Cancer in Australia. 1  An estimated 126,800 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year, with that number set to rise to 150,000 by 2020. 2  1 in 2 Australian men and 1 in 3 Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. 1 in 2 Australian men and 1 in 3 Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. 2  Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia â more than 43,000 people died from cancer in 2012. 3  Cancer accounted for about 3 in 10 deaths in Australia.