About the STARGATE Project

The STARGATE project aims to improve prostate cancer awareness by providing information on the burden of disease at a regional level, nationwide.

You can search by postcode or area name for factsheets of specific Australian regions and share these with your friends, family, and workmates to help improve community understanding and save lives.

The data includes diagnoses, deaths, and prostate cancer stage at diagnosis, unlocking information that has not previously been shared in this way with the community.

Click here to view STARGATE Stories from around Australia.

Watch the STARGATE Launch Webinar below.

If you'd like to donate towards the project, click here.

 

STARGATE Data Dictionary
Last updated 18th February 2021

 

GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

The geographic areas described in each factsheet are based on Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) (2016 edition) boundaries. SA4 is the largest sub-state geographical area defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)1. Each SA4 region has a unique name and three-digit hierarchical code.

There are 107 unique SA4 regions in Australia. For the purposes of these factsheets (STARGATE project), we excluded 19 regions. 18 regions do not have any defined physical location and 1 region was classified as Other Territory (includes Jervis Bay Territory, Territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island).

 

POPULATION CENTRES

Location of key population centres and suburbs are indicated on the regional maps to help readers identify areas or locations within the specific region. A selected number of towns, regions or suburbs with either significant populations or well recognised locations were identified.

 

POPULATION DATA

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men2. There are few known risk factors for prostate cancer. However, increasing age, having a family history of prostate cancer or having an African American ancestry are known to increase risk. In Australia, Australian-born men appear to have an increased risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. This association may be partly influenced by differences in socioeconomic status and in access to healthcare, particularly the use of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing between Australian born and overseas born men. Aboriginal men are known to have a lower risk of diagnosis but higher risk of death from prostate cancer than non-Aboriginal Australians.

Population and demographic data presented in these resources is provided to describe some of the above-mentioned differences in risk of prostate cancer. Median weekly household income was presented as an approximation of the overall population socioeconomic status in each region. Information on Indigenous males is provided to reflect a lower risk of incidence but higher risk of mortality in Aboriginal men. Information on family history of prostate cancer is not available by small areas of Australia.

All population data was obtained from the 2016 Census (Australian Bureau of Statistics)3, 4 and is presented in the factsheets as the following metrics:

  • Total male populationis the total number of males counted on 2016 Census night at their usual place of residence in each region.
  • Percentage of Australian born maleswas calculated as the percentage of males who identified in the census as being born in Australia, out of the total male population in each region.
  • Percentage of males of indigenous statuswas calculated as the percentage of males who identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Straits Islanders, out of the total male population in each region.
  • Percentage of males over 50 years oldwas calculated as the percentage of males who were 50 years old and above, out of the total male population in each region. This was based on the ten-year age group data available for the male population in each region.

 

CANCER DIAGNOSIS

Data on numbers and rates of prostate cancers and prostate cancer deaths were obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)5. At the time of analysis the most recent data available for States and Territories were up to 2016, except for Northern Territory where data were only available up to 2015.

All data were approved by the respective data custodians and/ or cancer registries in each State and Territory prior to release by AIHW.

  • Men living with prostate canceris the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in each region who were estimated to be alive at the end of the study period. This is also commonly described as the cancer prevalence data. The prevalence data in these factsheets were based on a 35-year time period (1982 to 2016) for all regions except for the regions in Northern Territory (SA4 701, SA4 702), which was based on a 34-year period (1982-2015).
  • Number of new cases per year is the average number of prostate cancers diagnosed per year in each region. Estimates were calculated from the total number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012-2016 for all regions except for the regions in Northern Territory (SA4 701, SA4 702), which were calculated based on the total number of cases in 2012-2015.
  • Median age at diagnosisis the median age at diagnosis for men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the period 2012-2016 for all regions except for the regions in Northern Territory (SA4 701, SA4 702), which were based on men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the period 2012-2015.
  • Percentage of all male cancersis the percentage of prostate cancers diagnosed out of the total number of all male cancers diagnosed in each region. Data were calculated from the total number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and all male cancers in the period 2012-2016 for all regions except for the regions in Northern Territory (SA4 701, SA4 702), which were based on the male cancers diagnosed in the period 2012-2015.
  • Rate of new cases per 100,000 men is the age-standardised prostate cancer incidence rates per 100,000 men. It is the rate of prostate cancers diagnosed per 100,000 men adjusted to the specific age distribution of the male population in each region per year. Data were available from 2001-2016 for all regions except the regions in Northern Territory (SA4 701, SA4 702), where data were only available from 2001-2015. To summarise the trend over this period of time and to help smooth fluctuations caused by small numbers or population, the average rates were calculated and presented as three years moving averages at each time point.
  • Average rate of new cases per 100,000 men is the average age-standardised prostate cancer incidence rates per 100,000 men over a specific period of time. Data were calculated from the age-standardised prostate cancer incidence rates per year for the period between 2012-2016 for all regions except for the regions in Northern Territory (SA4 701, SA4 702), which were based on rates for the period between 2012-2015.

