Most cancer death rates down over decade: report
The overall death rates and incidence for most cancers stabilized or declined over the last 10 years, according to a new report released Wednesday that focuses on breast cancer.
An estimated 159,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with some type of cancer this year, and 72,700 will die of it, according to Canadian Cancer Statistics 2007.
Since cancer is primarily a disease of aging and Canada’s population is living longer, the total number of cancer cases will increase, despite a decline in the death rate.
The report was prepared through a collaboration of the Canadian Cancer Society, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Statistics Canada, provincial and territorial cancer registries, as well as cancer researchers at universities and provincial cancer agencies.
While death rates for all types of cancer stabilized or decreased, lung cancer in women is increasing. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women.
Among men, the incidence is increasing for melanoma, thyroid and liver cancer. Thyroid cancer is also increasing among women, but to a lesser extent than lung cancer.
The 2007 report includes a special analysis of breast cancer — the most common cancer in women, both in Canada and worldwide. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
Breast cancer screening pays off
Although an estimated 22,300 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, the rate of new cases in women over age 40 seems to be stabilizing or dropping.
The age-standardized breast cancer death rate for Canadian females — the number of people per 100,000 who are diagnosed or die of the disease — has dropped by 25 per cent since 1985.
The rate of new breast cancers in 2003 was also the lowest since the late 1980s.
Progress is attributed to better screening, mammography and advances in treatments such as tamoxifen, which help prevent recurrence, said Heather Chappell, a senior manager at the Canadian Cancer Society.
Part of the decline may also be linked to the dramatic drop in the number of women taking hormone replacement therapy, after a study in 2003 concluded the therapy increased the risk of breast cancer and heart attack among older women.
The breast cancer section includes four recommendations to ensure the progress continues:
- Research to identify more modifiable risk factors, such as occupational and environmental exposure to cancer-causing substances, and vitamin D.
- More research on genetic risk factors.
- Increased participation in breast-screening programs among women aged 50 to 69.
- Continued use of the best treatment options combined with testing of new treatments.
It’s hoped that last year’s report, which recommended improvements in screening for breast cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer, will help to reduce the number of cases for those diseases, Chappell said.
