cancer increased marginally from 19.9% to 23.4% in 2016-2020. The same pattern was seen in females (from 19.6% to 25.3%) and males (from 20.0% to 22.0%). The 5-year relative survival generally increased in all age groups from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, except for ages 80 years and over where there was a slight decrease from 2.5% in 2001-2005 to 1.9% in 2016-2020.
Brain cancer survival trends are often affected by changes in the age composition of diagnosed cases. There were higher proportions of people of older age diagnosed with brain cancer in more recent periods and survival in these ages groups was low. In the AIHW example in commentary 4,5 the unadjusted relative survival for brain cancer does not reflect the overall changes in survival well due to the impact of age. An age-adjusted time series has been presented to provide a better reflection of changes in brain cancer survival over time. Actual relative survival was reported to be substantially different from age-adjusted survival. When adjusted for age (backward-looking), brain cancer 5-year survival was seen to have doubled from 11.4% in 1991–1995 to 23.4% in 2016–2020.5,8
Further details to be referenced to reference 5.5
Breast Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for breast cancer in females, as measured, increased from 79.4% to 92.3%. The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 20 years with more pronounced increases observed in ages 20-39 years from 77.1% to 90.1%.
(Note: survival figures for ages 19 years and under were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Colorectal Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year survival increased consistently from 55.5% to 71.3%. A similar pattern was found in females (from 56.3% to 72.3%) and males (from 54.9% to 70.4%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups since 1991-1995, except for ages 19 years and under where a slight decrease was recorded to 2006-2010 (from 94.6% to 91.9%), followed by an increase to 97.8% in 2016-2020. Between 1991-1995 and 2016-2020, the most pronounced increases were observed in ages 60-79 years and 80 years and over from 56.0% and 45.9% to 72.8% and 61.1%, respectively.
Colorectal cancer screening may have contributed to the improvement of survival rates for colorectal cancer in Australia because one of the aims of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program was to detect cancers at an earlier stage, which is associated with better survival.1
Colon Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for colon cancer increased from 56.1% to 71.4%. A similar pattern was found in males (from 56.2% to 70.6%) and females (from 56.0% to 72.2%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups since 1991-1995, except for ages 19 years and under where a decrease was seen from 1996-2000 to 2006-2010, followed by an increase to 98.3% in 2016-2020. The most pronounced increase was observed in ages 60-79 and 80 years and over from 56.6% and 46.5% to 73.0% and 63.6%, respectively.
Head and Neck Cancer (including lip)
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for head and neck cancer increased from 64.9% to 72.4%. A similar pattern was found in females (from 66.8% to 73.9%) and males (from 64.3% to 71.8%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, except for ages 80 years and over, and 20-39 years, where marginal decreases were suggested from 58.4% and 89.2% to 57.1% and 87.9%, respectively.
Liver Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for liver cancer increased from 7.8% to 24.2%. The same pattern was found in females (from 10.4% to 23.7%) and males (from 6.9% to 24.4%). The survival for females was higher than for males from 1991-1995, although becoming similar in 2001-2005, and subsequently becoming marginally lower to 2016-2020.
The 5-year relative survival tended to increase in all age groups from 20-39 years to 80 years and over since 1991-1995, although inconsistent from 1991-1995 to 2001-2005. For ages 19 years and under, survival decreased from 81.1% to the lowest recording of 64.8% in 2006-2010, but increased since then to 85.1% in 2016-2020.
Lung Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year survival for lung cancer increased from 10.3% to 25.6%. A similar increase was found in females (from 11.8% to 31.1%) and males (from 9.7% to 21.3%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 20-39 years from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, with the most pronounced increases reported for ages 80 years and over from 2.7% to 13.6%, followed by ages 60-79 years from 9.6% to 27.5%.
