10-year relative survival for all cancers combined
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year relative survival was 64% for all cancers combined. This meant that among people with cancer, the likelihood of surviving for at least 10 years after diagnosis was 64% of the corresponding expected survival for the general population.1
Age and sex
10-year relative survival for all cancers combined:
- Was highest among persons aged 15-24 years and 25–34 years (between 87.5% and 86.5%).
- Decreased with increasing age from 87.5% among those aged 15-24 years to 32% among those aged 85 years and over. Similar patterns among males and females respectively were observed across age groups.
- Was higher among females than males for age groups 0-14 years (83.5% and 82% respectively), 15-24 years (89% and 86% respectively), 25-34 years (87% and 86% respectively), 35-44 years (84% and 80%, respectively), 45-54 years (80% and 73%, respectively), 55-64 years (73% and 71% respectively) and 85+ years (34% and 30%, respectively).
- Was higher among males aged 65–74 years than females (65% compared to 63% respectively).
- Was the same for both males and females in the 75–84-year age group (48% for males and females).
The difference in survival by age may be influenced by factors such as cancer stage at diagnosis, differences in treatment, and an increased likelihood of co-morbidities among older persons.1
This difference in cancer survival by age and sex may be influenced by differences in outcomes for high-incidence, sex-specific cancers such as prostate cancer in males and female breast cancer (see ‘10-year survival by cancer type’ below).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 10-year survival data are presented for observed survival rather than for relative survival due to limited access to relevant life tables at the time of publication.
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year observed survival for all cancers combined was:
- Lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderAustralians (38%) than non-Indigenous Australians (48%).
- Lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males (33.5%) than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females (42.5%). A similar pattern occurred among non-Indigenous Australians, with a lower 10-year observed survival among males (45%) than females (53%).
- Lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females than non-Indigenous females (42.5% than 53%, respectively).
- Lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males than non-Indigenous males (33.5% than 45%, respectively).
Differences in survival by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status may be influenced by factors such as cancer stage at diagnosis, treatment, and prevalence of co-morbidities.1
Remoteness
Survival data by remoteness area are presented using observed rather than relative survival due to limited access to relevant life tables.
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year observed survival for all cancers combined was:
- Slightly higher in Major Cities for both males and females (48% and 55%, respectively) than in other remoteness areas.
Socioeconomic status (SES)
Survival data by SES area are presented using observed rather than relative survival due to limited access to relevant life tables.
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year observed survival for all cancers combined across SES areas:
- Increased with increasing socioeconomic status, from 44% in the lowest SES areas (SES 1) to 57% in the highest SES areas (SES 5). This pattern applied to both males and females.
10-year relative survival by cancer type
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year relative survival for the 18 cancer types reported in this analysis (see Table 1 in ‘About the Data’) was:
- Highest for prostate cancer (92%), followed by melanoma (89%), and female breast cancer (86%).
- Lowest for pancreatic cancer (9%), followed by cancers of unknown primary site (11%), lung (14%), liver (15%), brain (17%), and oesophagus (18%).
Age and sex
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year relative survival for the 18 cancer types reported was:
- Generally decreased with increasing age for all cancer types. The ages at which survival began to decrease, and the extent of this decrease, varied by cancer type.
- Higher among females than among males for cancers of brain (19% compared to 16%), colon (66% compared to 64%), head and neck (including lip) (66% compared to 61%), lung (18% compared to 12%), melanoma of the skin (92% compared to 87%), and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (70% compared to 66%).
- Higher among males than females for cancers of the bladder (48.5% compared to 40% females), and unknown primary site (13% compared to 8.5%).
- Survival estimates were similar in both sexes for cancer of the colorectum (66% for females compared to 63% for males), liver (15% for males compared to 14% for females), oesophagus (18.5% for females compared to 18% for males), pancreas (9.5% for females compared to 9% for males), and rectum (65% for females compared to 63% for males).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year observed survival for the 18 cancer types reported was:
- Lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons than non-Indigenous persons for cancers of the unknown primary site (4% compared to 7%), head and neck (including lip) (26.5% compared to 47%), lung (7% compared to 11%), and rectum (39% compared to 48%).
- Lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males than non-Indigenous males for cancers of the head and neck (including lip) (28% compared to 46%), lung (5.5% compared to 8%respectively), and prostate (58.5% compared to 68% respectively). and lower among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander than non-Indigenous females for cancers of the breast (64% compared to 74%), cervix (50% compared to 64%), head and neck (including lip) (24% compared to 51%), and lung (8% compared to 14%).
- Similar among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and non-Indigenous Australian for cancers of the bladder, colon, colorectal, melanoma of the skin, non-Hodgkin lymphoma[BJ2] and uterus.
- Not presented for cancers of the bladder (females only), brain (by sex), liver, oesophagus, pancreas, and ovary due to small numbers, confidentiality, and/or reliability concerns.
Remoteness
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year observed survival across remoteness areas for the 18 cancer types reported was:
- Higher among persons living in Major Cities than those living in more remote areas for cancers of the brain, colon, head and neck (including lip), liver, lung, oesophagus, and pancreas.
- Lower among persons living in Major Cities than those living in other remoteness areas for bladder cancer, unknown primary site, colorectal, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma of the skin, and rectum.
- Higher among males living in Major Cities than males living in more remote areas for cancers of the brain, head and neck (including lip), liver, lung oesophagus, pancreas, and prostate.
- Lower among males living in Major Cities than males living in Remote and Very Remote areas for unknown primary site (9.5% compared to 12%), melanoma of the skin (66% compared to 71.5%) and rectum (47% compared to 49%).
- Higher among females living in Major Cities than females living in Inner Regional areas for pancreatic cancer (8% compared to 5.5%).
- Lower among females living in Major Cities than females living in Remote and Very Remote areas for colon (46.5% compared to 51%), colorectal (48% compared to 51%), melanoma of the skin (76% compared to 80%), and ovarian cancer (33% compared to 47%).
Socioeconomic status (SES)
In the period 2013–2017, 10-year observed survival for the 18 cancer types reported was higher among persons in the highest SES areas (SES 5) than in other SES areas for the selected cancer types analysed.
- While 10-year observed survival was higher among males living the highest SES areas, these differences were attributable to chance for cancers of the brain, liver, and oesophagus.
- While 10-year observed survival was higher among females living the highest SES areas, these differences were attributable to chance for cancers of the bladder, unknown primary site, liver, oesophagus, ovary, pancreas, and uterus.
Note: these differences were based on small numbers and therefore attributable to chance.
