Lyla Lindsey
Brain cancer is a serious issue in Australia, with a high mortality rate and a survival rate that has barely improved over the last 35 years. In 2019, there were 1,470 deaths from brain cancer in Australia, and this number is projected to increase to 1,528 in 2021 and 1,579 in 2023. The mortality rate for brain cancer ranged from 5.9 to 7.0 deaths per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2024, with the rate for males exceeding that of females. Brain cancer is particularly deadly for older people, with survival rates of only 6.7% for those aged 60 to 79 and 1.9% for those 80 or older. While survival rates have improved for younger people, brain cancer remains the leading cause of death for Australians under 40 among all types of cancer.
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What You'll Learn
Brain cancer survival rates
The low survival rates for brain cancer in Australia are partly due to the complexity of the disease and the lack of effective treatments. Brain cancer is the most complex cancer, yet it is the most understudied. The blood-brain barrier prevents most chemotherapies from reaching the brain, and those that do, like temozolomide, have limited efficacy, only extending survival by a few months at best.
Additionally, the prognosis for adults with brain cancer, particularly glioblastoma, is generally poor. Glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer in adults, has an extremely low five-year survival rate of 4.6%. On the other hand, the prognosis for children with brain cancer is much better, with around 70% of patients having curable disease. However, the life-saving treatments they undergo, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, can have detrimental effects on their development, potentially resulting in neurological defects, learning difficulties, growth abnormalities, and mental health issues.
The Australian Brain Cancer Mission is investing $126.4 million in research to improve the quality and length of life for those with brain cancer. The aim is to increase survival rates and ultimately defeat brain cancer. With more research and effective treatments, there is hope for improving the survival rates for this devastating disease.
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Brain cancer mortality rates
Brain cancer is a highly fatal disease with a low survival rate. In Australia, it is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, particularly among those under 40. In 2021, brain cancer was the ninth most common cause of cancer death in the country, with 1,552 deaths (945 males and 607 females). The mortality rate for brain cancer ranged from 5.9 to 7.0 deaths per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2024. The age-adjusted incidence rates for 2024 are estimated to be 9.2 per 100,000 males and 5.7 per 100,000 females.
While survival rates have improved over the years, brain cancer survival rates remain low, especially for older age groups. For instance, the 5-year relative survival rate for individuals aged 60 to 79 was only 6.7% in 2013-2017, though this is an improvement from 3.1% in 1988-1992. The population aged 20 to 39 has seen the largest improvement in 5-year survival rates, increasing from 54% in 1988-1992 to 68% in 2013-2017. Overall, brain cancer survival has improved from 20% in 1991-1995 to 23% in 2016-2020. However, when adjusted for age, the 5-year relative survival rate for all ages combined doubled from 11% in 1988-1992 to 22% in 2013-2017.
The most common types of brain cancer are gliomas, glioneuronal tumours, and neuronal tumours, which accounted for 94% of brain cancers diagnosed in 2020. Glioblastomas, IDH-wildtype, which made up 65% of all brain cancers in 2020, have an extremely low 5-year relative survival rate of only 5.9% in 2016-2020. In contrast, Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant, and 1p/19q-codeleted, which accounted for 5.7% of brain cancer cases, had a much higher 5-year survival rate of 84%.
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Brain cancer incidence rates
Brain cancer is a significant cause of concern in Australia, with varying incidence rates across different age groups and demographics. While incidence rates for brain cancer have remained relatively stable over the years, the impact of this disease on the Australian population remains substantial.
In 2019, there were 1,828 new cases of brain cancer diagnosed in Australia, with 1,078 males and 750 females affected. This represents a slight increase from the previous year, as there were 1,470 deaths from brain cancer in Australia in 2018. The projections for 2023 estimate a total of 1,924 new cases, including 1,183 males and 741 females. These numbers translate to a 1 in 162 risk of being diagnosed with brain cancer by the age of 85 for the general population, with slightly different odds for males (1 in 133) and females (1 in 208).
When examining specific age groups, the incidence rates vary significantly. For individuals aged 20 to 39, there has been a notable improvement in brain cancer 5-year survival rates, increasing from 54% in 1988-1992 to 68% in 2013-2017. Similarly, those aged 40 to 59 experienced improved 5-year relative survival rates, rising from 18% to 27% during the same period. However, the 5-year relative survival rates for people aged 60 to 79 remain relatively low at 6.7%, although this rate has doubled since 1988-1992.
