Cancer

In 2012, the risk for Australian males of being diagnosed with cancer before their 85th birthday was 1 in 2. The most common diagnoses were prostate (1 in 5 males), bowel (1 in 11), melanoma of the skin (1 in 14), and lung (1 in 13).

In 2012, the risk for Australian females of being diagnosed with cancer before their 85th birthday was 1 in 3. The most common diagnoses were breast (1 in 8 females), bowel (1 in 15), gynaecological (1 in 22), and melanoma of the skin (1 in 24).

In 2016, it is estimated that cancer accounted for about 3 of every 10 deaths (30%) registered in Australia.

In 2008–12, for people newly diagnosed with cancer, their chance of surviving 5 years was 67% for males and 68% for females. However, note that survival rates vary greatly by cancer type.

At the end of 2010, there were 905,987 people (452,946 males and 453,041 females) diagnosed with cancer in the previous 29 years who were still alive.