Media summary of statistics

Our most recent statistics are from 2005.

  • 24,408 Victorians were diagnosed with malignant cancer
  • 9,784 died from cancer
  • Cancer was a leading cause of death in Victoria, accounting for 30.0% of all deaths.

Cancer and gender

  • More men were diagnosed with cancer (13,449) than women (10,959). 123 men were diagnosed for every 100 women.
  • More men died from cancer (5,396) than women (4,388)

Cancer and age

  • Fewer than 1% of tumours occur before the age of 15.
  • 58% of tumours occur in people over the age of 65.

Leading cancer types

  • Prostate cancer 3970
  • Bowel cancer 3441
  • Breast cancer 3067
  • Lung cancer 2292
  • Melanoma 2347
  • Non Hodgkin Lymphoma 1009
  • Leukaemia 666 
  • Kidney 591
  • Pancreas 558

Leading cancer deaths

  • Lung cancer 1790
  • Bowel cancer 1173
  • Prostate cancer 737
  • Breast cancer 707
  • Pancreas 506
  • Leukaemia 396 
  • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 361
  • Stomach 323
  • Oesophagus 303
  • Melanoma 245

Source: Cancer in Victoria 2005 (Canstat no. 45) PDF 448kb.

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