Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of respondents (n=243)
| N (%) | |
| Cancer type | |
| Breast | 155 (63.8%) |
| Bowel | 65 (26.7%) |
| Lung | 23 (9.5%) |
| Diagnosis period | |
| Less than 12 months | 176 (72.4%) |
| Between 1 and 5 years ago | 65 (26.7%) |
| More than 5 years ago | 2 (0.8%) |
| Gender | |
| Male | 49 (20.2%) |
| Female | 191 (78.6%) |
| Missing | 3 (1.2%) |
| Age groups | |
| 25–34 | 3 (1.2%) |
| 35–44 | 13 (5.3%) |
| 45–54 | 36 (14.8%) |
| 55–64 | 77 (31.7%) |
| 65–74 | 73 (30.0%) |
| 75–84 | 32 (13.2%) |
| 85+ | 6 (2.5%) |
| Missing | 3 (1.2%) |
| Country of birth | |
| Australia | 186 (76.5%) |
| Others* | 53 (21.8%) |
| Missing | 4 (1.6%) |
| Language spoken at home | |
| English | 230 (94.7%) |
| Others† | 8 (3.3%) |
| Missing | 5 (2.1%) |
| Marital status | |
| Single/never married | 10 (4.1%) |
| Married/in a defacto relationship | 193 (79.4%) |
| Widowed/divorced/separated | 37 (15.2%) |
| Missing | 3 (1.2%) |
| Education | |
| Postgraduate | 25 (10.3%) |
| Bachelor | 45 (18.5%) |
| Diploma/certificate | 75 (30.9%) |
| High school | 93 (38.3%) |
| Missing | 5 (2.1%) |
| Employment | |
| Full-time | 45 (18.5%) |
| Part-time/casual | 34 (14.0%) |
| Self-employed | 18 (7.4%) |
| Retired/pensioner/unemployed | 124 (51.0%) |
| Other‡ | 18 (7.4%) |
| Missing | 4 (1.6%) |
| Occupation (limited to those working) | |
| Manager | 22 (22.7%) |
| Professional | 39 (40.2%) |
| Technician or trades worker | 4 (4.1%) |
| Community of personal service worker | 3 (3.1%) |
| Clerical or administrative worker | 15 (15.5%) |
| Sales worker | 0 (0.0%) |
| Machinery operator or driver | 0 (0.0%) |
| Labourer | 0 (0.0%) |
| Never worked for a wage | 0 (0.0%) |
| Other | 13 (13.4%) |
| Missing | 1 (1.0%) |
| Household income | |
| Less than $25 000 | 22 (9.1%) |
| $25 000–$49 999 | 51 (21.0%) |
| $50 000–$99 999 | 69 (28.4%) |
| $100 000 or more | 51 (21.0%) |
| Prefer not to stay | 36 (14.8%) |
| Missing | 14 (5.8%) |
| Healthcare benefits | |
| Yes | 107 (44.0%) |
| No | 134 (55.1%) |
| Missing | 2 (0.8%) |
| Private health insurance | |
| Yes | 235 (96.7%) |
| Hospital cover only | 28 (11.9%) |
| Extras cover only | 1 (0.4%) |
| Hospital and extras cover | 206 (87.7%) |
| No | 5 (2.1%) |
| Missing | 3 (1.2%) |
*Others include Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Scotland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Uruguay, the USA, Vietnam and Wales.
†Others include Danish, Farsi, French, Italian, Mandarin, Serbian and sign language.
‡Others include those who are currently not working due to their illness and home duties.