Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019
Produced by the Canadian Cancer Society, Statistics Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with the provincial and territorial cancer registries cancer.ca/statistics Citation Material appearing in this publication may be reproduced or copied without permission. The following citation is recommended: Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2019. Available at: cancer.ca/Canadian-Cancer-Statistics-2019-EN (accessed [date]).
September 2019
ISSN 0835-2976
This publication is available in English and French on the Canadian Cancer Society’s website at cancer.ca/statistics. Visit the website for the most up-to-date version of this publication and additional resources, such as figures from the chapters and an archive of previous editions.
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Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 2 Members of the Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee
Leah Smith, PhD (Co-chair) Analytic leads Canadian Cancer Society, St. John’s, Alain Demers, PhD Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Ryan Woods, PhD (Co-chair) Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario Population Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Larry Ellison, MSc British Columbia Centre for Population Health Data, Statistics Darren Brenner, PhD Canada, Ottawa, Ontario Departments of Oncology and Community Health Project management Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Monika Dixon Shirley Bryan, PhD Canadian Cancer Society, Toronto, Ontario Centre for Population Health Data, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario Acknowledgments Cheryl Louzado, MSc, MHSc The following individuals are acknowledged Data Integration and Linkage, Canadian for their assistance in the development of this Partnership Against Cancer, Toronto, Ontario publication: Amanda Shaw, MSc Jean-Michel Billette, Statistics Canada Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Jennifer Chadder, Canadian Partnership Against Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario Cancer Donna Turner, PhD Rami Rahal, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba Megan Striha, Statistics Canada Tracy Torchetti, Canadian Cancer Society Hannah K. Weir, PhD Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Dianne Zakaria, Public Health Agency of Canada Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 3 Table of Contents
Executive summary Chapter 2 Notable new statistics ...... 7 How many people die from cancer in Canada? About this publication Mortality by sex, age, geography and year Purpose and intended audience ...... 8 Key findings ...... 33 What is new or noteworthy? ...... 9 Probability of dying from cancer ...... 34 Estimated cancer deaths in 2019 ...... 34 Chapter 1 Mortality by sex ...... 35 How many people get cancer in Canada? Incidence by sex, age, geography and year Mortality by age ...... 36 38 Key findings ...... 10 Mortality by geographic region ...... 39 Probability of developing cancer ...... 11 Mortality over time ...... 44 Estimated new cancer cases in 2019 ...... 11 What do these statistics mean? ...... Incidence by sex ...... 12 Chapter 3 Incidence by age ...... 13 What is the probability of surviving cancer in Incidence by geographic region ...... 15 Canada? Net survival by sex, age, geography Incidence over time ...... 16 and year What do these statistics mean? ...... 21 Key findings ...... 54 Five- and 10-year net survival ...... 55 Survival by sex ...... 56 Survival by age ...... 56 Survival by geographic region ...... 57 Survival over time ...... 57 Conditional net survival ...... 58 What do these statistics mean? ...... 58
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 4 Table of Contents
Chapter 4 APPENDIX I Cancer in Context: The cancer burden in Canada Related resources Cancer is the leading cause of death Additional cancer surveillance statistics . . . . 73 in Canada ...... 65 Chronic disease surveillance ...... 74 Cancer is a complex disease ...... 67 Childhood cancer surveillance ...... 74 Cancer outcomes in Canada are among Cancer system performance ...... 74 the best in the world ...... 67 Cancer prevention ...... 74 Cancer has a substantial economic burden International cancer surveillance ...... 74 on Canadians and Canadian society ...... 67 Progress has been made but the APPENDIX II challenge continues ...... 68 Data sources and methods How these statistics can help guide Summary ...... 76 70 cancer control ...... Data sources ...... 76 Methods ...... 78 Data and methods issues ...... 83
Abbreviations ...... 89 Index of tables and figures ...... 90 Contact us ...... 92
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 5 Executive summary
Canadian Cancer Statistics is a publication that provides comprehensive, up-to-date estimates of the cancer burden in Canada. Cancer is the It is estimated that about 1 in 2 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime, and about # 1 in 2 1 in 4 Canadians will die of cancer. In 2019 alone, 1 Canadians will it is estimated that 220,400 Canadians will be cause of death develop cancer in diagnosed with cancer and 82,100 will die from in Canada their lifetime the disease.
