Did You Know?

General cancer stats for 2008

 

An estimated 166,400 new cases of cancer and 73,800 deaths will occur in Canada in 2008.

  • On average, 3,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer every week.
  • On average, 1,419 Canadians will die of cancer every week.

An estimated 79,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cancer and an estimated 35,000 women will die.

An estimated 87,000 Canadian men will be diagnosed with cancer and an estimated 38,800 men will die of cancer.

Based on current incidence rates, 39% of Canadian women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Among men, 45% will develop cancer during their lifetimes.

Cancer is the leading cause of premature death - or early death - in Canada: 1,026,700 potential years were lost in 2004 as a result of cancer. This represents 32% of the potential years of life lost resulting from all causes of death.

Cancer is primarily a disease of older Canadians: 42% of new cancer cases and 60% of cancer deaths will occur among those who are at least 70 years old.

 Totals may not add, due to rounding.

* statistics derived from Canadian Cancer Society 2008