Population Health and Strategic Direction

This short report on colorectal cancer examined data from the NSW Central Cancer Registry for new cases of cancer of the colon and rectum diagnosed during the period 1997-2001. The analysis was prompted by a publication from the NSW Central Cancer Registry which reported that although the rate of new colon cancers in Western Sydney Area Health Service (WSAHS) was lower than for NSW and colon cancer related mortality was about average, 5- year relative survival was slightly lower for WSAHS residents compared to NSW.

In the current report, data for residents of WSAHS were compared with state-wide data. An examination of spread of disease at diagnosis, site of the cancer, and age specific incidence and mortality rates did not provide an explanation for the elevated relative risk of excess death of colon cancer in residents of WSAHS as reported by the NSW Central Cancer Registry.