The Department of Health today released a report on PEI Cancer Trends 1980-2006. Dr. Linda VanTil, Epidemiologist for the Department of Health developed the report through an extensive analysis of PEI cancer trends and statistics over the past ten years.
In the report, cancer incidence in PEI men was ten percent higher than in the rest of Canada over the past ten years. This is explained by PEI’s higher incidence of prostate cancer. However, PEI’s mortality rate of prostate cancer is similar to Canada’s decreasing rate. This suggests screening may be finding more new cases in PEI than in the rest of Canada.
PEI’s cancer incidence in women was eight percent higher than in Canada over the past ten years. This is explained by PEI’s higher incidence of colorectal and lung cancers. Colorectal cancer incidence has been decreasing in Canadian women, but increasing among PEI women. Mortality for colorectal cancer has been decreasing in Canadian women, but remained stable in PEI. In women, lung cancer incidence and mortality are increasing, in both PEI and Canada.
Canada and PEI have similar trends in breast cancer, with incidence increasing while mortality is decreasing. This suggests improved survival due to mammographic screening and treatment. For the first time, information on the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis has been included in the report.
In PEI and Canada, the incidence of childhood cancer has remained at similar rates over the past 10 years.
Within PEI, the increased cancer incidence occurred in Summerside, Charlottetown and eastern PEI; western and central PEI did not contribute to this increase.
Deborah Bradley, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention and Diabetes, Department of Health said, “While not all cancers are preventable, there are some things we can do to reduce the risk of developing cancer including reducing tobacco use, eating more fruits and vegetables, controlling our weight, increasing physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption and reducing exposure to the sun.”
The Department of Health has been involved in a variety of health promotion activities with numerous community groups, has offered pap and mammography screening programming and is investigating the feasibility of developing a colorectal screening program.
The report notes that, while cancer incidence in PEI has increased while remaining stable in the rest of Canada, Cancer mortality has decreased both in PEI and Canada.
Dr. Van Til noted, “The report’s conclusion of increased cancer prevalence in PEI over the Canadian average could be due to a variety of factors, including screening for cancer or health challenges such as obesity, environment, smoking rates or diet, although it is difficult to pinpoint a specific cause of a specific type of cancer.”
Dr. Van Til added, “I wish to thank the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, which provided three international cancer experts, who reviewed and offered constructive comments during the development of this report.”
The report can be obtained through the PEI Department of Health website at: www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/cancertrends.pdf It is also available in French at:
www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/frcancertrends.pdf