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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework - Summary report

Cancer

In 2018, cancer and other neoplasms accounted for 10% of the total disease burden among Indigenous Australians, and in the 5-year period 2015–2019 was the leading broad cause of death. Smoking is a risk factor for many types of cancer – in 2018, tobacco smoking accounted for around two-fifths of the cancer burden (39%).

In 2015–2019, 3,612 Indigenous Australians died from cancer and other neoplasms (23.4% of all deaths), the vast majority of which were caused by cancer (that is, malignant neoplasms). Cancer accounted for 23.1% of all deaths, with a rate of 99 cancer deaths per 100,000 population. 

For Indigenous Australians, the most common broad types of cancer deaths were:

  • cancers of digestive organs (including liver cancer), accounting for 30% of cancer deaths
  • cancers of respiratory organs (including lungs), 26% of cancer deaths (Figure 4.14).
Figure 4.14: Leading causes of cancer and other neoplasm deaths among Indigenous Australians, 2015–2019 (proportion of total cancer and other neoplasm deaths)

This column chart shows that in 2015–2019, the most common broad causes of cancer deaths among Indigenous Australians were cancers of digestive organs (including liver cancer), accounting for 30% of cancer deaths, and cancers of respiratory organs (including lungs), 26% of cancer deaths. This was followed by cancers of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue, cancers with ill-defined and unknown primary sites, and head and neck cancers.

Note: Data from NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

Source: Measure 1.23, Table D1.23.12 – AIHW and ABS analysis of National Mortality Database.

For Indigenous Australians living in non-remote areas, the death rate due to cancer was 90 per 100,000 population, compared with 126 per 100,000 in remote areas.

There are several national cancer screening programs available free of charge for Australians to reduce the risk of death through early detection of cancer when treatment is likely to be more effective. However, Indigenous Australians have lower rates of participation in breast and bowel cancer screening programs than non-Indigenous Australians (Table 4.3).

Table 4.3: Participation in cancer screening programs

 

Indigenous (%)

Non-Indigenous (%)

Women aged 50–74 screened for breast cancer – age-standardised, 2019–20

36

50

People aged 50–74 participating in National Bowel Screening Program, 2019–2020(a)

35

46

People aged 50–74 having follow up colonoscopy, where appropriate, 2017– 2018

51

62

(a) Given the limitations in the data available to estimate Indigenous Australians’ participation in the NBCSP, caution should be used when interpreting these data (see Appendix F of AIHW 2021b).        

Sources: Measure 3.04, Table D3.04.9 – AIHW analysis of BreastScreen Australia data; National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: monitoring report 2021.

Figure 4.15: Rate of cancer hospitalisations (2009–10 to 2018–19) and deaths (2010–2019), by Indigenous status (age-standardised)

The two line charts show that over the decade between 2009–10 and 2018–19, the age-standardised rate of hospitalisation with a principal diagnosis of cancer among Indigenous Australians increased, and the rate of death from cancer increased in the decade from 2010 to 2019. In relation to the graph between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, hospitalisation rates due to cancer were lower for Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians, though the difference decreased over the decade. Death rates due to cancer were higher for Indigenous Australians than non-Indigenous Australians, and the difference increased over the decade. The two line charts show that over the decade between 2009–10 and 2018–19, the age-standardised rate of hospitalisation with a principal diagnosis of cancer among Indigenous Australians increased, and the rate of death from cancer increased in the decade from 2010 to 2019. In relation to the graph between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, hospitalisation rates due to cancer were lower for Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians, though the difference decreased over the decade. Death rates due to cancer were higher for Indigenous Australians than non-Indigenous Australians, and the difference increased over the decade.

Notes

1. Data on hospitalisations from NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

2. Data on deaths from NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

Sources: Measure 1.08, Table D1.08.15 – AIHW analysis of National Hospital Morbidity Database; and Measure 1.23, Table D1.23.20 – AIHW National Mortality Database.

For many people, cancer diagnosis will lead to multiple hospitalisations for treatment and recovery. Between July 2017 and June 2019, there were 11,970 hospitalisations with a principal diagnosis of cancer for Indigenous Australians, equivalent to hospitalisation rate of 7.2 per 1,000 populations. Indigenous males had a higher hospitalisation rate than Indigenous females, at 7.9 and 6.5 per 1,000 population, respectively.

Over the decade between 2009–10 and 2018–19, the age-standardised rate of hospitalisation with a principal diagnosis of cancer among Indigenous Australians increased by 47% from 9.6 to 13 per 1,000 population (data from NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined). Among Indigenous Australians, age-standardised death rates from cancer increased by 12% between 2010 and 2019 (data from NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined).

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