The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Soft tissue sarcoma incorporates multiple ICD-10 cancer codes, please see AIHW - CDIA Commentary no.7 for a full list.
Estimated number of new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in 2022
2,460 = 
1,375 males + 
1085 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2022
1.5%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2014–2018)
69%
People living with soft tissue sarcoma at the end of 2017 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2013 to 2017)
7,384
New cases
In 2018, there were 2,219 new cases of sarcoma diagnosed in Australia (1,215 males and 1,005 females). In 2022, it is estimated that 2,460 new cases of sarcoma will be diagnosed in Australia (1,375 males and 1,085 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 126 (or 0.79%) risk of being diagnosed with sarcoma by the age of 85 (1 in 113 or 0.89% for males and 1 in 143 or 0.70% for females).
Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2022
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
In 2018, the age-standardised incidence rate was 8.0 cases per 100,000 persons (9.1 for males and 7.1 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 8.1 cases per 100,000 persons (9.3 for males and 7.2 for females). The incidence rate for sarcoma is expected to increase with age.
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for sarcoma, 1982 to 2018, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
The number of new cases of sarcoma diagnosed increased from 671 (333 males and 338 females) in 1982 to 2,219 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 5.0 cases per 100,000 persons (5.2 for males and 4.9 for females) in 1982 to 8.0 cases per 100,000 in 2018.
Survival
In 2014–2018, individuals diagnosed with sarcoma had a 69% chance (69% for males and 70% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1989–1993 and 2014–2018, five-year relative survival for sarcoma improved from 51% to 69%.
Figure 3. 5-year relative survival for sarcoma, 1989–1993 to 2014–2018, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
Prevalence
At the end of 2017, there were 1,825 people living who had been diagnosed with sarcoma that year, 7,384 people living who had been diagnosed with sarcoma in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 21,405 people living who had been diagnosed with sarcoma in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).
For more information on cancer data, see 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 chart.
