Australia sees notable gains in long-term cancer survival
New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) highlight a hopeful trend: more Australians are surviving cancer for five years or more after diagnosis. The AIHW’s latest report, Cancer data in Australia, documents a substantial rise in the five-year relative survival rate across all cancers, alongside a general decline in cancer mortality over the past two decades. These insights come as clinicians, researchers, and policymakers analyze what’s driving better outcomes and what remains to be done to sustain momentum.
What the five-year relative survival rate tells us
The AIHW defines the five-year relative survival rate as the percentage of people diagnosed with cancer who survive at least five years after diagnosis, compared with people of the same age and sex in the broader population. This metric captures progress in early detection, treatment advances, and post-diagnosis care. Between 1987–1991 and 2017–2021, the overall five-year survival rate rose from about 50% to 72%. That improvement reflects improvements across cancer types, stages at diagnosis, and the effectiveness of therapies over time.
Declining mortality complements rising survival
From 2000 to 2025, age-standardised cancer mortality rates fell from 257 to around 194 deaths per 100,000 people. While survival and mortality are not direct inverses, the two trends reinforce each other: fewer people are dying from cancer, and those diagnosed have a stronger chance of living many years beyond their initial diagnosis.
Prominent cancers show strong gains
Among the most commonly diagnosed cancers, notable improvements are seen in the two headlines: prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Five-year survival for prostate cancer increased from 60% to 96%, while breast cancer survival rose from 75% to 93%. These numbers signal the impact of screening programs, advances in surgical techniques, targeted therapies, and hormone and immune-based treatments that have transformed outcomes for many patients.
Emerging patterns across age groups
AIHW’s data also shed light on how cancer incidence and outcomes are shifting among younger Australians. The incidence among people in their 30s rose from 121 to about 135 cases per 100,000, with the largest increase in colorectal cancer. For those aged 40–49, cases rose from 280 to 313 per 100,000, with thyroid cancer contributing to the uptick. Despite higher incidence in these younger cohorts, mortality has continued to fall: deaths in people in their 40s declined from about 60 to 37 per 100,000, while deaths in those in their 30s fell from 18 to 11 per 100,000.
What this means for the Australian health system
With nearly a million Australians reported to have been diagnosed with cancer in the past decade and around 170,000 new cases this year, these survival gains have broad implications for healthcare planning, aging populations, and long-term survivorship care. The AIHW findings underscore the importance of continued investment in prevention, early detection, equitable access to high-quality treatment, and robust survivorship support that addresses the ongoing needs of people living with and beyond cancer.
Looking ahead
While progress is encouraging, experts caution that trends can vary by cancer type, geography, and socioeconomic factors. Ongoing surveillance, patient-centered research, and policy initiatives will be essential to reproduce and extend these gains. As Australia continues to refine its cancer care continuum—from prevention and screening to innovative treatments and palliative care—the AIHW data provide a hopeful barometer of how far the country has come and where to focus next.
