24 Jun 2012

Cancer survival rates improve in New South Wales

6:13 pm on 24 June 2012

A new study in Australia has found that patients diagnosed with cancer in New South Wales have a 64% chance of beating the disease over the next five years.

The ABC reports the cancer survival report released by the Cancer Institute NSW covers the period between 2002 and 2006.

In the 1980's, cancer patients in New South Wales had a 49% chance of survival over the same period.

Cancer Institute NSW chief executive Professor David Currow says if cancer is detected before it has spread, the chance of survival after five years is up to 84%.

Overall survival after five years is greater than 90% for cancers of the prostate, testes, thyroid, lip and melanoma of the skin.

Breast cancer is at 88% but increases to 97% if detected early.

Less positive is the news for people diagnosed with cancers of unknown primary origin which have less than a 20% chance of survival.