Early detection and regular screening two key factors in falling cancer rates in Australia

Cancer rates in Australia have fallen to their lowest levels in a decade with the nation also boasting the best survival rates in the world, a new report shows. Two key factors are being praised for the improved longevity.

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Cancer rates in Australia have fallen to their lowest levels in a decade with the nation also boasting the best survival rates in the world, a new report shows.

Early detection and regular screening are being praised for the improved longevity, along with anti-tobacco campaigns and “world standard” medical facilities.

Cancer Council Australia chief executive Professor Sanchia Aranda said the rate of cancer being diagnosed per 100,000 people had fallen about five per cent over the past ten years.

Professor Aranda said the death rate had also dropped which she said was obviously “good news”.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer, followed by prostate cancer but the most deadly is lung cancer. Picture: iStock

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However, a snapshot of cancer released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found cancer is still the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for about three in every 10 deaths.

And while there has been triple the number of people diagnosed with cancer compared with two decades ago — it’s our growing population to blame — with elderly people experiencing higher rates of cancer.

The age-standardised incidence of cancer was just 383 people per 100,000 back in 1982.

It hit a peak of 507 in 2008 and is expected to fall to 483 per 100,000 this year.

A number of factors such as anti-tobacco campaigns has led cancer rates falling to its lowest in a decade in Australia. Picture: iStock

“Australia and New Zealand now have the best cancer survival in the world,” Prof Aranda said.

“We have exceptional cancer services the best in the world and people can be assured of getting the best treatment.

“There has been a massive change over time in things like prostate cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer and melanoma. They’re now up there with high survival rates.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer, closely followed by prostate cancer while the most deadly is lung cancer.

Across the country there are about a million people who have had cancer.

Zoie Moore, 19, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2016 has beaten cancer. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Leukaemia Foundation chief executive Bill Petch said surviving cancer still came with risks.

“Better cancer survival rates also present other issues for our community — the increased chance of a cancer survivor developing secondary cancers and the financial impact cancer has on families and on the economy through lost productivity means surviving cancer still comes at a cost”.

Sylvania Waters teen Zoie Moore, 19, will finish her chemotherapy treatment on Tuesday after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2016.

“Now that I’ve finished chemo it means I’ve beaten cancer,” she said. “It’s the best feeling in the world — I couldn’t have asked for anything better to happen.

“Nobody wants cancer. I was able to beat something that is stereotypically thought of as a death sentence. It’s amazing, and just goes to show that the medicine they are using now is working.”