New cancer cases in Ontario have tripled since 1981

cover of the Ontario Cancer Statistics 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016

While the last three and a half decades have seen the number of new cancer cases nearly triple, survival from cancer has also steadily increased, according to a new report – Ontario Cancer Statistics 2016 – released today by Cancer Care Ontario.

In this first comprehensive look at the state of cancer in the province, Cancer Care Ontario has compiled data from the Ontario Cancer Registry to provide a clear picture of cancer, focusing on the incidence, mortality, survival and prevalence of the disease.

The number of new cancer cases in Ontario is increasing and can largely be attributed to an aging population and population growth. At the same time, cancer survival for nearly all cancer types is improving and mortality rates are declining, particularly from breast, colorectal and lung cancers. The five-year relative survival for all cancers combined in Ontario is 63 per cent, which is a significant increase from 48 per cent in the mid-1980s.

The report, which is a definitive source for cancer surveillance information for Ontario, will be published every two years. It is intended to support decision-makers, the public health community, healthcare providers, researchers and others in planning and evaluating population-based cancer control efforts, including those related to cancer screening, prevention and treatment.

Key Statistics:

  • Approximately 1 in 2 Ontarians will develop cancer in their lifetime and approximately 1 in 4 Ontarians will die from it.
  • Approximately 85,648 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Ontario in 2016, which is almost triple the number of cases that were diagnosed in 1981 (29,649 cases)
  • There are now more people living in Ontario with a diagnosis of cancer than there were 20 years ago – an estimated 362,557 people as of January 1, 2013 (or about 2.7 per cent of the population)

Rising cancer rates and an aging population present unique challenges to the Ontario cancer system. The Ontario Cancer Plan 2015-2019 is designed to address these trends to ensure a sustainable cancer system for future generations. Together with its partners, Cancer Care Ontario is using the plan to reduce the risk of Ontarians developing cancer, while improving the quality of care for current and future patients.

A full copy of the report is available at cancercare.on.ca/OCSReport.

Click here to read more about the fourth Ontario Cancer Plan and the work Cancer Care Ontario is doing to ensure a sustainable cancer system for the future. Based on the same principles and framework as the Ontario Cancer Plan, the South West Regional Cancer Program has developed a road map to guide regional service improvement over the next four years. Click here to learn more about the South West West Regional Cancer Plan. 

To determine your personal cancer risk, visit www.mycanceriq.ca today.