Soft issue sarcoma statistics in Australia
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Soft tissue sarcoma incorporates multiple ICD-10 cancer codes, please see AIHW - CDIA Commentary no.7 for a full list.
Estimated number of new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in 2021
2,035 = 1,155 males + 880 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2021
1.3%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2013–2017)
68%
People living with soft tissue sarcoma at the end of 2016 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2012 to 2016)
6,151
New cases
In 2017, there were 1,803 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in Australia (999 males and 804 females). In 2021, it is estimated that 2,035 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma will be diagnosed in Australia (1,155 males and 880 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 149 (or 0.67%) risk of being diagnosed with sarcoma by the age of 85 (1 in 131 or 0.76% for males and 1 in 174 or 0.57% for females).
Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2021
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about incidence rates for the most common cancers diagnosed can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)
In 2017, the age-standardised incidence rate was 6.5 cases per 100,000 persons (7.6 for males and 5.7 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 6.8 cases per 100,000 persons (7.9 for males and 5.9 for females). The incidence rate for soft tissue sarcoma is expected to increase with age, peaking at age group 85–89 years.
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for soft tissue sarcoma, 1982 to 2017, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
The number of new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed increased from 580 (281 males and 299 females) in 1982 to 1,803 in 2017. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 4.4 cases per 100,000 persons (4.6 for males and 4.4 for females) in 1982 to 6.5 cases per 100,000 in 2017.
Survival
In 2013–2017, individuals diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma had a 68% chance (68% for males and 69% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1988–1992 and 2013–2017, five-year relative survival for soft tissue sarcoma improved from 54% to 68%.
Figure 3. 5-year relative survival for soft tissue sarcoma, 1988–1992 to 2013–2017, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
Prevalence
At the end of 2016, there were 1,560 people living who had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma that year, 6,151 people living who had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in the previous 5 years (from 2012 to 2016) and 18,231 people living who had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in the previous 35 years (from 1982 to 2016).
For more information on cancer data, see the NCCI website
The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.