Pancreatic Cancer
For Patients
Pancreatic cancer is relatively uncommon, accounting for only 2.7% of all cancer cases in Australia. Therefore, some people may not fully understand the role of the pancreas and how cancer can develop here. This section outlines the functions of the pancreas, as well as important information about pancreatic cancer, including possible causes, diagnosis and treatment.
Pancreas Cancer Statistics
Pancreatic cancer accounts for 2.7% of all new cancer diagnoses in Australia. The estimated number of new cases diagnosed in 2024 was 4,741 and sadly 3,902 people are expected to succumb to disease in the same year. The high mortality and poor survival rates for pancreatic cancer have only marginally improved over a forty year period.
Incidence
It is estimated that there was over 4,600 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2024. It is the 8th most commonly diagnosed cancer type in Australia. The risk of pancreatic cancer increases with age, with the average age at diagnosis 70 years. In 2024, the risk of an individual being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by the age of 85 was estimated to be 1 in 70 or 1.64%.
Mortality
In 2022, pancreatic cancer was the 4th most common cause of cancer death in Australia. In 2022, there were 3,687 deaths with an estimated 3,902 deaths in 2024 . Pancreatic cancer is expected to account for 7.4% of all cancer deaths in 2024. Lung, colorectal, prostate and breast cancer were the most common causes of cancer death.
Survival
The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer in Australia has increased from 9.8% (2011-2015) to 13% (2016 – 2020). This is an important improvement from the 3.3% survival rate reported in 1986-2015. Some cancers have been successful in improving survival through improved diagnostic methods, earlier detection and better treatment options. For example, the five-year survival rate for males with prostate cancer has increased to 96%, and 92.3% for women with breast cancer. For all cancers, the survival rate decreases with age.
This poor prognosis for pancreatic cancer is directly related to late diagnosis, when the disease is often locally advanced or metastatic. Only about 15-20% of people are able to undergo resection of the cancer, and of these approximately 13% are expected to have a five-year survival.