Brain cancer survival rates are strongly influenced by changes in the age composition of those diagnosed. As the population ages, the proportion of older people being diagnosed with brain cancer increases, and older individuals typically have lower survival rates. This trend is evident in the increasing brain cancer mortality rates for people aged 80 and over, which have more than quadrupled between 1982 and 2021. However, it is important to consider that advancements in diagnostic technology and changes in care attitudes might also contribute to the rising mortality rates in the elderly population.
Overall, brain cancer survival rates have shown some improvement over the years. Between 1990-1994 and 2015-2019, the 5-year relative survival rate for brain cancer increased from 19% to 23%. Additionally, the age-adjusted incidence rates for brain cancer from 2000 to 2024 ranged between 7.4 and 8.5 cases per 100,000 people, with males consistently exhibiting higher incidence rates than females.
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Brain cancer survival rates by age
Brain cancer survival rates in Australia have improved over the years, but survival still varies considerably depending on age. The overall survival rate for brain cancer has improved from 20% in 1991–1995 to 23% in 2016–2020. However, when adjusted for age, the 5-year relative survival rate has more than doubled, increasing from 11% in 1988–1992 to 22% in 2013–2017. This improvement is even more pronounced for certain age groups.
For individuals aged 20 to 39, the 5-year survival rate improved from 54% in 1988–1992 to 68% in 2013–2017. This age group has seen the largest improvement in survival rates over time. The 40 to 59 age group also experienced an increase in survival rates, with a 5-year relative survival rate of 18% in 1988–1992, improving to 27% in 2013–2017.
Even though the survival rate for people aged 60 to 79 remains low, it has still doubled from 3.1% in 1988–1992 to 6.7% in 2013–2017. The population aged over 80 has much lower survival rates than younger age groups, and this continues to impact the overall survival rate.
In 2016–2020, the 5-year survival rate for brain cancer was 63% for 0–19 year olds, 69% for 20–39 year olds, 28% for 40–59 year olds, 8.7% for 60–79 year olds, and 1.9% for people aged 80 and above. The type of brain cancer also influences survival rates. For instance, Glioblastomas, IDH-wildtype, which accounted for 65% of brain cancers in 2020, had a 5-year relative survival rate of only 5.9% in 2016–2020. In contrast, Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant, and 1p/19q-codeleted, which made up 5.7% of brain cancer cases, had a much higher 5-year survival rate of 84%.
Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in children and adults under 40 in Australia. In 2021, brain cancer was the ninth most common cause of cancer death in the country, with 1,552 deaths. The risk of being diagnosed with brain cancer by the age of 85 is estimated to be 1 in 161, and the risk of dying from brain cancer by that age is 1 in 193.
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Brain cancer survival rates over time
Brain cancer survival rates in Australia have improved over time, but not to the same extent as other cancers. From 1991 to 1995, the survival rate for brain cancer was 20%, increasing to 23% in 2016-2020. When adjusted for age, the 5-year survival rate more than doubled from 11% in 1991-1995 to 23% in 2016-2020. This improvement is more evident for shorter survival periods, such as 2-year survival rates, and the survival rate for brain cancer is generally lower for older people.
The number of deaths from brain cancer in Australia increased from 663 in 1982 to 1,552 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 1982 to 6.0 deaths per 100,000 in 2021. The mortality rate for brain cancer ranged from 5.9 to 7.0 deaths per 100,000 people between 2000 and 2024.
Between 1990-1994 and 2015-2019, the 5-year relative survival rate for brain cancer improved from 19% to 23%. During this period, individuals diagnosed with brain cancer had a 23% chance of surviving for five years, compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. This represents an improvement in survival rates, as the rate for all cancers combined was 68% during the same period.
The Australian government has recognised the need to improve brain cancer survival rates, announcing a A$100 million medical research fund committed to doubling survival rates and improving patients' quality of life over the next ten years. Despite this, brain cancer survival rates have not improved as much as other cancers, and certain types of brain cancer, such as glioblastoma, have very low survival rates.
Incidence rates for brain cancer have also increased over time, with the number of new cases diagnosed increasing from 853 in 1982 to 1,828 in 2019. This increase is partly due to Australia's ageing population, as cancer is more common in older people. However, other factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and alcohol consumption also play a role in increasing incidence rates.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2019, there were 1,470 deaths from brain cancer in Australia.
In 2015–2019, individuals diagnosed with brain cancer had a 23% chance of surviving for five years. The survival rate vastly differs by age. For instance, the 5-year survival rate for brain cancer was 63% for 0–19-year-olds and 69% for 20–39-year-olds.
In 2023, it is estimated that there will be 1,579 deaths from brain cancer in Australia.
In 2023, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 193 (or 0.52%) risk of dying from brain cancer by the age of 85.
In 2021, brain cancer was the ninth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death, with an estimated 8,900 deaths in 2024.
