Survival

Information on survival indicates cancer prognosis and the effectiveness of treatment available. Survival in this report refers to ‘relative survival’ which is the probability of being alive for a given amount of time after diagnosis compared with the general population, and reflects the impact of a cancer diagnosis. Survival of less than 100% suggests that those with bowel cancer have a lower chance of surviving for at least 5 years after diagnosis than the general population.

In the period 2017–2021, Australians aged 50­­–74 who were diagnosed with bowel cancer had a 75% chance of surviving for 5 years compared with their counterparts in the general population.

  • Target age group (50–74 years)

    75% 5-year relative survival (2017–2021)

  • All ages

    72% 5-year relative survival (2017–2021)

In the period 2017–2021, 5-year relative survival was lower for people aged 70 and over than for younger people (Figure 2.3).

Figure 2.3: Five-year survival from bowel cancer, by age group and sex, Australia, 2017-2021

This line chart depicts the 5-year relative survival from bowel cancer for males, females and persons. It shows that between 2017 and 2021, 5-year relative survival was highest for people aged 24 and under (over 95%), stable between ages 25 and 74 (approximately 76%) and decreased for people aged of 75 and over.

Source: Table A2.1.

Between the periods 1987–1991 and 2017–2021, the 5-year relative survival rate from bowel cancer for people aged 50–74 at diagnosis rose from 54% to 75% (Figure 2.4).

Figure 2.4: Trend in 5-year relative survival from bowel cancer, people aged 50–74 at diagnosis, Australia, 1987–1991 to 2017–2021

This line chart depicts the 5-year relative survival trend for the period 1987–1991 to 2017–2021 for people aged 50–74 at the time of their bowel cancer diagnosis. It shows that the 5-year relative survival rate increased from 54% to 75% over this period.

Source: Table A2.2

Relative survival shows the probability of survival at diagnosis. Conditional relative survival estimates show the probability of surviving a given number of years, provided that an individual has already survived a specified amount of time after diagnosis.

While Australians aged 50–74 who were diagnosed with bowel cancer had a 75% chance of surviving for 5 years compared with their counterparts in the general population, among those who had already survived 5 years, the chance of surviving for at least another 5 years (5-year conditional relative survival) was 92% (Figure 2.5).

Figure 2.5: Relative survival at diagnosis and 5-year conditional relative survival from bowel cancer, people aged 50–74 at diagnosis, Australia, 2017–2021

This line chart shows the relative survival at diagnosis and 5-year conditional relative survival from bowel cancer for those aged 50–74 at the time of their diagnosis. Years since diagnosis are plotted on the x-axis. The figure shows that the relative survival at diagnosis decreased from 91% at 1 year after diagnosis to 75% at 5 years after diagnosis, then decreased slowly to 64% at 20 years after diagnosis. However, once an individual has survived the initial 5 years after diagnosis, the chance of conditionally surviving another 5 years was 92%.

Source: Table A2.3.

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