The age-standardised prostate cancer incidence rate per 100,000 men is defined as the number of prostate cancers diagnosed per 100,000 men adjusted to the specific age distribution of the male population in each region per year.  Age-standardised incidence rates for each region’s population were age standardised to the 2001 Australian Standard Population and are expressed as per 100,000 population.

 

CANCER DEATHS

Data on prostate cancer deaths were obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)5.  At the time of analysis the most recent data available for most States and Territory was up to 2018. A small number of SA4 regions did not have available data due to data sensitivity issues (e.g. small number of prostate cancer deaths in the specified region and/ or time point).

All data were approved by the respective data custodians and/ or cancer registries in each State and Territory.

  • Percentage of all male cancer deathsis the percentage of prostate cancer deaths out of the total number of all male cancer deaths in each region. Data were calculated from the total number of men who died from prostate cancer and death from all male cancers between 2014-2018.
  • Rate of deaths per 100,000 men is the age-standardised prostate cancer death rate per 100,000 men. It is the rate of prostate cancers deaths per 100,000 men adjusted to the specific age distribution of the male population in each region per year.  Data were available from 2001-2018. To summarise the trend over this period of time and to help smooth fluctuations caused by small numbers or small populations, the average rates were calculated for every 3 years (3-year moving average) from 2003-2018 for all regions except for SA4 315, SA4 603, SA4 510, SA4 701 and SA4 702. Data for these five regions were limited or not available and were graphically presented differently from the rest of the regions.
  • SA4 315 (Queensland-Outback)- 3-year moving average rates were calculated and presented from 2005-2018.
  • SA4 603 (South East) and 701 (Darwin)- 5-year moving average rates was calculated and presented from 2005-2018.
  • SA4 510 (Western Australia-Outback (North)) and 702 (Northern Territory-Outback)- 3-year moving average rates for the respective States were calculated and presented from 2003-2018.
  • Average death rates per 100,000 men is the average age-standardised prostate cancer death rate per 100,000 men over a specific period of time. Data were calculated from the age-standardised prostate cancer death rates per year for the period between 2014-2018 for all regions except SA4 510 (Western Australia- Outback (North)) and SA4 702 (Northern Territory-Outback). Data for these 2 regions were not available due to the small observed number of deaths and were represented by the respective State data instead.

The age-standardised prostate cancer death rate is defined as the number of prostate cancer deaths per 100,000 men adjusted to the specific age distribution of the male population in each region per year. Age-standardised mortality rates for each region’s population were age standardised to the 2001 Australian Standard Population and are expressed as per 100,000 population.

 

ESTIMATES OF CANCER SURVIVAL

The crude probability of death from prostate cancer, defined as the probability of a man dying from prostate cancer in the presence of other causes of death within 5 years of their cancer diagnosis, was obtained using data from each of the State and Territory Cancer Registries. This was derived from the same specifications used for the Australian Cancer Atlas6. For all cancer registries other than Western Australia, data was provided at the smaller geographical areas defined by the Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) boundaries (ASGS 2011 edition), and then aggregated to provide the crude probability of death from prostate cancer at the SA4 regional level. Western Australia data were provided by SA4 (ASGS 2011 edition).

These data were then used to calculate the crude probability of death7. This measures the probability of death among a group of 100 prostate cancer patients living in a specific SA4, recognising there are multiple possible causes of death. Among this group of 100 men, we estimated the average number of men who i) died from prostate cancer within 5 years of diagnosis, ii) died from other causes within 5 years of diagnosis and iii) those who were alive 5 years after diagnosis. Estimates were calculated for men aged 0-89 years at diagnosis for the at-risk period of 2006-2014 and presented as the nearest whole number.