Lung and bronchus (lung), breast, colorectal and prostate cancers account for almost half of all new cancer cases diagnosed. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, responsible for more cancer deaths among Canadians than the 220,400 other three major cancer types combined. Despite Canadians will be diagnosed this large impact, there has been a substantial with cancer in 2019 drop in the lung cancer death rate in males over the past 30 years, which has contributed to a Five-year cancer 82,100 decline in the death rate in males for all cancers survival is about Canadians combined. This publication shows that lung % will die of cancer cancer death rates in females have also recently 63 in 2019 started to decrease. As a result of the progress made with lung and other cancers, cancer death rates have decreased more than 35% in males and 20% in females since their peak in 1988. 1 in 4 Cancer survival has also increased. In the early Canadians will die 1990s, five-year net survival was only 55%, but from cancer current estimates show that it has reached 63%. Survival varies widely by the type of cancer. Some cancers have very high five-year net survival, including thyroid cancer (98%) and testicular cancer (97%). Other cancers have
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 6 Executive Summary consistently low five-year net survival, such treatment on cancer outcomes. Moreover, these Reference as esophageal cancer (15%) and pancreatic statistics can be used to prioritize services to 1. Statistics Canada [Internet]. Table 13-10-0394-01. Leading causes of death, total cancer (8%). help Canadians and their families who have been population by age group. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv. action?pid=1310039401 (accessed March 2019). affected by cancer and who may need support Cancer strikes males and females, young and old, after their treatment has ended. and those in different regions across Canada on a decidedly uneven basis. For example: We hope that our readers think critically about • Males are more likely to be diagnosed with what these numbers mean and how they can be used to reduce cancer incidence, improve survival cancer than females, and females are more and develop better overall care for those dealing likely to survive cancer than males. with cancer in Canada. • About 90% of cancer diagnoses occur among Canadians who are at least 50 years of age, but its impact at a younger age can be particularly Notable new statistics devastating. In 2016, cancer was the leading Compared with the last full Canadian Cancer cause of disease-related death in children under Statistics publication in 2017, several new the age of 15 years.(1) patterns have emerged. Notably: • Across Canada, cancer incidence and death • Lung cancer incidence and death rates in rates are generally higher in the east than females are now decreasing. in the west. • Female breast cancer death rates have decreased an estimated 48% since they Measures of the cancer burden in Canada are peaked in 1986. vital for developing and evaluating health policy, helping decision-makers assess the type and • Pancreatic cancer is expected to be the third amount of health resources needed and informing leading cause of cancer death in Canada in health research priorities. This information is also 2019, surpassing breast cancer. essential for informing and evaluating primary • Some of the biggest increases in survival since and secondary cancer prevention activities and the early 1990s were for blood-related cancers. assessing the impact of early detection and cancer
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 7 About this publication
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 is the most recent Box 1 How these statistics can be used in a series of publications that began in 1987 to describe the burden of cancer in Canada. It Cancer cases (incidence): Useful for Age-standardized mortality rates was developed through a partnership between determining the amount of diagnosis, (ASMR): Facilitate comparisons across the Canadian Cancer Society, the Public Health treatment and support services needed. populations and over time; can reflect changes in incidence rates, show Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada, who Age-standardized incidence rates where progress is being made in early brought together expertise from across the cancer (ASIR): Facilitate comparisons across detection, diagnosis and treatment and surveillance and epidemiology community in the populations and over time; can reflect indicate where more progress is needed. form of the Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory changes in risk factors and show where Committee. progress is being made (or not) in cancer Annual percent change (APC): Useful for prevention and screening. examining trends in age-standardized Purpose and intended audience incidence and mortality rates over time. Cancer deaths (mortality): Useful This publication provides the most current for determining the amount of Net survival: Facilitate comparisons summary of key surveillance indicators in Canada. healthcare and support services needed, across populations and over time; useful It includes detailed information on incidence, particularly for those who are at the end for monitoring the effects of early mortality, survival and other measures of cancer of life. detection, diagnosis and treatment on burden for the most common types of cancer in cancer outcomes. Canada. This information is presented by sex, age group, geographic region and time period.
