The Northern Territory Cancer Registry (NTCR) collects data about NT residents who are either diagnosed with cancer or die from cancer. The NTCR analyses and reports the data on cancer epidemiology to provide information for health service planning and delivery and to inform the general public. This report presents summary statistics and trends among NT residents diagnosed with cancer or died due to a cancer-related cause during the various reporting periods. Summary statistics are shown for all new cases of cancer diagnosed during the most recent 10-year period 2001–2010 and all cancer deaths that occurred during the 6-year period 2001–2006. Trends in cancer incidence, mortality and survival are presented for the entire duration of available data; 20 years for incidence and survival trends (1991–2010) and 16 years for mortality trends (1991–2006).

This report presents summary statistics on cancer incidence and mortality for the population of the Northern Territory (NT) for the period 1991−2001. Incidence and mortality statistics are presented separately for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people because cancer incidence and mortality rates are very different for Indigenous compared with other Australians. Total Australian incidence and mortality rates for the period 1995−2000 are included for comparison. Incidence statistics include all cases of cancer diagnosed in residents of the NT, and notified to the Northern Territory Cancer Registry (NTCR), including cases diagnosed interstate which are notified to the NTCR by interstate cancer registries. Mortality statistics include all deaths of NT residents (in the NT or interstate) who died with cancer recorded as the underlying cause of death.

In the Northern Territory (NT) the Northern Territory Cancer Registry (NTCR) collects data about NT residents who are either diagnosed with cancer or die from cancer. The NTCR analyses and reports the data to provide information for health service planning and delivery, as well as for informing the general public. In this report summary statistics are presented on all new cases of cancer diagnosed among NT residents during the 15-year period 1991–2005 and on all cancer deaths during the 13- year period 1991–2003. Equivalent summary statistics for the Australian population are included for comparative purposes. Additionally, for the first time graphical representation of trends in NT cancer incidence and mortality rates are provided for each cancer site. To allow comparison of incidence rates and deaths rates within the NT population and with the wider Australian population, the rates were adjusted for the increase in total populations and for the changing age profile within the populations.

Indicators of completeness of case ascertainment and of data accuracy were assessed for the NTCR for cases diagnosed from 1981 (when the Registry commenced operation) to 2001. Data quality indicators were compared to indicators for other Australian cancer registries. Where possible, data quality was assessed separately for cancer registrations for indigenous and non-indigenous people. Several notification sources were re-screened to identify cases that had not been previously notified.

This report describes the collection, analysis and reporting of data that is recorded in the Northern Territory Cancer Register.