Cancers at a glance

Click the cancer types below to view the latest key facts on trends in new cases, deaths and survival in NSW.

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In depth cancer reports

For detailed data and analysis, please see the latest cancer reports published by the Cancer Institute

Cancer in NSW: Incidence and Mortality 2008

Other cancer reports

Online cancer statistics

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Liver cancer

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Liver cancer accounts for 1.3 per cent of all new cancer in NSW and 2.4 per cent of cancer deaths.

At a glance

2008 statistics Men Women All People
Cases Rate Trend Cases Rate Trend Cases Rate
New cases 332 9.3 negative trend upwards 52.6 128 3.1 negative trend upwards 77.7 460 6.0
Deaths 220 6.2 negative trend upwards 47.9 91 2.1 negative trend upwards 95.4 311 4.0
Relative survival
(5 year)		 17% icon-trend-static.png 2% 15% unchanged -

icon-trend-static.png No statistically significant change.

  • Liver cancer is the 19th most common cancer in NSW and 15th overall in cancer mortality.
  • One in 81 males and one in 253 females will develop liver cancer by the age of 85.
  • Survival is 20.1 per cent for localised disease.

Cases refers to the number of people with the disease; Rate means cases per 100,000 people (age standardised); Trend means the change in the rate over 10 years.

Historical trends

New cases

Age-standardised incidence, NSW

liver-incidence.png

Deaths

Age-standardised mortality, NSW

liver-mortality.png

 

Risk factors

  • Infection with chronic hepatitis B or C viruses substantially increases the risk of developing liver cancer.
  • Cirrhosis of the liver, which can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption or the progression of the hepatitis C virus, increases the risk of liver cancer.
  • Risk increases with age and mainly occurs in people aged over 55 years.
  • Males are twice as likely to develop liver cancer.
  • Foods contaminated with aflatoxins greatly increase the risk. Aflatoxins contaminate mostly nuts, seeds, grains and legumes. The incidence of aflatoxin contaminated food is greater in Asia and Africa.

 

Prevention

A vaccine against hepatitis B, but not hepatitis C, is available from a doctor and is effective in those without a previous exposure to the virus. Hepatitis C is passed through blood, mainly through sharing of needles and unsafe sex.

Avoidance of excessive alcohol consumption and foods contaminated with afl atoxins is also recommended.

Detection and screening

There is no screening method for liver cancer.

Symptoms may not occur in the early stages of the disease. As the disease advances, symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), weight loss and tiredness. However, these are also common symptoms of other liver problems that are not cancer.

Diagnosis is performed by a doctor and may include blood marker tests, x-rays, MRI and careful biopsy.

Research

Around $6.5 million was spent on research into upper gastrointestinal cancers, including liver cancer, in NSW between 2007 and 2009.

Data sources:

  1. Cancer In NSW, Incidence and Mortality Report 2008. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, August 2010.
  2. Cancer Research in NSW 2007-2009. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW. March 2011.
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