The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Pancreatic cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C25 (Malignant neoplasm of pancreas).
New cases
Pancreatic cancer was the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2020. It is estimated that it will remain the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2024.
In 2020, there were 3,968 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,047 males and1,921 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 4,641 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,414 males and 2,227 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 70 (or 1.4%) risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 66 or 1.5% for males and 1 in 75 or 1.3% for females).
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about incidence rates for the most common cancers diagnosed can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)
In 2020, the age-standardised incidence rate was 16 cases per 100,000 persons (18 for males and 15 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 17 cases per 100,000 persons (19 for males and 15 for females). The incidence rate for pancreatic cancer is expected to increase with age.
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population
- More information about incidence rates for pancreatic cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence))
The number of new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed increased from 1,205 (699 males and 506 females) in 1982 to 3,968 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 13 cases per 100,000 persons (17 for males and 9.8 for females) in 1982 to 16 cases per 100,000 in 2020.
Deaths
In 2022, pancreatic cancer was the fourth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will become the third most common cause of death from cancer in 2024.
In 2022, there were 3,687 deaths from pancreatic cancer in Australia (1,912 males and 1,775 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 3,902 deaths (2,027 males and 1,875 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 84 (or 1.2%) risk of dying from pancreatic cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 79 or 1.3% for males and 1 in 90 or 1.1% for females).
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Two sources are used for cancer mortality reporting rankings (National Mortality Database and Australian Cancer Database). Mortality data reported for cancer of unknown primary site, liver cancer and stomach cancer in the chart above is from the Australian Cancer Database. Data from the National Mortality Database is presented in-text unless it is unavailable. More information can be found at AIHW interim guidelines (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/interim-guidelines-choosing-which-mortality-data)
- More information about mortality rates for the most common causes of cancer death can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)
In 2022, the age-standardised mortality rate was 14 deaths per 100,000 persons (16 for males and 13 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 14 deaths per 100,000 persons (16 for males and 13 for females). The mortality rate for pancreatic cancer is expected to increase with age.
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population
- More information about mortality rates for pancreatic cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)
The number of deaths from pancreatic cancer increased from 1,168 (671 males and 497 females) in 1982 to 3,687 persons in 2022. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate increased from 13 deaths per 100,000 persons (17 for males and 9.6 for females) in 1982 to 14 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Survival
In 2016–2020, individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer had a 13% chance (12% for males and 14% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1991–1995 and 2016–2020, five-year relative survival for pancreatic cancer increased from 3.7% to 13%.
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about 5-year relative survival rates for pancreatic cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Relative survival rate’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival-diagnosis)
Prevalence
At the end of 2020, there were 2,296 people living who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that year, 5,124 people living who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2016 to 2020) and 7,652 people living who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the previous 39 years (from 1982 to 2020).
For more information, see Pancreatic cancer on the NCCI website
The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.
