Deaths from cancer
It was predicted that, in 2021, there would be around 84,600 deaths due to cancer in Canada. According to the latest figures, there is about a 26 percent chance that a male in Canada will die from some type of cancer and a 22 percent chance for females. Cancer mortality rates and incidence rates in Canada differ by gender, but also by geography, with the highest cancer incidence rates found in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario. Nunavut has the highest cancer mortality rate with around 225 deaths per 100,000 population, compared to a rate of 220 per 100,000 population in Newfoundland and Labrador, the province with the second highest mortality rate.Cancer risk factors
Some common and well-known risk factors for cancer include age, sun exposure, tobacco and alcohol use, a poor diet, and being overweight. As the dangers of tobacco use have become more recognized and policies have been implemented limiting use and promotion, rates of smoking have decreased. In 2020, about 13 percent of Canadians were smoking currently, daily, or occasionally, a decrease from 23 percent in 2003. In contrast, rates of obesity in Canada have increased in recent years. This is likely due to poor diet and a lack of exercise. In 2020, around 28 percent of adults in Canada were considered obese.
