Cancer data in Australia

The Australia-born all cancers combined incidence rate was much higher than the rate for the overseas-born population

In 2006–2020, the Australia-born all cancers combined incidence rate was higher than the overseas-born rate (401 cases per 100,000 compared to 312 cases per 100,000 people respectively) (Table 1). The much lower overseas-born cancer incidence rates contributed to the Australian rate (that is, the rate for all countries of birth) of 371 cases being lower than the Australia-born cancer incidence rate.

The Australia-born cancer incidence rates are higher than the rates for the overseas-born population for most types of cancer and for cancer overall, but the general composition of cancer by type is similar. The leading five cancers are the same but, because of the much lower melanoma of the skin incidence rates for the overseas-born population (17 cases per 100,000 people compared to 51 cases per 100,000 people), melanoma of the skin was the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in 2006–2020 for the overseas-born population but the third for the Australia-born (Table 1).

Thyroid cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer and bladder cancer are among the cancers for which overseas-born incidence rates are higher than Australia-born rates (Table 1).

Notes:

1. Rates are age-standardised to the WHO World Standard Population and expressed as cases per 100,000 persons.
2. Rankings are ordered by the number of cases diagnosed but for comparability are presented as age-standardised rates.
3. Ovarian cancer includes serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube
4. All cancers combined comprises ICD-10 codes C00–C97, D45, D46, D47.1 and D47.3–D47.5, except basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (part of C44).

Source: Australian Cancer Database 2020

Melanoma of the skin contributes to the large disparity between the Australia-born and overseas-born cancer incidence rates

Australia has amongst the highest rates of melanoma of the skin in the world (IARC 2022). Within Australia for the 2006–2020 period, the Australia-born and New Zealand-born populations had higher melanoma of the skin incidence rates than other countries of birth (COBs) and regions of birth (ROBs) (discussed in more detail later in the report).

There is no single cancer that explains all of the difference between the Australia-born and overseas-born total cancer incidence, but melanoma of the skin does account for a considerable amount of difference. When melanoma of the skin is excluded from the Australia-born cancer incidence rate it moves from 401 to 351 cases per 100,000 people while the overseas-born rate moves from 312 to 295 cases per 100,000 people.

The overseas-born population is the aggregate of a wide range of differing rates rather than a representative rate of the ROBs and COBs within. Table 2 explores the impact that melanoma of the skin has on the comparisons between the Australia-born cancer incidence rate with a selection of COBs.

Notes:

1. Rates are age-standardised to the World Health Organisation World Standard Population and expressed per 100,000 persons.
2. All cancers combined (excluding melanoma of the skin) equals the rounded age-standardised all cancers combined rate less the rounded melanoma of the skin rate and may differ slightly to the rate calculated when unrounded.
3. All cancers combined comprises ICD-10 codes C00–C97, D45, D46, D47.1 and D47.3–D47.5, except basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (part of C44).

Source: Australian Cancer Database 2020

The Australia-born population is also comprised of many differing cultures

While around 30% of the Australian population were born overseas, around 50% of the Australian population have at least one parent born overseas (ABS 2021). Family history can also influence the risk for many cancers and the Australia-born population itself is comprised of various cultures with potentially differing cancer risks.

The Australian Cancer Database collects information about the patients place of birth only and does not collect information such as parent’s ancestry or country of birth. Accordingly, understandings of the impact of differing cultures upon the Australia-born cancer incidence cannot be informed using the data available.