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Cancer in Canada
’Canada is one of the few nations in the world with a population-based cancer registry system that allows cancer patterns to be monitored for the entire Canadian population.’[2]
The 2011 Canadian Cancer Statistics report of The Canadian Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of Canada (link) tells us that:
An estimated 177,800 new cases of cancer and 75,000 deaths from cancer will occur in Canada in 2011.
Three types of cancer account for the majority of new cases in each sex: prostate, lung and colorectal in males and breast, lung and colorectal in females.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.
Colorectal cancer causes 12% of all cancer deaths.
42% of new cancer cases and 59% of deaths due to cancer occur among those who are at least 70 years old.
Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for Canadians at average risk between the ages of 50 and 74
There is an east-west gradient in incidence across Canada, likely due to differences in risk factors (e.g., diet, physical activity and family history of the disease) as well as screening intensity.
Excluding lung cancer, cancer mortality rates have dropped by 20% in women since 1979.
On the basis of current incidence rates, almost 40% of Canadian women and almost 45% of men will develop cancer during their lifetimes.
Cancer incidence in children have been relatively stable since 1985, the mortality rates continue to decline (82% survival), resulting in more need for longterm follow-up of late effects of treatment.
On the basis of current mortality rates, 24% of women and almost 29% of men, or approximately 1 out of every 4 Canadians, will die from cancer.
Behind each number is a person, a family and a community affected by cancer.
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2. Canadian Cancer Society/National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2008, Toronto, Canada, 2008. April 2008, ISSN 0835-2976 accessed March 22, 2009 www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics/~/media/CCS/Canada%20wide/Files%20List/English%20files%20heading/pdf%20not%20in%20publications%20section/Canadian%20Cancer%20Society%20Statistics%20PDF%202008_614137951.ashx