These statistics are produced using the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR),(1) one of the highest quality national population-based cancer registry systems in the world,(2) as well as the national Vital Statistics—Death Database (CVSD),(3) a census of all deaths occurring in Canada each year. Such comprehensive and reliable surveillance information allows us to monitor cancer patterns and identify where progress has been made and where there is more to do. It is also important for cancer control planning, healthcare resource allocation and research. Box 1 describes some of the ways in which the specific types of statistics in this publication can be used.
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 8 About this publication
Notably, this publication is the only source of Box 2 Projecting the cancer burden to 2019 national estimates of cancer incidence and mortality projected to the current year (2019). This publication strives to provide the were used to project cancer incidence While projected estimates must be interpreted most up-to-date statistics. However, and cancer deaths to 2019. because time is required for reporting, with caution (Box 2), they provide a more up- It is important to note that projected collating, verifying, analyzing and to-date picture of the cancer burden in Canada estimates are not expected to be publishing surveillance data, the most than would otherwise be available, which is exact predictions. They are used to important for planning health services and recent data available are several years give an indication of what might be allocating resources. behind the publication year. For this publication, actual cancer and death expected if the analytic assumptions This publication is designed to help health data up to 2015 were used (except were to hold true over the projected professionals, policy-makers and researchers Quebec, where cancer data were time frame based on the best make decisions and identify priorities for action in available to 2010). These historical data available data. their respective areas. However, the information contained in this publication is relevant to a much broader audience. As such, the media, educators • Starting with this 2019 publication and every 2. Updated survival statistics and members of the public with an interest in second year thereafter, a full Canadian Cancer Since the 2013 edition, estimates of cancer cancer may also find this publication valuable. Statistics publication will be released. It will survival have been based on data to 2008. The include detailed statistics on incidence, recent linkage of incidence and death data to What is new or noteworthy? mortality and survival by sex, age group, 2014 by Statistics Canada has provided the geographic region and time period for the most opportunity to examine more recent trends in Continuous efforts are made to ensure this commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada. cancer survival in Canada. These updated survival publication best serves the needs of the cancer statistics are presented in detail in Chapter 3. community and is based on the most up-to-date • Every other year (2020, 2022, etc.), a Canadian data and most appropriate methodology available. Cancer Statistics snapshot publication will be References To that end, many updates were made this year. released. It will include current-year projected 1. Statistics Canada [Internet]. Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR). Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada; 2019. Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV. Two are particularly noteworthy. estimates of incidence and mortality by sex and pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3207 (accessed March 2019). geographic region for the most commonly 2. International Agency for Research on Cancer [Internet]. Cancer Registries: Why, what 1. New publication strategy and how? Geneva, Switzerland: Union for International Cancer Control. Available at: diagnosed cancers in Canada. Separately, a https://www.uicc.org/sites/main/files/atoms/files/UICC%20Cancer%20Registries-%20 In 2018, more than 650 stakeholders were special report on a topic of particular interest to why%20what%20how.pdf (accessed March 2019). engaged to inform the future of Canadian 3. Statistics Canada [Internet]. Vital Statistics—Death Database (CVS: D). Ottawa: ON; the cancer community will also be released 2018. Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV. Cancer Statistics. Based on the consultations, (analogous to the “special topics” previously pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=3233 (accessed March 2019). a new publication strategy was developed that produced). puts the work on an alternating cycle, whereby a full publication is produced on a biennial basis and complementary products are produced every All types of Canadian Cancer Statistics publications other year. More specifically: are being formatted to better suit the needs of our audience, so readers may notice changes from previous publications. For example, the amount of text in this edition is considerably shorter than the text in the 2017 edition.
