Oral cancer

Data table

Note

Cancers were classified by ICD-9 up to 1998 and by ICD-10 from 1999 onwards. Rates were age-adjusted using the Australian population as at 30 June 2001. Numbers for 2006 include an estimate of the small numbers of deaths that were registered in 2007, data for which were unavailable at the time of production.

Source

NSW Central Cancer Registry incidence data, ABS mortality data and population estimates (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.

Commentary

Cancers included in this category were cancers of the tongue, mouth and salivary gland. The main risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco smoking, excessive drinking and poor oral hygiene. Up to 90% of oral cancers occur in heavy smokers and drinkers. The human papillomavirus has been implicated in a small proportion of cases involving younger people (Rose et al., 2004).

In 2006, 452 people were diagnosed with oral cancer (65% males) in NSW, compared to 337 people in 1987. There were 118 deaths (68% males) in 2006, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics mortality data. The NSW Central Cancer Registry (CCR) reports different figures: 157 deaths (102 in males and 55 in females). Generally the CCR figures for cancer are more reliable than the ABS cancer data, because the CCR data is verified against the histopathological reports for each case, while the ABS data is sourced only from the information on death certificates. ABS mortality data is used in this report to allow comparisons to be made between different diseases.

Oral cancer accounted for 1.3% of total new cancers, and 0.9% of cancer deaths in NSW in 2006.

In males, the age-standardised incidence rate for oral cancers was 9.8 in 1987 and 8.5 per 100,000 population in 2006. In the 20-year period, the maximum rate was 9.8 per 100,000 population in 1987. In females, the incidence rate was 4.1 per 100,000 population in 2006. Throughout the period from 1987 to 2006, the female incidence rate was always lower than the male rate, occasionally half and even less.

The death rate in males decreased from 3.8 in 1987 to 2.4 per 100,000 population in 2006. The death rate in females also fell, from 1.9 to 0.9 per 100,000 population between 1987 and 2006.

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For more information

Rose BR, Wei Li, O'Brien CJ. Human papillomavirus: a cause of some head and neck cancers? MJA 2004; 181 (8): 415-416.

Tracey EA, Alam N, Chen W, Bishop J. Cancer in New South Wales: Incidence and mortality 2006. Sydney: NSW Central Cancer Registry, Cancer Institute NSW, 2008. Available at www.cancer institute.org.au.

Tracey E, Baker D, Chen W, Stavrou E, Bishop J. Cancer in New South Wales: Incidence, mortality and prevalence report 2005. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, 2007. Available at www.cancer institute.org.au

Cancer Institute NSW at www.cancerinstitute.org.au.

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Copyright notice

This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.

Suggested citation

Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).

Produced by

Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.

Last updated on 15 December 2008