Cancer News in Canada
Media Releases from the Canadian Cancer Society:
April 12, 2005 (excerpt)
Canada heading towards cancer crisis
Canada's aging baby boomers and the country's growing population are propelling Canada into a cancer crisis.
"The number of new cancer cases in Canada is growing twice as fast as the population is growing", says Heather Logan, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society. "Cancer is already straining our healthcare system and it's going to get worse as the number of new cancer cases increases as the baby boom generation ages."
From 2000 to 2004, the population grew about one per cent annually while the number of cancer cases grew by about two per cent per year. Logan adds that if current trends continue with the growing and aging population, it is expected that 5.7 million Canadians will develop cancer and 2.7 million people will die of the disease over the next 30 years.
"This disease causes immeasurable suffering for Canadians," says Dr. Barbara Whylie, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society. "In addition, the direct healthcare costs of cancer will have a severe impact on our economy. Canada urgently needs to implement the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. We need to take action to fight cancer in a coordinated way from coast to coast."
Prevention is one important way to offset the trend of increasing cancer cases.
November 24, 2006 (excerpt)
The Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control
Cancer presents a serious challenge to Canada. Approximately two in five Canadians will face a cancer diagnosis during their lifetimes. This year, more than 153,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer and over 70,000 will die of the disease. Canada's cancer challenge is expected to significantly increase due to the expected number of new cancer cases as a result of our country's aging and growing population.
The National Cancer Institute of Canada has stated that in 2009, baby-boomers will hit the health system in significant numbers. As a nation, Canada has less than three years to prepare for the known rise in cancer cases.
The number of cancer cases is forecast to increase more than 60 per cent in the next decade if nothing changes. Cancer in the workforce will more than double over the coming 30 years, resulting in huge losses of lives, tax revenues of more than $248 billion, and wage-based productivity of more than $540 billion. This could significantly impact federal and provincial health care budgets, meaning fewer resources will be available for other health priorities and services.
February 03, 2007 (excerpt)
The Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control
In November 2006, the Canadian Cancer Society welcomed the federal government announcement establishing the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to oversee the implementation of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.
The Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control will encourage, support and facilitate collaboration and coordination of cancer care. It will improve investment in cancer research, prevention initiatives, access to cancer information and knowledge, treatment and palliative care. It will enable cancer experts, health professionals and individuals to manage cancer effectively and efficiently in local communities across Canada.
Implementing a Strategy will mean, over 30 years:
- preventing over 1.2 million Canadians from developing cancer
- saving the lives of over 423,000 Canadians
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