New data released by the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) shows that Victoria recorded its highest-ever number of new cancer diagnoses in 2024 since population-wide reporting began in 1982. A total of 39,641 Victorians were diagnosed with cancer during the year, averaging about 109 diagnoses per day.
Despite the rise in diagnoses, cancer death rates in Victoria have continued to decline steadily, falling by around 1.6 per cent each year over the past 29 years. The data was published as part of Cancer in Victoria 2024, an annual report produced by the VCR in collaboration with Cancer Council Victoria, which includes some of the world’s most up-to-date cancer incidence, mortality, and survival statistics.
The report also analysed how cancer incidence and survival vary by country of birth using data from 2014 to 2023. It found notable differences, with higher rates of liver, stomach, thyroid, and pancreatic cancers among several overseas-born communities, while prostate, bowel, and melanoma cancers were more common among Australian-born Victorians. Cancer survival rates also varied significantly across different regions of birth.
VCR Director Professor Sue Evans said the findings are crucial for ensuring health services provide appropriate support to Victoria’s diverse population, noting that one-third of Victorians are born overseas. She said the analysis helps identify patterns, highlight gaps in early detection and screening, and guide more targeted healthcare responses.
The report highlighted that migration-related challenges—such as language barriers, cultural differences, and separation from support networks—can make it harder for some communities to navigate health services, increasing the risk of delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
One of the most concerning findings related to liver cancer, with incidence rates 220 per cent higher among Victorians born in South-East Asia compared to those born in Australia. Liver cancer remains one of the fastest-growing and deadliest cancers in the state, with a five-year survival rate of just 28 per cent. In 2024, 698 Victorians were diagnosed with liver cancer and 422 died from the disease.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said that while Victoria has some of the best cancer survival outcomes globally, the latest statistics are concerning and reinforce the importance of the Victorian Cancer Plan in ensuring equitable access to care.
Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper AM said the findings highlight the need for culturally responsive prevention, early detection, and care, stressing the importance of national screening programs for bowel, breast, cervical, and lung cancer.
Senior Manager of Cancer Council Victoria’s Liver Cancer Program, Charissa Feng, said many liver cancer deaths are preventable, as hepatitis-related liver cancer can be avoided through vaccination, testing, monitoring, and treatment. She noted that new pilot projects in Melton and Wyndham aim to reduce liver cancer risk by addressing barriers to early detection and promoting regular hepatitis B monitoring within multicultural communities.