(Note: survival figures for ages 19 years and under were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Melanoma of the Skin
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for melanoma of the skin increased marginally from 90.0% to 94.1%. The same pattern applied in females (from 93.2% to 95.8%) and males (from 87.3% to 92.9%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, with the most pronounced increases reported in ages 80 years and over and ages 60-79 years from 77.1% and 86.6% to 84.4% and 94.5%, respectively.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma increased from 50.4% to 77.1%. The same pattern was found in females from 52.4% to 78.7% and males from 48.8% to 75.9%, respectively. The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups since 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, with the most pronounced increases reported in ages 80 years and over from 26.3% to 56.9%, followed by ages 60-79 years from 46.0% to 77.7%.
Oesophageal Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for oesophageal cancer increased from 14.2% to 25.1%. The same pattern was found in females (from 17.4% to 26.6%) and males (from 12.2% to 24.5%).
The 5-year relative survival rates increased in all age groups from 40-59 years although decreases were suggested in ages 80 years and over between 1996-2000 and 2006-2010 (from 8.6% to 6.6%) and in ages 40-59 years between 2001-2005 and 2006-2010 (from 24.9% to 22.7%). Over this period, the most pronounced increase was reported in ages 60-79 from 15.1% to 28.4%.
(Note: survival figures for ages 39 years and under were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns, except data for ages 20-39 years in 2011-2015)
Pancreatic Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for pancreatic cancer increased substantially from 3.7% to 13.0%. The same pattern was found in females (from 3.9% to 13.7%) and males (from 3.6% to 12.3%). Although the rates remained low, they have increased substantially, especially for younger and older age groups.1,6
The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 20-39 years since 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, with the most pronounced increase reported in ages 60-79 years from 3.3% to 13.0%. Over the same period, for ages 20–39 years and 40–59 years, survival increased from 22.7% and 7.1% to 60.4% and 24.2%, respectively.
(Note: survival figures for ages 19 years and under were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Further details referred to reference 6.6
Rectal Cancer (including rectosigmoid junction)
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year survival for rectal cancer increased from 54.3% to 71.1%. A similar pattern applied in males (from 52.7% to 70.2%) and females (from 56.7% to 72.6%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 20-39 years from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, except for a marginal decrease suggested for ages 20-39 years between 1996-2000 and 2001-2005 (from 67.3% to 65.6%). The most pronounced increases were in ages 40-59 and 60-79 years from 58.2% and 54.5% to 77.6% and 72.6%, respectively.
(Note: survival figures for ages 19 years and under were not published due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns)
Unknown primary site cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for unknown primary cancers approximately doubled from 6.1% to 13.2%, with a similar pattern indicated in males (from 6.7% to 15.7%) and females (from 5.5% to 10.2%). The 5-year relative survival increased in all age groups from 20-39 years from 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, except for a decrease suggested for ages 20-39 years between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 (from 40.0% to 34.4%).
Uterine Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year survival for uterine cancer increased from 77.5% to 82.3%. The 5-year relative survival increased at least marginally in all age groups, but with the most pronounced increase in ages 80 years and over from 46.3% to 63.5%.
Cervical Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for cervical cancer appeared to increase marginally from 72.9% to 75.5%. While survival remained stable or marginally increased in all other age groups, the survival for ages 80 years and over was recorded to decline from 33.9% to 29.0% over this period. The survival declined between 1996-2000 and 2011-2015 in ages 40-59 years and 60-79 years from 79.5% and 56.7% to 75.6% and 54.0%, respectively.
Ovarian Cancer/Ovarian Cancer and Serous Carcinomas of the Fallopian Tube
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for ovarian cancer increased from 40.0% to 48.1%. Similarly, survival for ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube increased from 40.0% to 48.9%.
For ovarian cancer, while survival generally increased in all other age groups between 1991-1995 and 2016-2020, the survival for ages 80 years and over appeared to decrease marginally from 13.7% to 11.8%, after an increase from 13.3% to 15.4% between 1996-2000 and 2006-2010. Survival for ages 20-39 years decreased marginally between 1996-2000 and 2001-2005 and between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 (from 79.3% to 76.3% and 82.3% to 80.8%, respectively). Survival in females aged under 19 years decreased between 2001-2005 and 2006-2010 from 88.4% to 82.2%.
