What is early-onset cancer?
Early-onset cancer is defined as cancer diagnosed beyond adolescence but before the age of 50 years (20-49 years).
Since 2000, there has been an increase in incidence in a number of ‘early-onset’ cancers, including bowel (colorectal), thyroid, breast, prostate and kidney cancer, both in Australia and other parts of the world.
It is important to note, however, that these increases reflect relatively small case numbers and cancer remains most common in older people. In 2025 it was estimated 88% of cancers were diagnosed in people aged 50 or more. Cancer mortality rates in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s have generally been decreasing over recent decades, reflecting improvements in prevention, early detection and treatment.
This page includes information on cancers diagnosed in persons aged 20-49 years, commonly known as early-onset cancers.
Unless specified, references to early-onset cancer include all cancers diagnosed in persons aged 20-49 years.
Summary
The number of new early-onset cancer cases in Australia rose from 12,752 in 2000 to an estimated 18,600 in 2025. This represents an increase in cases from 146 per 100,000 to an estimated 161 cases per 100,000 persons. People aged 20-49 were estimated to make up 11% of new cancers diagnosed in 2025.
Over the same time period, the number of deaths from early-onset cancer cases in Australia decreased from 2,328 persons in 2000 to an estimated 1,897 persons in 2025. This represents a decrease in deaths of 26 per 100,000 persons in 2000 to an estimated 16 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2025. People aged 20-49 were estimated to make up 3.5% of cancer deaths in 2025.
Early‑onset colorectal cancer showed one of the largest increases in incidence during this time period, rising from 10.6 to an estimated 17.9 cases per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2025. Over the same period, the mortality rate increased from 2.6 to an estimated 3.0 deaths per 100,000 people.
New cases
In 2021, 17,105 new cases of early-onset cancer were diagnosed in Australia (6,542 males and 10,556 females). In 2025, this number is estimated to rise to 18,600 new cases of early-onset cancer (7,247 males and 11,353 females).
The estimated incidence of selected early-onset cancers in 2025 are presented in Figure 1 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
Between 2000 and 2025, age standardised incidence rates for people aged 20-49 increased for breast, cervical, colorectal, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid and uterine cancers. Over the same time period, incidence rates decreased for lung cancer and melanoma.
The age standardised incidence rates for selected early-onset cancers in 2000 and 2025 are shown in Figure 2 below.
Between 2000 and 2025, age-specific incidence rates for all cancers combined varied by age group:
- Persons aged 20–29: decreased from 54 to an estimated 50 cases per 100,000 (53 to 47 for males; 54 to 54 for females)
- Persons aged 30–39: increased from 121 to an estimated 135 cases per 100,000 (98 to 103 for males; 143 to 166 for females)
- Persons aged 40–49: increased from 280 to an estimated 313 cases per 100,000 (218 to 240 for males; 342 to 385 for females)
The age-specific incidence rates between 2000 and 2025 for selected early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 3 below.
Deaths
In 2023, there were 1,939 deaths from early-onset cancer in Australia (929 males and 1,010 females). In 2025, this number is estimated to decrease to 1,897 deaths (913 males and 984 females).
The estimated mortality of selected early-onset cancers in 2025 are presented in Figure 4 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-4-estimated-cancer-mortality-2025
Between 2000 and 2025, the age standardised mortality rates for persons aged 20-49 increased for colorectal, pancreatic, testicular and uterine cancers. Over the same period, mortality rates decreased for breast, cervical, kidney, liver, lung, melanoma, prostate and thyroid cancers.
The age standardised mortality rates for selected early-onset cancers in 2000 and 2025 are shown in Figure 5 below.
Between 2000 and 2025, the age-specific mortality rates decreased across all age groups:
- Persons aged 20–29: decreased from 5.6 to an estimated 3.4 deaths per 100,000 (5.7 to 3.9 for males; 5.5 to 2.7 for females)
- Persons aged 30–39: decreased from 18 to an estimated 11 deaths per 100,000 (16 to 10 for males; 20 to 12 for females)
- Persons aged 40–49: decreased from 60 to an estimated 37 deaths per 100,000 (54 to 35 for males; 65 to 38 for females)
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The age-specific mortality rates between 2000 and 2025 for selected early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 6 below.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals aged 20-49 diagnosed with cancer had an 88% chance of surviving for five years (84% for males and 90% for females), compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population.
Five‑year relative survival for this age group improved from 72% in 1987–1991 to 88% in 2017–2021, shown in Figure 7 below.
Graph: eoc survival 5 yr
Prevalence
At the end of 2025, there were:
- 17,377 people aged 20–49 living with cancer diagnosed in that year
- 67,297 people aged 20–49 living who had been diagnosed in the previous 5 years (2020–2025)
- 105,055 people aged 20–49 living who had been diagnosed in the previous 10 years (2015–2025)
Early-onset Colorectal Cancer
New cases
In 2025, there were an estimated 2,066 cases of early-onset colorectal cancer. Between 2000 and 2025, age-specific incidence rates of early-onset colorectal cancer increased among younger age groups:
- Persons aged 20–29: increased from 2.2 to an estimated 4.6 cases per 100,000
- Persons aged 30–39: increased from 6.3 to an estimated 19 cases per 100,000
- Persons aged 40–49: increased from 25 to an estimated 31 cases per 100,000
In contrast, incidence rates decreased among older age groups:
- Persons aged 50-59: decreased from 83 to an estimated 68 cases per 100,000
- Persons aged 60–69: decreased from 211 to an estimated 100 cases per 100,000
- Persons aged 70–79: decreased from 359 to an estimated 154 cases per 100,000
- Persons aged 80–89: decreased from 443 to an estimated 321 cases per 100,00
- Persons aged 90+: decreased from 384 to an estimated 360 cases per 100,000
The age-specific incidence rates for colorectal cancer are presented in Figure 8 below.
Deaths
In 2025, there were an estimated 342 deaths from early-onset colorectal cancer. Between 2000 and 2025, age-specific mortality rates of colorectal cancer decreased for most age groups, with a small increase projected for persons aged 30-39 and those aged 90 and over:
- Persons aged 20–29: decreased from 0.3 to an estimated 0.2 deaths per 100,000
- Persons aged 30–39: increased from 1.8 to an estimated 2.8 deaths per 100,000
- Persons aged 40–49: decreased from 6.3 to an estimated 6.2 deaths per 100,000
- Persons aged 50-59: decreased from 25 to an estimated 14 deaths per 100,000
- Persons aged 60–69: decreased from 74 to an estimated 27 deaths per 100,000
- Persons aged 70–79: decreased from 142 to an estimated 51 deaths per 100,000
- Persons 80–89: decreased from 237 to an estimated 163 deaths per 100,00
- Persons aged 90+: increased from 389 to an estimated 390 deaths per 100,000
The age-specific mortality rates for colorectal cancer are presented in Figure 9 below.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals aged 20–49 diagnosed with colorectal cancer had a 78% chance of surviving for five years (77% for males and 79% for females), compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population.
Five‑year relative survival for this age group improved from 59% in 1987–1991 to 78% in 2017–2021.
Prevalence
At the end of 2025, there were:
- 1,921 people aged 20–49 living with colorectal cancer diagnosed in that year
- 7,077 people aged 20–49 living who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the previous 5 years (2020–2025)
- 10,479 people aged 20–49 living who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the previous 10 years (2015–2025)
For more information, 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.
