Cancer in NSW: incidence and mortality 1997

Abstract

This article highlights some of the information available from the latest report of cancer incidence and mortality in NSW, published by the NSW Cancer Council in June 2000. A decrease in cancer mortality was confirmed for both males and females. The incidence rate of prostate cancer fell for the third successive year in 1997. This followed a dramatic increase in rates between 1988 and 1994, and is associated with widespread use of prostate specific antigen testing. Detailed information is provided for the first time for liver cancer and mesothelioma, two less common cancers that have rapidly increasing incidence and mortality rates.