Cancer: incidence, hospitalizations and deaths in Canada

This article brings together three Statistics Canada Health Division data series dealing with cancer incidence, mortality and the use of hospitals in cancer care. An estimated one in three Canadians will develop some form of cancer during his or her lifetime. In 1987, only cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for more deaths. And while the risk of dying from other major causes of death such as CVD and accidents and violence has been decreasing in the last two decades, cancer rates have increased. However, most of this increase can be attributed to the aging of Canada's population, and by a near doubling of lung cancer death rates. The most common cancers for men are of the lung prostate and colo-rectum. For women, breast cancer ranks first. Overall cancer incidence increased from 1971 to 1984 for all age groups except women aged 35-44, but this may partly reflect improved cancer detection and registration techniques. Death rates for people under age 45 have fallen substantially despite the higher incidence; this reflects progress in treating some cancers, particularly in children. Survival rates differ for the various forms of cancer. Among common cancers, those of the breast, bladder, prostate and uterus have high survival rates, while cancers of the lung, pancreas, stomach and brain have low survival rates. Although cancer was responsible for only 8% of all days of hospital care in 1984, the average length of stay for cancer was longer than for other causes: 18 days compared to between 11 and 12.