Similarly, for ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube, survival for ages 20-39 years decreased between 1996-2000 and 2001-2005 and between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 (from 79.3% to 76.1% and 82.4% to 80.8%, respectively). Survival also decreased in females aged under 19 years between 2001-2005 and 2006-2010 from 88.4% to 82.2%.
Further details to be referenced to reference 4.4
Prostate Cancer
From 1991-1995 to 2016-2020, the 5-year relative survival for prostate cancer increased from 69.7% to more than 90% since 2006-2010 (92.4%) and 95.8% in 2016-2020. Survival increased for ages 40-59, 60-79, and 80 years and over, from 69.6%, 72.8% and 56.8% respectively in 1991-1995 to 98.2%, 97.7% and 78.1% respectively in 2016-2020. Survival appeared largely unchanged in all age groups from 2011-2015.
About the data
Relative survival is a measure of the survival of people with cancer compared with that of the general population. It is the standard approach used by cancer registries to produce population-level survival statistics and is commonly used as it does not require information on cause of death. Relative survival reflects the net survival (or excess mortality) associated with cancer by adjusting the survival experience of those with cancer for the experience that they would likely have experienced as part of the general population.1,7
Relative survival is calculated by dividing observed survival by expected survival. Observed survival refers to the proportion of people alive for a given amount of time after a diagnosis of cancer; it is calculated from population-based cancer data. Expected survival refers to the proportion of people in the general population alive for that given amount of time and is calculated from life tables of the entire Australian population. In this Cancer data in Australia (CdiA) report,1 relative survival was calculated with the period method, using the period 2016–2020 (Brenner & Gefeller 1996). This captured the survival experience of people who were diagnosed with cancer before or during 2016–2020 and were still alive at the beginning of 2016. Data from the National Death Index (NDI) on deaths (from any cause) that occurred up to 31 December 2020 were used to determine which people with cancer had died and when this occurred.1,7
Cancer is classified by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems Version 10 (ICD–10). This is a statistical classification, published by the World Health Organization, in which each morbid condition is assigned a unique code according to established criteria. The cancers in the Australian Cancer Database (ACD) are coded using the 2nd revision of the 3rd edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O-3.2). The ICD-O-3.2 codes can be mapped to the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10).8 All cancers combined incorporate ICD-10 cancer codes C00–C96 with mortality also incorporating C97, D45 (polycythaemia), D46 (myelodysplastic syndromes), and D47.1, D47.3, D47.4 and D47.5 (myeloproliferative diseases) but excluding basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. BCC and SCC, the most common skin cancers, are not notifiable diseases in Australia and are not reported in the Australian Cancer Database.7
Methodology
Age-adjusted survival1,8
Comparisons of cancer survival rates over time may be affected by changes in the age composition of those diagnosed (e.g., if more older people are diagnosed with cancer over time and older people have lower survival, recorded increases in survival over time may be offset by the increasingly older age of people diagnosed with cancer). Age-adjusted survival helps to identify the occasions where changes in cancer survival over time are impacted by age. Age-adjusted survival rates use a population relevant to the specific cancer (or cancer group) and sex to allow meaningful comparisons across time.
This CdiA report includes “forward-looking age-adjusted rates” and “backward-looking age-adjusted rates”, which are both age-adjusted rates with different methods of application of the age adjustments.1,8
Age-adjusted survival is different to age-standardized survival, which is currently not reported here but is planned for inclusion in future releases of CdiA reports.1,8
Data caveat
The ‘ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube’ survival better aligns with the historical interpretation of term “ovarian cancer”. The most recent ovarian cancer best aligns with the current understanding of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer survival for earlier years is likely to include more serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube and may not be directly comparable with survival for later years.1,4
International comparisons on cancer survival are generally not available, due to the culminated effects of differences in cancer collection, coding, and reporting practices, and differences in the methodologies used for calculating survival.
Data sources
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data in Australia. Data. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/data
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer survival data visualisation. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/survival
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer survival by age visualisation. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-survival-by-age-visualisation
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data in Australia. Web report; Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/about
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer survival data visualisation. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/survival
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