Head and neck cancer (C00–C14, C30–C32)

In 2009–2013, 414 new cases of head and neck cancer were diagnosed in Indigenous Australians—an average of 83 cases per year. In 2011–2015, 188 Indigenous Australians died from head and neck cancer—an average of 38 deaths per year.

In 2007–2014, Indigenous Australians diagnosed with head and neck cancer had a 42% chance, on average, of surviving for five years compared with their counterparts in the Indigenous population. Non-Indigenous Australians diagnosed with head and neck cancer had a 66% chance, on average, of surviving for five years compared with their counterparts in the non-Indigenous population.

Sex

More Indigenous males than females were diagnosed with and died from head and neck cancer. Five-year relative survival was lower in Indigenous males than females.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013), mortality (2011–2015) and relative survival (2007–2014) by sex and Indigenous status.

Life stage

For both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, the age-specific incidence and mortality rates for head and neck cancer increased with increasing life stage.

For Indigenous Australians, five-year relative survival was higher for life stage 25–44 and decreased in older life stages. A similar pattern was found for non-Indigenous Australians.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013), mortality (2011–2015) and relative survival (2007–2014) by sex, Indigenous status and life stage.

Trend

For Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for head and neck cancer have varied over time. No statistically significant increasing or decreasing trend was observed in the head and neck cancer incidence rate for Indigenous Australians from 1998 to 2013 and mortality rate for Indigenous Australians from 1998 to 2015.

For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for head and neck cancer have fallen slightly. Estimated trend lines indicate a significant decrease in the head and neck cancer incidence and mortality rates for non-Indigenous Australians.

Data for individual years have been presented for trend figures to demonstrate the variation in rates from year to year. Estimated trend lines have been applied to figures based on a least-squares regression equation where trends were found to be statistically significant. Differences between the rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians may be related to a range of factors including differences between the two populations in the prevalence of risk and/or protective factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, access to health-care services and uptake of screening and diagnostics testing.

Explore the data below for information on incidence and mortality by sex, Indigenous status and year.

State and territory

For the jurisdictions for which data were available (see Summary or Notes section for details), the age-standardised incidence rate for head and neck cancer ranged from 19 new cases per 100,000 to 43 per 100,000 for Indigenous Australians. For non-Indigenous Australians, the incidence rate ranged from 12 per 100,000 to 30 per 100,000.

For the jurisdictions for which data were available (see Summary or Notes section for details), the age-standardised mortality rate for head and neck cancer ranged from 7.6 deaths per 100,000 to 29 per 100,000 for Indigenous Australians. For non-Indigenous Australians, the mortality rate ranged from 3.4 per 100,000 to 8.9 per 100,000.

Observed differences may be due to differences in population characteristics, for example, Indigenous Australians are more likely to live in remote areas of Australia than non-Indigenous people.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013) and mortality (2011–2015) by sex, Indigenous status and state and territory.

Remoteness area

For Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence rate for head and neck cancer ranged from 19 per 100,000 to 39 per 100,000 across remoteness areas. The age-standardised mortality rate for head and neck cancer ranged from 6.4 per 100,000 to 23 per 100,000 across remoteness areas.

For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence rate for head and neck cancer ranged from 13 per 100,000 to 21 per 100,000 across remoteness areas. The age-standardised mortality rate for head and neck cancer ranged from 3.2 per 100,000 to 5.8 per 100,000 across remoteness areas.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013) and mortality (2011–2015) by sex, Indigenous status and remoteness area.