Ovarian cancer (C56)

In 2009–2013, 103 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in Indigenous Australians—an average of 21 cases per year. In 2011–2015, 40 Indigenous Australians died from ovarian cancer—an average of 8 deaths per year.

In 2007–2014, Indigenous Australians diagnosed with ovarian cancer had a 45% chance, on average, of surviving for five years compared with their counterparts in the Indigenous population. Non-Indigenous Australians diagnosed with ovarian cancer had a 44% chance, on average, of surviving for five years compared with their counterparts in the non-Indigenous population.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013), mortality (2011–2015) and relative survival (2007–2014).

Life stage

For both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, the age-specific incidence and mortality rates for ovarian cancer increased with increasing life stage.

Due to small numbers, one-year relative survival is presented in text by life stage. For Indigenous Australians, one-year relative survival was similar for life stage 25–44 and 45–64 and decreased for those in life stage 65 or older. One-year relative survival for non-Indigenous Australians was similar for life stages 0–14 to 45–64 and decreased for those in life stage 65 or older.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013), mortality (2011–2015) and relative survival (2007–2014) by sex, Indigenous status and life stage.

Trend

For Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for ovarian cancer have varied over time. No statistically significant increasing or decreasing trend was observed in the ovarian cancer incidence rate for Indigenous Australians from 1998 to 2013 and mortality rate for Indigenous Australians from 1998 to 2015.

For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence rate (between 1998 and 2013) and mortality rate (between 1998 and 2015) for ovarian cancer have remained relatively stable. Estimated trend lines indicate a significant decrease in the ovarian cancer incidence and mortality rates for non-Indigenous Australians.

Data for individual years have been presented for trend figures to demonstrate the variation in rates from year to year. Estimated trend lines have been applied to figures based on a least-squares regression equation where trends were found to be statistically significant. Differences between the rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians may be related to a range of factors including differences between the two populations in the prevalence of risk and/or protective factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, access to health-care services and uptake of screening and diagnostics testing.

Explore the data below for information on incidence and mortality by sex, Indigenous status and year.

State and territory

For the jurisdictions for which data were available (see Summary or Notes section for details), the age-standardised incidence rate for ovarian cancer ranged from 8.4 new cases per 100,000 to 22 per 100,000 for Indigenous Australians. For non-Indigenous Australians, the incidence rate ranged from 8.1 per 100,000 to 11 per 100,000.

For the jurisdictions for which data were available (see Summary or Notes section for details), the age-standardised mortality rate for ovarian cancer ranged from 2.1 deaths per 100,000 to 12 per 100,000 for Indigenous Australians. For non-Indigenous Australians, the mortality rate ranged from 5.1 per 100,000 to 6.8 per 100,000.

Observed differences may be due to differences in population characteristics, for example, Indigenous Australians are more likely to live in remote areas of Australia than non-Indigenous people.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013) and mortality (2011–2015) by sex, Indigenous status and state and territory.

Remoteness area

For Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence rate for ovarian cancer ranged from 3.4 per 100,000 to 6.7 per 100,000 across remoteness areas. The age-standardised mortality rate for ovarian cancer ranged from 2.4 per 100,000 to 4.2 per 100,000 across remoteness areas.

For non-Indigenous Australians, the age-standardised incidence rate for ovarian cancer ranged from 3.1 per 100,000 to 4.7 per 100,000 across remoteness areas. The age-standardised mortality rate for ovarian cancer ranged from 0.7 per 100,000 to 3.0 per 100,000 across remoteness areas.

Explore the data below for information on incidence (2009–2013) and mortality (2011–2015) by sex, Indigenous status and remoteness area.