Data were not available for two SA4 regions in Western Australia (SA4 510, SA4 511) due to differences in the ASGS editions used by the Australian Cancer Atlas (2011 edition) and these fact sheets (2016 edition) to define the geographical areas boundaries. In the 2011 ASGS edition, SA4 510 and SA4 511 were represented by a single geographical boundary for Western Australia-Outback (SA4 508). The estimates of cancer survival for both SA4 510 and SA4 511 were thus represented by the data obtained for SA4 508 (2011 ASGS).

 

CANCER STAGE AT DIAGNOSIS

Data on cancer stage at diagnosis (for prostate cancer) were obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)5. These data were collected as part of a larger project (STaR)8 as an initiative to improve the collection and reporting of national cancer data in Australia. At the time of production of these factsheets, data were only available for the year 2011.

These data were calculated and graphically presented as the percentage of prostate cancer cases diagnosed for each cancer stage out of the total number of prostate cancer cases with known cancer stage at diagnosis.

 

LIFESTYLE DATA

Data were obtained from the Australia’s Health Tracker by Area (2017)9, which in turn were based on the self-reported data collected during the 2014-2015 National Health Survey10.

  • Percentage of men who smokeis the age-standardised percentage of men, aged 18 years old and above, who have self-reported as being “current smokers” in each region.
  • Percentage of men who are overweight or obeseis the age-standardised percentage of men, aged 18 years old and above, who have self-reported as having a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 in each region.
  • Percentage of total population who have no or low physical activityis the age-standardised percentage of the total population who have responded as having no or low physical activity in the week prior to being interviewed.

Data were not available for five SA4 regions (SA4 315, SA4 406, SA4 510, SA5 511, SA4 702) due to data sensitivity issues or differences in the ASGS editions used by the Australia’s Health Tracker by Area (2011 edition) and these resources (2016 edition) to define the geographical areas boundaries.   

  • SA4 315 (Queensland- Outback)- Queensland (State) data were presented.
  • SA4 406 (South Australia – Outback)- South Australia (State) data were presented.
  • SA4 702 (Northern Territory- Outback)- Northern territory (State) data were presented.
  • SA4 510 (Western Australia- Outback (North)) and SA4 511 (Western Australia- Outback (South))- In the 2011 ASGS edition, SA4 510 and SA4 511 were represented by a single geographical boundary for Western Australia-Outback (SA4 508). The lifestyle data for both SA4 510 and SA4 511 were thus represented by the data obtained for SA4 508 (2011 ASGS).

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The STARGATE project was undertaken by a research team based at the Cancer Research Division at Cancer Council NSW. The working group included Karen Chiam, Peter Baade, Albert Bang, Michael Caruana, Emily Coughlin, Susanna Cramb, Renee Foo, Ben Gallagher, Paul Grogan, Ankur Kohar, Gigi Lui, Carolyn Mazariego, Visalini Nair-Shalliker, Pavla Vaneckova and David Smith.

We would like to thank Stephen Circosta, Alan Barlee and Susanne Chambers for providing consumer and expert review of the factsheets.  We acknowledge the assistance of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for providing the data. We also thank the custodians of each Australian State and Territory Cancer Registry in approving the release of the data for this project.

For NSW data The Cause of Death Unit Record File (COD URF) was provided by the Australian Coordinating Registry for the COD URF on behalf of the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, NSW Coroner and the National Coronial Information System. Source: Cause of Death Unit Record File held by the NSW Ministry of Health Secure Analytics for Population Health Research and Intelligence.

 

REFERENCES

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1270.0.55.001 - Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater
    Capital City Statistical Areas 12 July 2016 [Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by Subject/1270.0.55.001~July 2016~Main Features~Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4)~10016.
  2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Cancer data in Australia. Cat. no. CAN 122 13 November 2020 [Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census Advanced Search 2016 [Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/Home/2016 search by geography.
  4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2016 Census Overview  [Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/Home/Assuring Census Data Quality.
  5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). About our data.
  6. Australian Cancer Atlas  [Available from: https://atlas.cancer.org.au/.
  7. Dasgupta P, Cramb S, Kou K, Yu XQ, Baade PD. Temporal trends in net and crude probability of death from cancer and other causes in the Australian population, 1984-2013. Cancer Epidemiol. 2019;62:101568.
  8. Cancer Australia. Improving cancer data 2018 [Available from: https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/research-data/cancer-data/improving-cancer-data.
  9. Australian Health Policy Collaboration. Australia's Health Tracker by Area, 2017.
  10. Australian Bureau of Statistics. About the National Health Survey. 8 December 2015.
Previous Page
Next Page