M1: Canadian Cancer Statistics

What percentage of Canadians are estimated to develop cancer in their lifetime?

42% of people are expected to be diagnosed w cance

What percentage of Canadians are estimated to die from cancer in their lifetime

22% of canadians (23% in males, 21% females) 

Data from which year is used for the publication?

Data from 1984-2021 (up to 2017/2019 for quebec/nova scotia). 

why is there a delay in publications

Delayed because at the time of publication, there was available data up to 2021 but chose to exclude because of COVID-19 and possible bias in numbers. Also takes time for data to be reported, collected, verified, analyzed, published etc. 

Are you more likely to develop cancer in Canada if you are male or female? 

The probability of developing cancer is the same for males and females 

What are the four most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada for each gender?

Most commonly diagnosed (in general) = lung, breast, prostate, colorectal cancer 

Most common in Males ⇒ prostate (23.1%), lung/bronchus (11.7%), colorectal (11.2%), bladder (7.2%) 

Most common in females ⇒ breast (25.7%), lung/bronchus (14.2%), colorectal (9.5%), uterus (body, NOS) 

At what age are most new cancers diagnosed?

50+ diagnosised

what age range are most new cancers diagnosed

both males and females, the highest percentage of new cancer cases is diagnosed between the ages of 65 and 74 years.

most commonly diagnosed cancer in children aged 0-14

1. 1) leukemia (33%)

2. 2) CNS cancers (18%) 

3. 3) Lymphome (14%) 

4. 4) Neuroblastoma and other peripheral nervous cell tumours (7%) 

5. 5) Soft tissue cancers (6%)

most commonly diagnosed cancers in youth (15-29)

1. 1) thyroid (16%) 

2. 2) testicular (12%) 

3. 3) hodgkin lymphoma (11%) 

4. 4) non-hodgkin lymphoma (7%)

what accounts for differences in cancer rates across canada

• Differences in risk factors (eg. tobacco smoking and obesity) 

• Diagnostic practices 

• Data collection 

• Differences in data availability across provinces and territories 

2 cancers that are increasing in rates

Cancer that is increasing in rates – melanoma in females (increasing 2.1% per year since 1994) and hodgkin lymphoma in males (1.5% increase) 

Reason for increase? ↑ exposure to UV radiation, tanning, sunburns, sun dmg 

2 cancers that are decreasing in rates

Cancer that is decreasing in rates – lung cancer (↓ 3.3% in males and 3.0% in females) bc of tobacco smoking… 

⤷ ↓ colorectal cancer (↓ 2.9% in males, 2.2% in females) bc of more screening for early detection and removal of precancerous polyps) 

Why is tracking increase/decrease rates of cancer important?

To track progress being made, revealing cancers that need more prevention and research

What steps would be considered by Health Canada and Public Health?

Vaccination, sun-safety awareness, tobacco control, promoting physical activity and healthy eating, public health and education 

What percentage of Canadians are estimated to die from cancer?

22% expected to die

Which type of cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canada? What cancers are in 2nd and 3rd place?

Leading cause of death = 

MALES 

1. Lung and bronchus (21.6%) 

2. Prostate (11.1%) 

3. Colorectal (10.5% 

FEMALES 

1. Lung and bronchus (22.9%) 

2. Breast (13.3%) 

3. Colorectal (10.3%) 

how does commone types of cancer - deaths vs diagnosis compare

prostate and breast cancer have high diagnoses number but lower death because there are better screening and treatment options to boost survival 

what general trend in cancer mortality rates?

Higher mortality in quebec/eastern canada

Lower mortality in ontario and western provinces 

⇒ morality differences differ be bc of of access to screening, diagnosis, treatment, risk faster, etc

is cancer increasing or decreasing in terms of mortality rates

Decrease (↓ 42% in males, 28% female) 

is cancer increasing or decrease in terms of # of deaths

 Lower mortality rates but the actual # of cancer deaths increase (bc of growing population and aging population – ∵ more common in older adults)

what is the 5-year survival rate in cancers in canada

5-year survival rate for all cancers in canada = 64% (2015-2017) 

which 2 cancers have the highest 5-year survival rate

• Thyroid cancer - 97% 

• Testicular canada 97% 

which 2 cancers have the lowest 5-year survival rate

• Intrahepatic bile duct cancer - 6%  

• Mesothelioma – 9% 

• Pancreatic cancer – 10%

what percentage of children survived at least 5-years

84% of children diagnosed, survived 5+ years

top 3 causes of deaths in canada + percentages

1. Cancer - 24.8%

2. Heart disease - 17.5% 

3. Accidents - 6.3%

what is premature mortality + how is it measured

Premature mortality: deaths occurring before 75 and measured using potential years of life lost (PYLL): estimates how many years a person who have lived if they didnt die young 

how does cancer rank in premature deaths

Cancer is #1 ranked (many contributer to young deaths) in canada 

how do survival rates in canada compare internationally

• Canada is 6/28 in economist intelligence units index of cancer preparedness (measured how well countries are equipped to prevent, manage, and treat cancer)  

Why healthcare system expected to continue to face increased demand fro cancer services? 

• population is growing.

• population is aging.

• Cancer occurs most often in older adults

• More people are surviving cancer and need more long-term followup/support services (more demand for diagnostic, treatment, palliative care) 

What is the most cost-effective long-term strategy for controlling cancer? Which cancer would benefit greatly from this strategy? 

• PREVENTATION!! → eg. lung cancer where 72% is attributated to tobacco smoking 

example of cancer that is successful in early detection

• Breast cancer → success bc of early detection through mammography screening and improvements in treatment after diagnosis