Higher cancer death rates in some parts of NZ

Cancer death rates from the disease were significantly higher than the national rate in Northland, Otago, Waikato, Rotorua and Taupo, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and Whanganui. File photo / NZ Herald

Cancer death rates were higher in Northland, the central North Island and Otago than the rest of New Zealand in 2008, data published by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Board today showed.

A series of cancer reports released today said death rates from the disease were significantly higher than the national rate in 2008 in the Northland, Otago, Waikato, Lakes (covering Rotorua and Taupo), Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti (the East Coast) and Whanganui district health boards (DHB).

Northland, Lakes and Bay of Plenty also had cancer rates significantly above the national average.

Canterbury had registrations significantly above the national rate, but deaths were well below the national averages, while the reverse was true for Otago.

As well as Canterbury, death rates from cancer were significantly lower in the urban DHB areas of Capital and Coast, Waitemata and Auckland.

The number of new cases of cancer went up 22 per cent from 1998 to 2008 but, when adjusted for age and population growth, that fell from 351.4 per 100,000 population to 344.0.

The information was not adjusted to account for differences in ethnicity or wealth.

"This means it's important to look at the population structure in different areas when reading this report. For instance, we know that Maori populations have higher rates of cancer and that people who are most deprived generally have poorer health outcomes," cancer programme national clinical director John Childs said.

Cancer remained the leading cause of death in New Zealand, accounting for 29 per cent of all deaths.

More people died of lung cancer than of any other cancer in 2008, followed by colorectal, breast and prostate cancer.

- NZPA