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Health status indicators > Cancer

Information in this section includes:


For further statistical information see "Unequal Impact: Māori and non-Māori Cancer Statistics 1996-2001", which provides comprehensive analysis of differences in cancer incidences, mortality, stage of diagnosis and survival in New Zealand. National cancer registrations, deaths data and hospital admissions data are used for the six-year period 1996-2001 (inclusive).

Table 17: Cancer indicators

Indicator
Māori
non-Māori
Males
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
All cancer registrations, 25+ years, 1999-2001, rate per 100,000 1,3 *
493.2
(469.5-517.7)
537.0
(513.9-560.9)
512.5
(496.0-529.3)
457.2
(451.7-462.7)
412.4
(407.0-417.8)
430.4
(426.6-434.3)
All cancer mortality, 25+ years, 2000-02, rate per 100,000 1,3 *
333.8
(314.3-354.2)
292.6
(275.7-310.3)
309.5
(296.7-322.7)
165.3
(162.2-168.4)
125.4
(122.9-128.0)
142.7
(140.8-144.6)
Cancer prevalence (self-reported), 25+ years, 2002/03, percent 1,2 **
2.1
(0.7-3.5)
7.0
(4.7-9.4)
4.7
(3.3-6.0)
3.3
(2.7-3.8)
4.9
(4.3-5.6)
4.1
(3.7-4.6)
Notes:1 Age-standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population
2 Prioritised Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
3 Ever-Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
Sources:* New Zealand Health Information Service
** 2002/03 New Zealand Survey

Māori adults had slightly higher registration rates than non-Māori for all cancers (RR 1.2, CI 1.2–1.2) and there was no significant difference between the self-reported prevalence of cancer between Māori and non-Māori (RR 1.1, CI 0.8– 1.5). However, Māori all-cancer mortality rates were twice those of non-Māori (RR 2.2, CI 2.1–2.3).

The most common cancers registered for Māori females were breast, lung, colorectal, cervical and uterine.


Figure 7a: Female cancer registration (1999–2001) rates, by site, 25+ years


Notes: Age-standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population. Ever-Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
Text description: This graph shows female cancer registration rates by site (1999-2001) for ages 25 and over. The most common cancers registered for Māori females were breast, lung, colorectal, cervical and uterine.

The leading causes of cancer death were lung, breast, colorectal, stomach and cervical.


Figure 7b: Female mortality rates (2000–2002), by site, 25+ years


Notes: Age-standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population. Ever-Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.,
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
Text description: This graph shows female cancer mortality rates by site (1999-2002) for ages 25 and over. The leading causes of cancer death were lung, breast, colorectal, stomach and cervical.

Māori females had a breast cancer registration rate 1.3 times that of non-Māori females (RR 1.3, CI 1.2–1.4), but a breast cancer mortality rate twice that of non-Māori females (RR 2.0, CI 1.8–2.4). For cervical cancer, Māori females had a registration rate twice that of non-Māori (RR 1.9, CI 1.6–2.4), however, the mortality rate for Māori females was disproportionately higher at four times that of non-Māori females (RR 4.1, CI 2.9–5.8).

There are screening programmes for both breast and cervical cancer in New Zealand. For both these programmes, coverage rates are lower for Māori than for non-Māori. In 2002/03 the breast cancer screening coverage (link to footnote 5 from page 41) rate was 44.3 percent for Māori females and 62.3 percent for all New Zealand females (University of Auckland 2004). In 1999–2001 the cervical screening coverage (link to footnote 6 from page 41) rate for Māori females (50.9 percent) was lower than the New Zealand average for all females (72.7 percent) (University of Otago 2004).

Māori females had a lung cancer registration rate four-and-a-half times that of non-Māori females (RR 4.6, CI 4.1–5.2). The relative disparity was slightly higher for lung cancer mortality, with Māori females having a rate five times that of non-Māori females (RR 5.0, CI 4.5–5.7).

Although Māori females had a significantly lower colorectal cancer registration rate than non-Māori females (RR 0.6, CI 0.5–0.7), colorectal cancer mortality rates were similar for both Māori and non-Māori females (RR 0.9, CI 0.7–1.2).

The most common cancer registration sites and causes of cancer death for adult Māori males were lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver (Figure 8a and 8b).


Figure 8a: Male cancer registration rates (1999–2001), by site, 25+ years


Notes: Age-standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population. Ever-Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
Text description: This graph shows male cancer registration rates by site (1999-2001) for ages 25 and over. The most common cancer registration sites for adult Māori males were lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver.



Figure 8b: Male cancer mortality rates (1999–2002), by site, 25+ years


Notes: Age-standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population. Ever-Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service
Text description: This graph shows male cancer mortality rates by site (1999-2002) for ages 25 and over. The most common causes of cancer death for adult Māori males were lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver.

Māori male lung cancer registration and mortality rates were three times those of non-Māori males (RR 3.2, CI 2.8–3.6 for mortality; RR 2.9, CI 2.6–3.3 for registration).

Although Māori males had a lower colorectal cancer registration rate than non-Māori (RR 0.7, CI 0.6–0.9), colorectal mortality rates for both Māori and non-Māori males were similar (RR 1.1, CI 0.9–1.4).

For Māori males, the liver cancer registration rate was five-and-a-half times that of non-Māori males (RR 5.5, CI 4.3–7.2), and the liver cancer mortality rate was six times that of non-Māori males (RR 6.3, CI 4.8–8.2).

Prostate cancer registration was lower for Māori males than for non-Māori males (RR 0.8, CI 0.7–0.9). However, Māori males had a prostate cancer mortality rate twice that of non-Māori males (RR 1.9, CI 1.6–2.3).

Rates of stomach cancer registration and mortality were almost three times higher for Māori males than for non-Māori males (RR 2.7, CI 2.13.4 for registration, RR 2.8, CI 2.2–3.6 for mortality).

For many cancers the rate ratio for Māori compared with non-Māori is higher for mortality rates than for registration rates. This suggests that Māori with cancer may be more likely to die from their cancer than non-Māori (see Jeffreys et al 2005; Cormack et al 2005).

5 BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) programme is a free national breast X-ray (mammography) service offered to women aged between 45-69 years. While our results relate to this age group, the BSA extended its age range in 2004 from 50 – 64 years to offer screening to all women aged 45–69 years. The most recent two-year screening coverage rate (percentage) is presented here, representing a full screening round with two-yearly two-view mammographic screening.

6 The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) coverage percentage is the proportion of enrolled women aged 20-69 years who have had a cervical smear recorded on the NCSP Register in the 36 months prior to the end of the reporting period. A 36-month interval was used because this is the recommended cervical screening interval.

References:
University of Auckland. 2004. Breast Screen Aotearoa: Internal Monitoring Report 3. Auckland: School of Population Health, University of Auckland.
University of Otago. 2004. Annual Monitoring Report 2001: National Cervical Screening Programme. Prepared for the Independent Monitoring Group of the National Cervical Screening Programme. Dunedin: Department of Preventative and Social Medicine, University of Otago.
Jeffreys M, Stevanovic V, Tobias M, et al. 2005. Ethnic inequalities in cancer survival in New Zealand: linkage study. American Journal of Public Health 85(5): 34-7.
Cormack D, Robson B, Purdie G, et al. 2005 Access to Cancer Services for Māori: A report prepared for the Ministry of Health. Wellington: Ministry of Health and Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.