Thyroid cancer (C73)
In 2009–2013, 155 new cases of thyroid cancer were diagnosed in Indigenous Australians—an average of 31 cases per year. In 2011–2015, 12 Indigenous Australians died from thyroid cancer—an average of 2 cases per year.
In 2007–2014, Indigenous Australians diagnosed with thyroid cancer had a 92% chance, on average, of surviving for five years compared with their counterparts in the Indigenous population. Non-Indigenous Australians diagnosed with thyroid cancer had a 96% chance, on average, of surviving for five years compared with their counterparts in the non-Indigenous population.
Sex
More Indigenous females than males were diagnosed with and died from thyroid 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 Indigenous Australians, the age-specific incidence and mortality rates for thyroid cancer increased with each life stage. For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-specific incidence rate increased to life stage 45–64 before decreasing for those in life stage 65 or older. The age-specific mortality rate increased with age for non-Indigenous Australians.
Due to small numbers, one-year relative survival is presented in text by life stage. For Indigenous Australians, one-year relative survival was highest for life stage 25–44 and 45–64 and then decreased for life stage 65 or older. One-year relative survival for non-Indigenous Australians was similar for life stage 0–14 to 45–64 and decreased for life stage 65 or older.
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 rate for thyroid cancer has increased over time, while the mortality rate has varied over time. Estimated trend lines indicate that the incidence rate has increased over time. No statistically significant increasing or decreasing trend was observed in the thyroid cancer mortality rate for Indigenous Australians from 1998 to 2015.
For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence for thyroid cancer has increased while the mortality rate has remained relatively stable. Estimated trend lines indicate that the incidence rate has increased over time. No statistically significant increasing or decreasing trend was observed in the thyroid cancer mortality rate for non-Indigenous Australians from 1998 to 2015.
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 thyroid cancer ranged from 5.4 new cases per 100,000 to 17 per 100,000 for Indigenous Australians. For non-Indigenous Australians, the incidence rate ranged from 4.1 per 100,000 to 11 per 100,000.
For the jurisdictions for which data were available (see Summary or Notes section for details), the age-standardised mortality rate for thyroid cancer ranged from 0.7 deaths per 100,000 to 4.7 per 100,000 for Indigenous Australians. For non-Indigenous Australians, the mortality rate ranged from 0.4 per 100,000 to 0.5 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 thyroid cancer ranged from 5.4 per 100,000 to 11 per 100,000 across remoteness areas. Due to small numbers, no comparison can be made for the thyroid cancer age-standardised mortality rate by remoteness areas.
For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence rate for thyroid cancer ranged from 5.3 per 100,000 to 11 per 100,000 across remoteness areas. The age-standardised mortality rate for thyroid cancer ranged from 0.3 per 100,000 to 0.5 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.
