Facts and figures from Canadian Cancer Statistics 2011

TORONTO – Some figures from Canadian Cancer Statistics 2011, released Wednesday:

– An estimated 177,800 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Canada in 2011.

– An estimated 75,000 deaths from cancer are expected in 2011.

– Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, with an estimated 25,500 diagnoses this year. About 4,100 men will die from the disease.

– An estimated 23,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 5,100 will die from it.

– Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. The incidence rate in women has been increasing since 1982, but has been declining in men since the mid-1980s.

– Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada. An estimated 22,200 new cases are expected this year.

– The five-year relative survival for all cancers is 62 per cent.

– Relative survival is highest for thyroid, prostate and testicular cancers, all above 90 per cent.

– Relative survival is lowest for lung, esophagus and pancreatic cancer, at 16 per cent or lower.

Note: The five-year relative survival ratio is the proportion of people alive five years after their cancer diagnosis compared to the proportion of people in the same general population alive after five years.

Source: Canadian Cancer Society