Key Findings

The current thematic health report is on Cancer in South Africa (2008 – 2019). Information used to compile this report was obtained from the National Cancer Registry of the National Department of Health and the Stats-SA’s Mortality and causes of death data. The report covers number of people diagnosed with, as well as those who died from cancer between 2008 and 2019. It also highlights their distribution by age group, sex, population group and province of residence, as well as the site of cancer as identified by histology.

In 2019, females accounted for 51,3% (43 811) of cancers diagnosed while males accounted for 48,6% (41 491). Cancer diagnosed in males increased by a slightly higher percentage, 56,3% compared to females, where diagnosed cancers increased by 52,3% between 2008 and 2019. The median age in years at diagnosis of cancer was 59 for females and 64 for males.

Cancer incidence

Among females, breast cancer was the most diagnosed malignancy in 2019 and accounted for 23,2% (10 172) of all cancers diagnosed in women, followed by cervical cancer at 15,9% (6 945) and colorectal cancer at 4,5% (1 952). Among males, the most diagnosed cancers in 2019 were the prostate, colorectal and lung. These jointly accounted for one-third of all cancers diagnosed among males.

Mortality from cancer

Cancer-related mortality was based on a total of 43 613 deaths due to cancer. While overall mortality decreased by 24,1%, from 598 553 in 2008 to 454 014 in 2018, deaths due to cancer increased by 29,3%, from 33 720 in 2008 to 43 613 in 2018. Females comprised 51,2% (22 334) and males 48,6% (21 208) of the 43 613 cancer-related deaths. The median age in years at death due to cancer was 62 for females and 64 for males. Between 2008 and 2018, cancer-related deaths increased by 34,2% for females, while those for males increased by 24,3%.

The leading cancers contributing to death among males in 2018 were the bronchus and lung, contributing 18,7% (3 964) of cancer-related deaths, followed by prostate cancer at 16,7% (3 534), oesophagus, 7,5% (1 587), colorectal, 6,8%, and liver and intrahepatic bile ducts, 5,2% (1 100). These leading cancers accounted for half of all cancer-related deaths among males. Among females, cancers of the cervix uteri, breast, bronchus and lung and colorectal contributed half of all cancer-related deaths. Cancer of the cervix uteri accounted for 17,9% (3 994), breast, 17,0% (3 796), bronchus and lung, 9,2% (2 060) and colorectal, 6,1% (1 371).