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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