Background A cancer diagnosis at an early age often comes unexpectedly and during critical life stages, such as career development and family planning, leading to significant psychological and financial challenges for patients and families. The burden on the healthcare system is notable, with the need for long-term follow-up and potentially more aggressive treatment protocols.
Aim Describe patterns in early-onset cancer incidence, mortality and relative survival in Victoria.
Methods Victorian Cancer Registry data (1982-2023) was used to assess time trends in age-standardised incidence and mortality rates by age group (25-49, 50-74 and 75+ years of age) and tumour stream. JoinPoint was used to estimate annual percentage change (APC). Relative survival was calculated for the most recent period.
Results Early-onset cancers account for 11% of all cancers diagnosed in Victorians in 2023, with females 70% more likely than males to be diagnosed with an early-onset cancer. In the last 10 years, early-onset cancer incidence rates increased for cancer in the bowel (APC +2.6% [95%CI +2.1to +3.0]), uterus (+1.8% [+1.5to +2.2]) and breast (+0.6% [+0.5to +0.7]) and declined for melanoma (-2.0% [-2.6to -1.5]), DLBCL (-1.5%[-2.1to -1.0]), prostate (-3.7%[-4.8to -2.6]), stomach (-0.8% [-1.3to -0.4]) and head & neck cancers (-1.6% [-2.2to -1.1]).
Early-onset cancers accounted for 4% of all cancer deaths in Victorians in 2023. In the last 10 years, early-onset cancer mortality rates generally decreased, except in bowel (+1.8% [+0.4to +3.2]) cancer.
Generally, relative survival in young people with a cancer diagnosis was higher or equivalent compared with older people. Even in bowel cancer, young people had higher relative survival, despite being more likely to be diagnosed with later stage cancers.
Conclusion Early-onset cancers form a small portion of all cancers. Continued surveillance of early-onset cancer trends is critical to inform targeted prevention, early detection, and support strategies that reduce morbidity and mortality.