Aims The impact of cancer extends well beyond the diagnostic and treatment period. Sequalae of a cancer diagnosis include physical consequences of psychosocial impact and may include financial issues, all of which are likely to impact on quality of life in the medium and longer term. Cancer prevalence reflects the relationship between cancer incidence and survival and is impacted by the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and the effectiveness of available treatments. Understanding trends in prevalence enables forecasting of healthcare costs and services to ensure that the complex needs of cancer survivors are met.
Methods The Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) is a population-based registry since 1982 and undergoes routine data linkage to the Victorian and National Death Index to identify deaths. Limited duration prevalence was calculated using VCR data.
Results Over 342,000 Victorians who are alive today have been diagnosed with cancer over the 40-year period since 1982. About 1 in 3 males and 1 in 4 females aged over 80 years have been diagnosed with cancer at some time in the last 40 years. The most prevalent cancer for Victorians aged 50 and over is prostate cancer for men, and breast cancer for women. The number of Victorians 50 years and over living with or beyond cancer who were diagnosed in the past five years, has more than quadrupled in the last 40 years. Nearly 5000 Victorians alive today have a history of cancer diagnosed when they were aged less than 15 years.
Conclusions The increasing prevalence of cancer is the result of Victoria's growing population, the increase in cancer incidence, and improved survival following cancer diagnosis.