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 9 Chapter 1 How many people get cancer in Canada? Incidence by sex, age, geography and year
The number and rate of new cases of Key findings cancer diagnosed each year (incidence) • It is estimated that nearly 1 in 2 • The number of cancer cases and over time are important measures Canadians will be diagnosed with diagnosed each year has been of the cancer burden on the Canadian cancer in their lifetime. increasing because of the growing population and healthcare system. This and aging population. When the • An estimated 220,400 new cases of effect of age and population size information is essential for ensuring cancer are expected to be diagnosed are removed, the risk of cancer has that adequate screening, diagnosis, in Canada in 2019. The number of been decreasing. treatment and support services are cases expected in males (113,000) available, as well as for directing future is slightly higher than in females • The risk of cancer increases cancer prevention, control and research (107,400). substantially with age. It is expected that 90% of new cancer cases will be programs. • In 2019, breast cancer is expected to diagnosed in Canadians 50 years of surpass colorectal cancer and become This chapter examines incidence by sex, age and older. the second most commonly diagnosed age and geographic region, as well as cancer. • In general, cancer incidence rates over time, to better understand who is are lower in the western provinces • Lung and bronchus (lung), breast, affected by cancer in Canada and what and the territories, and higher in colorectal and prostate cancers can be done about it. the central and eastern provinces. are expected to remain the most Newfoundland and Labrador is commonly diagnosed cancers, expected to have the highest rate in accounting for 48% of all cancers Canada. diagnosed in 2019.
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 10 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
Probability of developing cancer As shown in Table 1.1, the probability of Probability developing cancer varies by cancer type. The probability of developing a specific type The chance of developing cancer of cancer depends on many factors, including • Canadians are more likely to be diagnosed with measured over a defined period of time. age, sex, risk factors and life expectancy. This lung cancer than any other cancer. An estimated The probability of developing cancer is probability reflects the average experience of 1 in 15 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed expressed as a percentage or as a chance people in Canada and does not take into account with lung cancer in their lifetime. (e.g., 20% or 1 in 5 people over a lifetime). individual behaviours and risk factors; therefore, • 1 in 9 males is expected to be diagnosed with it should not be interpreted as an individual’s risk. prostate cancer in their lifetime. The numbers presented in this section reflect the Estimated new cancer cases • 1 in 8 females is expected to be diagnosed with likelihood at birth that Canadians will develop in 2019 breast cancer in their lifetime. cancer at some point during their lifetime. The cancer incidence data used for this • Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians is expected to be publication were from 1984 to 2015 (1984 to 2010 diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime for Quebec). These were the most recent data (Figure 1.1). available when the analyses began. The data were used to project rates and counts to 2019. • The probability of developing cancer remains slightly higher in males (45%) than females An estimated 220,400 new cases of cancer are (43%). expected to be diagnosed in Canada in 2019 (Table 1.2).
FIGURE 1.1 Lifetime probability of developing cancer, Canada (excluding Quebec), 2015 • Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada with an estimated 29,300 cases expected in 2019. It is followed by breast cancer (27,200), colorectal cancer (26,300) and 44% prostate cancer (22,900). Both sexes (1 in 2.3) • The four most commonly diagnosed cancers are expected to account for about half (48%) of all cancers diagnosed in in 2019.
Males 45% (1 in 2.2)
Every hour in 2019, Females 43% (1 in 2.3) 25 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer .
Analysis by: Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada Data sources: Canadian Cancer Registry and National Cancer Incidence Reporting System databases at Statistics Canada
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 11 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
