Cancer statistics and trends in South Australia.
Cancer Incidence
Cancer is a leading burden of disease in South Australia with an average of 27 new cancer diagnoses made each day. In 2016, a total of 9,878 South Australians were diagnosed with cancer.
For South Australian males, the most commonly diagnosed cancers in 2016 were prostate cancer (accounting for 26% of all male cancers), colorectal cancer (12%), and lung cancer (9%). The most common cancers for South Australian females in 2016 were breast cancer (29%), colorectal cancer (11%), and lung cancer (9%).
Over half (63%) of cancers diagnosed in 2016 were in South Australians aged over 65 years.
Between 2012 and 2016 male incidence rates in South Australia decreased by 2.4% per annum, while female incidence rates remained steady during this period.
Cancer Deaths
In 2016, 3,561 South Australians died from cancer, an average of 10 South Australians each day. Lung cancer (19%) and colorectal cancer (12%) were the leading causes of cancer deaths in South Australia.
Between 2012 and 2016 mortality rates in males have shown a decrease of 1.0% per annum, while female rates have decreased by 2.1%.
Information source:
South Australian Cancer Registry (2019): Cancer in South Australia 2016 - with projections to 2019. Adelaide: South Australian Department for Health and Ageing.
Links to national and international cancer statistics:
• South Australian cancer statistics from the SA department of health
• Australian cancer statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
• International cancer statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer
Last reviewed August 2019.