Background: Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia, with a five-year survival rate of 13% (2016–2020). Despite accounting for only 2.7% of all new cancer diagnoses, it represents 7.4% of total cancer mortality. The disease remains highly lethal due to late-stage detection and limited treatment options but the bigger picture priorities for Australian burden need more policy attention.
Methods: Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and national cancer registries (www.canceraustralia.gov.au) and the National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap were analyzed to assess incidence, mortality, and survival trends. Age-standardized rates were examined to identify shifts in pancreatic cancer burden.
Results: In 2024, an estimated 4,641 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed in Australia, with an age-standardized incidence rate of 17 cases per 100,000 persons. The estimated number of deaths from pancreatic cancer in 2024 was 3,902, with an age-standardized mortality rate of 14 per 100,000 persons.
The five-year relative survival rate has increased from 3.7% (1990–1994) to 13% (2016–2020): however, only 37% of patients survive beyond one year post-diagnosis. It affects gender almost equally: in 2024, 2,414 males and 2,227 females were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The incidence rate has risen from 16 cases per 100,000 persons in 2020 to 17 per 100,000 in 2024, reflecting population aging and increased exposure to risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol, obesity and chronic pancreatitis.
The National Pancreatic Cancer Roadmap reports that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are approximately 50% more likely to be diagnosed with, and 40% more likely to die from, pancreatic cancer compared to non-Indigenous Australians. This highlights significant disparities in cancer outcomes that necessitate targeted interventions esp. as pancreatic cancer is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality before 2030.
Conclusions: Pancreatic cancer remains a significant clinical challenge in Australia, with rising incidence and persistently high mortality rates. Despite modest improvements in survival, early detection and therapeutic advancements are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes, esp. in higher risk groups such as indigenous populations.