Oesophageal Cancer in New South Wales

Cancer reports
01 Feb 2009
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Over the past decade there has been an increase in new cases of oesophageal cancer in NSW at almost 2% annually, with a 19% increase since 1996.

Oesophageal cancer refers to cancer of the oesophagus (or gullet), which in this report includes the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters and the oesophageal body. Oesophageal cancer is not a large volume cancer in New South Wales, accounting for only 1.4% of cancers in males and 0.9% in females or a total of 393 cases in 2005. However, over the past decade there has been a gradual, but constant, increase in the number of new cases in NSW at almost 2% annually, with a 19% increase since 1996. This increase is seen largely in males and predominantly in histological subgroup of adenocarcinomas. The incidence of oesophageal cancer is more than two and a half times higher in males than females. Mortality in males is also higher at almost three times the rate in females. In keeping with the increase in incidence, mortality has also increased over the last decade in males, with a 14% increase since 1996.

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