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 2015, a total of 10,008 South Australians were diagnosed with cancer.

For South Australian males, the most commonly diagnosed cancers in 2015 were prostate cancer (accounting for 26% of all male cancers), colorectal cancer (13%), and lung cancer (9%). The most common cancers for South Australian females in 2015 were breast cancer (29%), colorectal cancer (12%), and lung cancer (9%).

Over half (62%) of cancers diagnosed in 2015 were in South Australians aged over 65 years.

Between 2011 and 2015 male incidence rates in South Australia decreased by 1.3% per annum, while female incidence rates increased by 0.9% over this period. The slight increase in incidence in females can be mostly accounted for by a rise in breast cancer diagnoses.

Cancer Deaths

In 2015, 3,767 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 2011 and 2015 mortality rates in males have shown a decrease of 0.4% per annum, while female rates have decreased by 0.3%.

Information source:

South Australian Cancer Registry (2018): Cancer in South Australia 2015 - with projections to 2018. 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