Cancer in North Queensland

 

   

The CCQ region of North Queensland covers nearly one fifth of Queensland (17% or 294,000 km2), stretching from Townsville in the east to the Northern Territory border in the west. In 2019 it had a population of 274,438, which was 5.4% of Queensland’s total population.
 

The major population centres are Townsville, Mount Isa, Ingham and Charters Towers, with significant industries of the region including tourism, mining, cattle grazing and sugar cane farming.The nearest radiation treatment centre for cancer patients in North Queensland is Townsville. Additional radiation treatment centres are located in Cairns and Mackay (opened in 2019).

   

Region Characteristics (2019 data unless otherwise specified) North Queensland Queensland
Percent of population who…
… are female 49.5% 50.6%
… are aged 50 years and over 22.4% 22.7%
… are Indigenous (2016) 10.3% 4.6%
… speak another language at home 7.1% 12.1%
… live in remote areas 11.2% 2.0%
… live within 2 hours drive of radiation treatment 83.1% 89.5%
… live more than 6 hours drive from radiation treatment 8.7% 1.8%
… live in disadvantaged areas 22.3% 17.7%
… live in affluent areas 12.4% 18.8%
All Cancers* North Queensland Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 948 710 1658
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 2.0 1 in 2.6 1 in 2.2
Median age at diagnosis 68 yrs 65 yrs 67 yrs
Five-year relative survival 67% 72% 69%
Number of deaths per year 299 191 491
Percent deaths before age 80 71% 68% 70%
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 North Queensland by sex, 2015 - 2019

Five-year relative survival in North 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 North Queensland

Colorectal Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 100 71 171
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 14 1 in 21 1 in 17
Median age at diagnosis 68 yrs 70 yrs 69 yrs
Five-year relative survival 63% 68% 65%
Number of deaths per year 36 22 57
Percent deaths before age 80 70% 59% 66%
Lung Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 94 67 161
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 15 1 in 20 1 in 17
Median age at diagnosis 70 yrs 69 yrs 70 yrs
Five-year relative survival 17% 28% 21%
Number of deaths per year 72 39 111
Percent deaths before age 80 76% 75% 76%
Melanoma Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 130 82 212
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 11 1 in 20 1 in 14
Median age at diagnosis 65 yrs 59 yrs 63 yrs
Five-year relative survival 89% 94% 91%
Number of deaths per year 13 ** **
Percent deaths before age 80 67% 79% 69%
Female Breast Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year . . . . . . 187 . . . . . .
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* . . . . . . 1 in 8 . . . . . .
Median age at diagnosis . . . . . . 61 yrs . . . . . .
Five-year relative survival . . . . . . 92% . . . . . .
Number of deaths per year . . . . . . 24 . . . . . .
Percent deaths before age 80 . . . . . . 75% . . . . . .
Prostate Cancer Male Female Persons
Number of new cases per year 239 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chance of diagnosis by age 80* 1 in 6 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Median age at diagnosis 68 yrs . . . . . . . . . . . .
Five-year relative survival 92% . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number of deaths per year 34 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percent deaths before age 80 54% . . . . . . . . . . . .