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In 2000, there were around 88,000 cases of cancer diagnosed. In 2025, it’s estimated that 170,000 cases will be diagnosed.
“The incidence can, in some cases, give us an insight into causes of cancer. The deaths give us insight into the success or otherwise we have had of treating particular cancer types, in so far as establishing cancer survivorship — if not cure,” he said.
So, what else did the data show?
Survival rates
Between 2000 and 2025, the cancer mortality rate (standardised for an ageing population) decreased from 257 deaths per 100,000 to an estimated 194 deaths.
Source: SBS News
Source: SBS News
The five-year survival rate (the percentage of people diagnosed with a cancer who survived for at least five years past diagnosis) increased from 50 to 72 per cent over a 30-year period between 1987-1991 and 2017-2021.
Over the same period, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer among women improved from 75 to 93 per cent and, for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the five-year survival rate increased from 60 to 96 per cent.
Source: SBS News
AIHW spokesperson Justin Harvey said the chances of surviving prostate cancer or breast cancer “have been gradually improving over time.”
Lung cancer, while the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia this year, is responsible for more deaths than any other cancer and has the lowest five-year survival rate.
Rising cancer rates among young people
For people in their 40s, rates have increased from 280 to 313 cases per 100,000 over the same period.
Source: SBS News
The report found an increased rate of thyroid and colorectal cancer among people in their 30s and an increased rate of thyroid, breast, prostate, colorectal and kidney cancer for people in their 40s.
“The possibility of colorectal cancer [among people in their 30s and 40s] was virtually unknown and is now becoming increasingly a matter that has to be taken into account,” he said.
Source: SBS News
However, while cancer is becoming more common for people in their 30s and 40s, “cancer mortality rates for these age groups have generally been decreasing”, Harvey said.
Melanoma rates
This rise is being driven by older age brackets, and melanoma rates for people under 40 have been decreasing since the late 1990s.
However, there are increasing rates of melanoma among older Australians — people who are likely to have spent more of their lives in times when there was less skin cancer awareness.
“That has been remarkably successful in this country.”
