In 1993, colon cancer was the third largest cause of cancer mortality for both men and women. In 1993, it accounted for 1,706 male deaths and 1,602 female deaths. International comparison Australia has one of the lower cancer death rates among OECD countries but this would be partly related to Australia's comparatively younger age structure. In the United Kingdom the cancer death rates are high for both men and women mainly due to the high lung cancer death rate in that country. Japan has a much higher cancer death rate for men than for women.
Japan also has a much lower breast cancer and prostate cancer death rate than any other country.
1993 Incidence of cancer Males have a higher cancer incidence rate than females. However, between 1982 and 1988, cancer incidence rates rose more rapidly for females than males. For males, cancer incidence rates were highest for lung cancer, melanoma, colon cancer and lung cancer. For females they were highest for breast cancer, followed by melanoma, colon cancer and lung cancer. Between 1982 and 1988, the incidence rate for melanoma increased more rapidly than for any other type of cancer.