Update on cancer incidence trends in Canada, 1984 to 2017

Alain A Demers; Nathalie Saint-Jacques; Larry Ellison; Darren Brenner; Natalie Fitzgerald; Samina Aziz; Donna Turner

doi:10.24095/hpcdp.42.7.04

Update on cancer incidence trends in Canada, 1984 to 2017

Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2022 Jul;42(7):301-305. doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.42.7.04.

[Article in English, French]

Authors

Alain A Demers^{1

2}, Nathalie Saint-Jacques³, Larry Ellison⁴, Darren Brenner⁵, Natalie Fitzgerald⁶, Samina Aziz¹, Donna Turner^{2

7}

Affiliations

¹ Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
³ Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
⁴ Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Departments of Oncology and Community Health Services, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canadaa.
⁶ Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Abstract
in English, French

This paper highlights findings on cancer trends from the Canadian Cancer Statistics 2021 report. Trends were measured using annual percent change (APC) of age-standardized incidence rates. Overall, cancer incidence rates are declining (-1.1%) but the findings are specific to the type of cancer and patient sex. For example, in males, the largest decreases per year were for prostate (-4.4%), colorectal (-4.3%), lung (-3.8%), leukemia (-2.6%) and thyroid (-2.4%) cancers. In females, the largest decreases were for thyroid (-5.4%), colorectal (-3.4%) and ovarian (-3.1%) cancers.

Cet article met en lumière les tendances en matière de cancer tirées des résultats du rapport Statistiques canadiennes sur le cancer 2021. Ces tendances ont été mesurées à l’aide de la variation annuelle en pourcentage (VAP) des taux d’incidence normalisés selon l’âge. Globalement, les taux d’incidence du cancer sont en baisse (−1,1 %), mais avec des variations en fonction du type de cancer et du sexe du patient. Ainsi, chez les hommes, les plus fortes baisses par année ont été observées pour le cancer de la prostate (−4,4 %), le cancer colorectal (−4,3 %), le cancer du poumon (−3,8 %), la leucémie (−2,6 %) et le cancer de la thyroïde (−2,4 %). Chez les femmes, les diminutions les plus marquées ont été observées pour le cancer de la thyroïde (−5,4 %), le cancer colorectal (−3,4 %) et le cancer de l’ovaire (−3,1 %).

Keywords: cancer surveillance; data analysis; neoplasms; trend.

Plain language summary

Overall, cancer incidence is declining at a rate of −1.1% per year. In males, the two largest decreases were for prostate (−4.4% per year) and colorectal (−4.3% per year) cancer. In females, they were for thyroid (−5.4% per year) and colorectal (−3.4% per year) cancer. Melanoma (males: 2.2% per year; females: 2.0% per year) and multiple myeloma (males: 2.5% per year; females: 1.6% per year) rates are increasing. Cancer trends in Canada are dynamic and type-specific. The decreases for prostate and thyroid cancer underscore the importance of updating testing practices based on best evidence.

MeSH terms

Canada / epidemiology
Colorectal Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Registries

Abstract in English, French

Plain language summary

MeSH terms

Abstract
in English, French