Cancer survival in Australia – report

The AIHW has recently released Cancer survival and prevalence in Australia: period estimates from 1982 to 2010.  Five-year survival for all cancers combined increased from 47% in 1982-1987 to 66% in 2006-2010. The largest survival gains over this time were for prostate cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In 2006-2010, cancers with the highest survival were those of the testis, lip, prostate and thyroid, and melanoma of the skin. In comparison, pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma had the lowest survival rates.  

The message is that survival is increasing, but not for all cancers.  Those people with cancer who had already survived 5 years past their diagnosis, had quite high survival prospects for the next 5 years - more than 90% for all cancers combined.