All cancers – incidence and mortality

• Cancer is one of the greatest health burdens for the ACT population. Advances in prevention, early detection and treatment mean that more people are surviving and living longer with cancer.
• There were 2,041 new cases of cancer diagnosed in ACT residents in 2019. More males (53.3%) were diagnosed with cancer than females (46.7%). The median age at diagnosis in 2019 was older for males (68 years) than females (66 years). The age-standardised incidence rate for the ACT in 2019 was 469.7 cases per 100,000.¹ This was lower than the incidence rate for Australia* in 2019 (487.9 cases per 100,000).²
• In 2018, 555 people (55.3% males and 44.7% females) who lived in the ACT at the time of their cancer diagnosis died from cancer. In 2018, the age-standardised mortality rate for the ACT was 134.9 deaths per 100,000 people (165.5 for males and 109.7 for females) compared to 155.4 deaths per 100,000 people for Australia (192.3 for males and 125.5 for females).^1,2
• Survival for all cancers combined has improved considerably over time. For the period 2008–2017, 5-year relative survival for all cancers combined in the ACT was 72.8%. This was a significant improvement from 67.8% in 1998–2007 and 59.9% in 1988–1997. Females had similar survival to males (73.7% and 72.0%, respectively). Younger people had better survival than older people for all cancers combined. There were significant differences in survival between different age groups, with those aged 0–44 having a 5-year relative survival of 87.0% compared with 79.6% for 45–54-year-olds and 64.2% for those aged 65 and above.^1,3-7
• The improved cancer survival over time reflects a combination of improved treatments and earlier diagnosis across many cancer types. Survival rates in the ACT are at least as high as those for Australia as a whole. Compared with younger persons, there is a substantial disadvantage in survival for persons affected by cancer over the age of 65 years. This is, in part, due to older persons not undergoing more complex cancer treatments because of the risk of complications. Improving outcomes in this group remains a major challenge in cancer care.

*The national 2019 cancer incidence data reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare are estimates based on previous years’ trends. By contrast, all ACT-specific incidence data reported here utilise actual ACT data.

References

1. ACT Cancer Registry. Canberra: ACT Cancer Registry; 2022 (unpublished data).

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Cancer in Australia 2021. Canberra: AIHW; 2021 [cited 2022 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-in-australia-2021/data.

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Life Tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2015-2017. Canberra: ABS; 2019 [cited 2022 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3302.0.55.001Main+Features12015-2017?OpenDocument=.

4. ABS. Life Tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2014-2016. Canberra: ABS; 2018 [cited 2021 Nov 4]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3302.0.55.001Main+Features12014-2016?OpenDocument=.

5. ABS. Life Tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2013-2015. Canberra: ABS; 2017 [cited 2022 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3302.0.55.001Main+Features12013-2015?OpenDocument=.

6. ABS. Life Tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2012-2014. Canberra: ABS; 2016 [cited 2022 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3302.0.55.001Main+Features12012-2014?OpenDocument=.

7. ABS. Life Tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2011-2013. Canberra: ABS; 2015 [cited 2022 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3302.0.55.001Main+Features12011-2013?OpenDocument=.

The authors wish to thank the Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Coroners and the National Coronial Information System for enabling the cause of death unit record file data to be used for this publication.