CHANGES IN CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES

Objective: To assess changes in cancer incidence and mortality in New South Wales (NSW) between 1973-1977 and 1988-1992. Design: Descriptive analysis of statutory cancer notifications to the NSW central Cancer Registry. Outcome measures: Age-standardised incidence and mortality r ates calculated with the '' world '' standard population. Results: Ove rall cancer incidence rose markedly, from 251 to 318 per 100000 in men and from 202 to 241 per 100000 in women. The rise was greatest in the 60-and-over age group. Cancer mortality fell marginally in men (from 166 to 162 per 100000) and did not change in women (100 per 100000 in both periods). It fell in the under-60 age group, and remained stable or rose in older people. Prostate and breast cancers and melanoma of t he skin accounted for about half the increase in incidence. Both incid ence and mortality increased significantly (P < 0.01) for melanoma and non-Hodgkins's lymphomas in men and lung cancer in women, and fell su bstantially for stomach cancer in both sexes. lung cancer in men and c ervical cancer in women. Despite increasing incidence, mortality also fell for testicular cancer in men and rectal cancer in women and for l eukaemias in children. Conclusions: The major factor causing the incre ased incidence of overall cancer was earlier detection. Altered exposu re to risk factors could be identified for only a minority of the chan ges.