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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

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Prostate cancer

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Prostate cancer accounts for 33 per cent of all new cancer in males in NSW and 13 per cent of cancer deaths in males.

At a glance

2008 statistics Men
Cases Rate Trend
New cases 6,905 189.4 negative trend upwards 61
Deaths 930 27.8 negative trend downwards 20.3
Relative survival
(5 year)		 90% icon-trend-static.png 2%

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

  • Prostate cancer is the most common cancer overall and ranked first for cancer in males.
  • One in four in males will develop prostate cancer by the age of 85.
  • There are 6,969 new cases of prostate cancer and 1,009 deaths expected in NSW in 2011.

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

prostat-incidence.png

Deaths

Age-standardised mortality, NSW

prostate-mortality.png

 

Risk factors

  • Age is an established risk factor for prostate cancer: 98 per cent of cases are in men over 50. Sixty-four per cent of cases are in men aged over 65.
  • Family history is considered as the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer.
  • Risk is higher in men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) who had the disease.
  • Dairy products containing lactose and foods high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrate appear to increase risk.

 

Prevention

There is some evidence that foods containing folate (fruit, vegetables, legumes) and lypocene (tomato) may be protective against prostate cancer. Large-scale international clinical trials are currently ongoing, which may establish any causal relationship between diet and the risk of prostate cancer.

Detection and screening

The chance of curing prostate cancer is high if it is in an early stage (localised) and has not spread.

Men aged over 55 should speak to their doctor about having a regular test, which may be a digital rectal examination  performed by the doctor and a PSA blood test. A doctor may recommend that both tests be performed as part of an  annual check-up.

Men with prostate cancer often do not experience symptoms. When present, symptoms may include urinary problems, diffi culty having an erection or blood in the urine or semen.

Research

Around $13 million was spent on research into urogenital cancer, including prostate 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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