The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 65 300 Canadians died from cancer in 2001 and another 134 100 developed the disease. Men developed it at a slightly higher rate than women (4.47 cases per 1000 population versus 4.17 per 1000). The death rate was also higher for men, 2.25 per 1000 compared with 1.96 per 1000. The deaths-to-cases ratio, a crude measure of disease severity, was slightly lower for women (0.47:1) than men (0.50:1).
In 2001, gender-specific cancers (breast and prostate) accounted for 28% of new cases and 15% of deaths. Lung cancer represented 16% of new cases, while colorectal cancer accounted for 13%.
In the last decade, age-standardized incidence rates decreased for men but increased for women. In 1991 the incidence rate for men was 469.0 cases per 100 000. It peaked at 493.5 cases in 1993 and decreased to 444.5 cases in 2001. For women, the incidence rate rose from 337.1 cases per 100 000 in 1991 to 343.9 per 100 000 in 2001. The incidence rates for both breast and prostate cancer have increased since 1991, as have both male and female rates for colorectal cancer. The lung cancer incidence rate for males decreased from 90.7 to 77.3 per 100 000 during the last 10 years, but the rate for females has moved in the other direction, increasing to 47.4 cases per 100 000 women from 37.7 cases. — Shelley Martin, Senior Analyst, Research, Policy and Planning Directorate, CMA
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