Cancer in Central Queensland

 

   

The CCQ region of Central Queensland covers about a third of Queensland (31% or 544,000 km2), stretching from the eastern seaboard to the Northern Territory and South Australian borders. In 2019 it had a population of 249,971 which was 4.9% of Queensland’s total population.
 

The major population centres are Rockhampton and Gladstone. Significant industries include tourism, coal mining and cattle grazing.The nearest radiation treatment centres for cancer patients in Central Queensland are Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay (opened in 2019), Townsville or Toowoomba.

   

Region Characteristics (2019 data unless otherwise specified) Central Queensland Queensland
Percent of population who…
… are female 49.3% 50.6%
… are aged 50 years and over 23.3% 22.7%
… are Indigenous (2016) 6.9% 4.6%
… speak another language at home 5.3% 12.1%
… live in remote areas 8.7% 2.0%
… live within 2 hours drive of radiation treatment 20.7% 89.5%
… live more than 6 hours drive from radiation treatment 10.9% 1.8%
… live in disadvantaged areas 19.1% 17.7%
… live in affluent areas 2.1% 18.8%
All Cancers* Central Queensland Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 835 602 1437
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 2.1 1 in 2.7 1 in 2.3
Median age at diagnosis 67 yrs 64 yrs 66 yrs
Five-year relative survival 67% 71% 69%
Number of deaths per year 255 183 438
Percent deaths before age 80 71% 67% 69%
1 Persons data may not equal sum of males and females due to rounding.
2 Cancers with a lifetime risk above 1 in 5 the value provided to one decimal point.

The 10 most common cancers diagnosed in Central Queensland by sex, 2015 - 2019

Five-year relative survival in Central Queensland by type of cancer and sex, 2015 - 2019

Note: Relative survival calculated using the period method, for persons aged 0-89 years at diagnosis. Data are for “at risk” cases in the period 2015-2019

Facts about the most common cancers in Central Queensland

Colorectal Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 101 70 170
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 13 1 in 21 1 in 16
Median age at diagnosis 69 yrs 71 yrs 70 yrs
Five-year relative survival 66% 66% 66%
Number of deaths per year 34 26 60
Percent deaths before age 80 68% 50% 60%
Lung Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 83 59 142
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 15 1 in 20 1 in 17
Median age at diagnosis 71 yrs 68 yrs 70 yrs
Five-year relative survival 18% 24% 20%
Number of deaths per year 61 39 99
Percent deaths before age 80 77% 77% 77%
Melanoma Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 109 78 187
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 13 1 in 18 1 in 15
Median age at diagnosis 64 yrs 57 yrs 62 yrs
Five-year relative survival 88% 91% 89%
Number of deaths per year 11 6 17
Percent deaths before age 80 75% 77% 76%
Female Breast Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year . . . . . . 150 . . . . . .
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* . . . . . . 1 in 9 . . . . . .
Median age at diagnosis . . . . . . 60 yrs . . . . . .
Five-year relative survival . . . . . . 89% . . . . . .
Number of deaths per year . . . . . . 24 . . . . . .
Percent deaths before age 80 . . . . . . 81% . . . . . .
Prostate Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 212 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 6 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Median age at diagnosis 67 yrs . . . . . . . . . . . .
Five-year relative survival 91% . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number of deaths per year 27 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percent deaths before age 80 51% . . . . . . . . . . . .