Incidence by sex FIGURE 1.2 Percent distribution of projected new cancer cases, by sex, Canada, 2019 Cancer affects males and females differently. This Incidence may be the result of biological differences, or The number of new cancer cases differences in risk factors or health behaviours. In diagnosed in a given population during a general, cancer is more commonly diagnosed in specific period of time, often a year. males than females (Table 1.2). Males Females Age-standardized incidence • Slightly more males (113,000) than females 113,000 107,400 New cases New cases rate (ASIR) (107,400) are expected to be diagnosed with The number of new cases of cancer per cancer in 2019. Prostate 20.3% Breast 25.0% 100,000 people, standardized to the age • The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) in Lung and bronchus 13.2% Lung and bronchus 13.5% Colorectal 12.9% Colorectal 10.9% structure of the 2011 Canadian population. males (559 per 100,000) is about 14% higher Bladder 8.1% Uterus (body, NOS) 6.7% In this publication, ASIR is also referred to than in females (490 per 100,000). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5.0% Thyroid 5.7% as “incidence rate.” • Cancer is more commonly diagnosed in males Kidney and renal pelvis 4.2% Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 4.1% Melanoma 3.8% Melanoma 3.3% Projected incidence than females for all cancer types except breast Leukemia 3.5% Ovary 2.8% Actual cancer incidence data were available and thyroid cancers. Oral 3.3% Pancreas 2.6% to 2015 for all provinces and territories Pancreas 2.7% Leukemia 2.5% Stomach 2.3% Bladder 2.5% except Quebec, for which data were Figure 1.2 shows the expected distribution of available to 2010. These historical data cancer cases in males and females in 2019. Liver 1.9% Kidney and renal pelvis 2.3% Thyroid 1.9% Oral 1.5% were used to project cancer incidence • In males, prostate cancer is expected to be Multiple myeloma 1.7% Stomach 1.4% to 2019. the most commonly diagnosed cancer, Esophagus 1.6% Multiple myeloma 1.3% Brain/CNS 1.5% Cervix 1.3% accounting for about 1 in 5 (20%) of new cases. Testis 1.0% Brain/CNS 1.2% It is followed by lung cancer (13%), colorectal Larynx 0.9% Liver 0.7% cancer (13%), bladder cancer (8%) and non- Hodgkin lymphoma 0.5% Esophagus 0.5% Hodgkin lymphoma (5%). Breast 0.2% Hodgkin lymphoma 0.4% All other cancers 9.7% Larynx 0.2% • In females, breast cancer is expected to be the All other cancers 9.6% most commonly diagnosed cancer, accounting The most commonly for 1 in 4 (25%) of new cases. It is followed by diagnosed cancer in males is lung cancer (14%), colorectal cancer (11%), CNS=central nervous system, NOS=not otherwise specified prostate cancer and in females uterine cancer (7%) and thyroid cancer (6%). Note: The complete definition of the specific cancers included here can be found in Table A1. is breast cancer . Analysis by: Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada Data sources: Canadian Cancer Registry and National Cancer Incidence Reporting System databases at Statistics Canada
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 12 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
Incidence by age • 9 in 10 of all cancers are expected to be • Nearly 40% of breast cancer cases are expected diagnosed in Canadians aged 50 years to be diagnosed in females aged 30 to 59, which Age is the most important risk factor for cancer. and older. helps to explain why overall cancer rates are Figure 1.3 shows the dramatic increase in cancer rates by age. • An estimated 1,000 children (aged 0 to 14 years) higher in females than males in that age group. and 134,900 seniors (aged 65 and older) will be • Cancer rates peak in males aged 85 years and diagnosed with cancer. The distribution of cancer type varies by age. older and females aged 80 to 84 years. In general, embryonal and hematopoietic cancers • Almost all lung and prostate cancers (98% • For both males and females, the highest number are more common in children, while epithelial and 99%, respectively) are expected to occur of new cancers are diagnosed between the ages tumours are more common in adults. Cancers in people 50 years of age or older. of 65 and 69 years. found in adolescents and young adults are a mix • Over half (56%) of colorectal cancer cases are • Between the ages of 25 and 59 years, rates of of childhood and adult tumours. expected to occur in Canadians who fall within cancer are higher in females than males. In all the age covered by the screening guidelines other age groups, rates are higher in males. (50 to 74 years).(1) About 7% of colorectal
cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed Table 1.3 shows the projected number of cases by in people younger than 50 years of age. age group in 2019.
