What is early-onset cancer?
Cancers diagnosed in people aged 20-49 years, commonly referred to as ‘early-onset' cancer.
For cancers such as bowel (colorectal), melanoma of the skin, breast, thyroid, pancreatic and prostate, there has been an increased number of early-onset cancers both in Australia and other parts of the world, particularly in the last 20 years. Early-onset cancers are likely caused by several complex factors, including changes over recent decades in lifestyle, diet, obesity rates, environmental exposures, and other factors. However, more research is needed to better understand the specific drivers of this trend. Read more.
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
This page includes information on cancers diagnosed in persons aged 20-49 years, commonly known as early onset cancers.
New cases
In 2020, there were 16,932 new cases of early-onset cancer diagnosed in Australia (6,537 males and 10,391 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 18,773 new cases of early-onset cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (7,249 males and 11,524 females). The age-specific incidence rates for selected early-onset cancers in 2024 are presented in Figure 1 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence 2024
In 2020, the age-specific incidence rate for 20-29 year olds was 50 cases per 100,000 persons (48 for males and 53 for females), 129 cases per 100,000 persons for 30–39 year olds (97 for males and 160 for females) and 312 cases per 100,000 persons for 40-49 year olds (237 for males and 385 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-specific incidence rate for 20-29 year olds will be 52 cases per 100,000 persons (50 for males and 55 for females), 141 cases per 100,000 persons for 30-39 year olds (106 for males and 175 for females) and 323 cases per 100,000 persons for 40-49 year olds (246 for males and 399 for females). The age-specific incidence rates for all early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 2 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 2. Age-specific incidence rates 2024
The number of new cases of early-onset cancer diagnosed increased from 12,739 (5,146 males and 7,593 females) in 2000 to an estimated 18,773 in 2024. Over the same period, the age-specific incidence rate for 20-29 year olds decreased from 54 cases per 100,000 persons (53 for males and 54 for females) in 2000 to an estimated 52 cases per 100,000 in 2024 (50 for males and 55 for females). The age-specific incidence rate for 30-39 year olds increased from 121 cases per 100,000 persons (97 for males and 143 for females) in 2000 to an estimated 141 cases per 100,000 in 2024 (106 for males and 175 for females). The age-specific incidence rate for 40-49 year olds increased from 280 cases per 100,000 persons (218 for males and 341 for females) in 2000 to an estimated 323 cases per 100,000 in 2024 (246 for males and 399 for females). The age-specific incidence rates in 2000 and 2024 for selected early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 3 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 3. Age-specific incidence rates for selected early onset cancers, 2000 and 2024
Early-onset Colorectal Cancer
Between 2000 and 2024, age-specific incidence rates of early-onset colorectal cancer increased for persons aged 20–29 from 2.2 to 5.8 cases per 100,000, for those aged 30–39 from 6.3 to 17 cases per 100,000, and for those aged 40–49 from 25 to 30 cases per 100,000. In contrast, incidence rates for persons aged 50 and older declined over the same period, with rates decreasing from 83 to 61 for ages 50–59, 210 to 111 for ages 60–69, 359 to 194 for ages 70–79, 443 to 350 for ages 80–89, and 382 to 335 for ages 90 and older. The age-specific incidence rates for colorectal cancer are presented in Figure 4 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 4. Age-specific incidence rates for colorectal cancer, 2000 to 2024
Deaths
In 2022, there were 1,921 deaths from early-onset cancer in Australia (910 males and 1,011 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 1,898 deaths (899 males and 999 females). The age-specific mortality rates for selected early-onset cancers in 2024 are presented in Figure 5 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 5 - Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, selected early onset cancers, 2024
In 2022, the age-specific cancer mortality rate was 3.8 per 100,000 persons for 20-29 year olds (4.2 for males and 3.4 for females), 13 per 100,000 persons for 30-39 year olds (11 for males and 15 for females), and 39 per 100,000 persons for 40-49 year olds (38 for males and 40 for females). In 2024, the projected age-specific mortality rates are 3.4 per 100,000 persons for 20-29 year olds (3.9 for males and 2.8 for females), 12 per 100,000 persons for 30-39 year olds (11 for males and 13 for females), and 37 per 100,000 persons for 40-49 year olds (35 for males and 39 for females). The age-specific mortality rates for all early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 6 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 6. Age-specific mortality rates for early onset cancer, 2000 to 2024, by sex
The number of deaths from early-onset cancer decreased from 2,328 persons (1,054 males and 1,274 females) in 2000 to an estimated 1,898 persons (899 males and 999 females) in 2024. Over this period, the age-specific mortality rate for 20-29 year olds decreased from 5.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (5.7 for males and 5.5 for females) in 2000 to an estimated 3.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (3.9 for males and 2.8 for females) in 2024. The age-specific mortality rate for 30-39 year olds decreased from 18 deaths per 100,000 persons (16 for males and 20 for females) in 2000 to an estimated 12 deaths per 100,000 persons (11 for males and 13 for females) in 2024. The age-specific mortality rate for 40-49 year olds decreased from 60 deaths per 100,000 persons (54 for males and 65 for females) in 2000 to an estimated 37 deaths per 100,000 persons (35 for males and 39 for females) in 2024. The age-specific mortality rates in 2000 and 2024 for selected early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 7 below.
Graph: Statistic - early-onset - Figure 7. Age-specific mortality rates for selected early onset cancers, 2000 and 2024
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.
