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Cancer data book

The Health of the people of New South Wales
Report of the Chief Health Officer

Download the Cancer data book

Summary

  • Cancer is the leading cause of disease burden in Australia, accounting for just under one-fifth of years of healthy life lost due to premature death, disease, and injury.

  • In NSW in 2006, there were 35,159 new cases of cancer (57% in males), and 13,099 deaths from cancer (56% in males). Between 1987 and 2006, the incidence rate for all cancers increased in males by 21% and rose by 14% in females, while death rates fell by 21% in males and 15% in females. In both males and females, death rates from cancer in 2006 were the lowest since the NSW Cancer Registry began operation in 1972.

  • In 2006 in NSW:
    - Prostate cancer was the leading cause of new cases of cancer but the third cause of cancer death;
    - Colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of new cases of cancer and second cause of cancer death;
    - Breast cancer was the third leading cause of new cases of cancer but the fifth cause of cancer death;
    - Melanoma was the fourth leading cause of new cases of cancer but the ninth cause of cancer death;
    - Lung cancer was the fifth leading cause of new cases of cancer, but the leading cause of cancer death;

  • A bowel cancer screening program commenced in NSW in August 2006.

  • Cervical cancer had been decreasing in incidence since 1972 and was the fifteenth most common female cancer in 2006. It can be prevented through the early detection of pre-cancerous lesions by two-yearly Pap tests of women aged 20-69 years. The percentage of women aged 20-69 years who had their biennial Pap test by December 2006 was 57.3%.

  • BreastScreen NSW provides a two-yearly mammographic screening service to women aged 50-69 years in NSW. The service aims to detect early cases of breast cancer and refer women for treatment. The percentage of women aged 50-69 years who had their biennial mammogram by December 2006 was 57.2%.

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File link: Cancer data book
File size: &booksize
Type: Report
Date of Publication: &bookdate
Author Branch: Centre for Epidemiology & Research

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