FIGURE 1.3 Percentage of new cases and age-specific incidence rates for all cancers, by age group and sex, Canada (excluding Quebec), 2013–2015 e e ta e ew a e e e i i i ide e ate e 20 3,200 a e Rate Percentage 15 2,400
10 1,600 e a e Rate Percentage 5 800
View data 0 0 e ea
Analysis by: Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada Data source: Canadian Cancer Registry database at Statistics Canada
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 13 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
The most commonly diagnosed cancers in each FIGURE 1.4 Distribution of new cancer cases for selected cancers, by age group, Canada (excluding Quebec), 2011–2015 age group are shown in Figure 1.4: • In children aged 0 to 14 years, the most 100 commonly diagnosed cancers were leukemia Thyroid Prostate Lung and bronchus Colorectal (35%), followed by central nervous system 90 (16%) Breast (15%) (17%) (16%) (23%) cancers (18%), lymphoma (13%), neuroblastoma Leukemia (35%) and other peripheral nervous cell tumours (7%) 80 Breast Testis Colorectal Lung and bronchus (14%) and soft tissue sarcoma (7%). (13%) (14%) (14%) Thyroid • Among youth and young adults (aged 15 to 29 70 Hodgkin (13%) years), the most commonly diagnosed cancers lymphoma Lung and bronchus Breast Prostate (11%) (12%) (9%) were thyroid (16%), testicular (13%), Hodgkin Colorectal (8%) (12%) 60 Prostate CNS lymphoma (11%), melanoma (7%) and non- Melanoma (7%) (7%) (18%) Colorectal Breast Melanoma (7%) Hodgkin lymphoma (7%). (11%) (9%) 50 Non-Hodgkin Bladder (7%) lymphoma (7%) Non-Hodgkin • In Canadians aged 30 to 49, the most lymphoma (5%) Uterus (body, NOS) (5%) Bladder (6%) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (5%) Lymphoma Leukemia (6%) Kidney and renal pelvis (4%) commonly diagnosed cancers were breast Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4%) 40 (13%) Cervix (4%) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (5%) Leukemia (4%) e e ta e a e Brain/CNS (6%) Bladder (4%) (23%), thyroid (13%), colorectal (8%) and Lung and bronchus (3%) Melanoma (3%) Pancreas (4%) Neuroblastoma Uterus (body, NOS) (3%) Melanoma (4%) Leukemia (3%) Melanoma (3%) melanoma (7%). Colorectal (5%) 30 and other PNC (7%) Oral (3%) Kidney and renal pelvis (3%) Pancreas (3%) Stomach (3%) • After age 50, lung, breast, colorectal and Breast (4%) Testi (3%) Thyroid (3%) Kidney and renal pelvis (3%) prostate cancers are the most commonly Soft tissue (7%) Cervix (3%) Leukemia (3%) Oral (3%) 20 Renal tumours (5%) diagnosed cancers. Other Other malignant Other Other epithelial (5%) Other Other (28%) (23%) (25%) 10 Malignant bone (4%) (22%) (22%) Germ cell tumours† (3%) Other (9%) 0 0–14* 15–29 30–49 50–69 70–84 85+ (0.6%) (1.5%) (10.1%) (44.9%) (34.0%) (9.1%) e i ea e e ta e a a e a e
CNS=central nervous system; PNC=peripheral nervous cell tumours; NOS=not otherwise specified * Adrenal gland cancers (C74) in the 0–14 year age group most likely represent neuroblastomas. The most commonly † Also includes trophoblastic tumours and neoplasms of gonads. diagnosed types of cancers ‡ The relative percentage is calculated based on the total number of cases over five years (2011–2015) for each age group. Note: Cancers diagnosed in children (aged 0–14 years) were classified according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program vary between age groups . (SEER) update to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, Third Edition (ICCC-3). Cancers diagnosed in older individuals were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3). See Appendix II: Data sources and methods for further details. Analysis by: Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada Data source: Canadian Cancer Registry database at Statistics Canada
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 14 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
Incidence by geographic region within a region, age-standardized rates should Tables 1.4 and 1.5 show the estimated number of be used when comparing across jurisdictions new cases and estimated ASIR by cancer type for Figure 1.5 shows the expected distribution of and populations. each province and territory. cancer across Canada in 2019. Estimates for Quebec were not included because a different • In general, it is estimated that cancer incidence • Among males and females, the highest rate projection approach was used for Quebec, rates for 2019 will be highest in eastern and of colorectal cancer was in Newfoundland meaning those rates are not comparable to central Canada and lowest in western Canada and Labrador, while the highest rates of lung the others. and the territories. cancer were in the other Atlantic provinces • The number of expected cancer cases in each • Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince province and territory is largely a function of have the highest ASIR in 2019, followed by Edward Island). the expected population size. While the number Ontario and Nova Scotia. • There was considerable variation in prostate of cases is important for healthcare planning cancer rates across the country, ranging from a low of 92 per 100,000 in Prince Edward Island ASIR ≥500 per 100,000 Population distribution* to a high of 138 per 100,000 in Alberta.
ASIR 475–499 per 100,000 BC 13.2% • Rates of breast cancer in females were similar AB 12.1% across jurisdictions, ranging from 117 per ASIR <475 per 100,000 SK 3.1% 100,000 in New Brunswick to 132 per 100,000 Excluded MB 3.6% in Ontario. ON 38.4% QC 22.9% Differences in cancer rates between provinces NB 2.0% and territories could be the result of different risk NS 2.5% factors (such as smoking and obesity), as well 396.3 per 100,000 PE 0.4% as differences in diagnostic practices and data (140 new cases) NL 1.4% collection. For example, the dramatic variation Territories 0.3% in prostate cancer incidence across the country 452.0 per 100,000 (140 new cases) 466.5 per 100,000 is likely largely due to differences in the use of (55 new cases) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing rather than differences in risk. 461.6 per 100,000 (26,800 new cases) 551.0 per 100,000 Importantly, these estimates do not include a 498.2 per 100,000 (3,800 new cases) measure of precision, such as confidence intervals (20,600 new cases) or p-values, so we cannot determine whether the 497.0 per 100,000 (6,900 new cases) differences reported are statistically significant. † 487.9 per 100,000 * Based on projected estimates of population size in 2019. (5,900 new cases) 493.6 per 100,000 † Quebec was not included because a different projection method 546.9 per 100,000 (960 new cases) (87,700 new cases) was used for Quebec than the other regions, meaning the estimates are not comparable. See Appendix II: Data source and methods for additional details. 546.6 per 100,000 Note: Rates are age-standardized to the 2011 Canadian population. FIGURE 1.5 Geographic distribution of projected 510.4 per 100,000 (6,700 new cases) new cancer cases and age-standardized (5,100 new cases) Analysis by: Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health incidence rates (ASIR), by province and territory, Agency of Canada both sexes, Canada, 2019 Data sources: Canadian Cancer Registry and National Cancer Incidence Reporting System databases at Statistics Canada
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 15 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
Incidence over time FIGURE 1.6 New cases and age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) for all cancers, Canada, 1984–2019 Monitoring trends in incidence over time can help identify emerging trends, where progress has ASIR (per 100,000) New cases (in thousands) been made and where more needs to be done. 700 120 Males 110 ASIR Figure 1.6 shows the counts and rates for all New cases cancers combined, by sex. 600 100 90 • From 1984 to 2019, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) for all cancers combined 500 80 decreased from 577 to an estimated 559 per 70 100,000 in males and increased in from 424 400 60 to an estimated 490 per 100,000 in females. 50 Projected • During the same period, the number of new 300 40
cases diagnosed each year rose steadily, from 30 46,700 to an estimated 113,000 in males, and 200 20 from 42,500 to an estimated 107,400 in females. 10 The steady increase in the number of new cases 100 0 View data diagnosed each year is primarily due to the 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 growing and aging Canadian population.(2, 3) Year ASIR (per 100,000) New cases (in thousands) Recent trends 600 110 Females Table 1.6 provides details on trends between 100 ASIR New cases 1984 and 2015 for each cancer, by sex, as 90 measured by annual percent change (APC). 500 Table 1.7 draws out the most recent trends for 80 each cancer. These recent trends are depicted 70 in Figure 1.7. 400 60 • In males, the biggest decreases were for 50 prostate (-9.1%), lung (-3.3%), laryngeal (-2.6%), 300 40 esophageal (-2.4%) and colorectal (-2.2%) Projected cancers. 30 200 20
10
100 0 Note: Rates are age-standardized to the 2011 Canadian 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 population. Quebec is included in the cases, but not in the rates. Year Actual data were available to 2015 for all provinces and territories except Quebec, for which actual data were available to 2010 and Analysis by: Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada projected thereafter. Data source: Canadian Cancer Registry database at Statistics Canada
Canadian Cancer Society • Canadian Cancer Statistics 2019 16 Chapter 1 • How many people get cancer in Canada?
• In females, the biggest decreases were for FIGURE 1.7 Most recent annual percent change (APC)† in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), by sex, Canada (excluding cervical (-3.3%), laryngeal (-3.0%), colorectal Quebec), 1984–2015 (-1.9%) and lung (-1.3%) cancers (the decrease 8 6.4 a e for brain/CNS was not statistically significant). 6
4 • The biggest increases in males were for thyroid 2.6 2.2 2 1.3 1.3 (6.4%), multiple myeloma (2.6%) and melanoma 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 0 (2.2%). In females, liver (2.7%) and melanoma -0.1 -0.3 -0.4 2 -1.1 -1.5 -1.9 (2.0%) increased the most. -2.2 -2.4 -2.6 4 -3.3