According to this year’s Canadian Cancer Statistics report, the number of new cancer cases found in Canada will rise at least 40 per cent in the next 15 years. This means that in 2030, 277,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer as compared to the 200,000 that were diagnosed this year.
“Such a dramatic rise in the number of cancer cases will have major repercussions in our healthcare system,” says Suzanne Dubois, executive director of the Quebec division of the Canadian Cancer Society. “The government must prioritize the fight against cancer in the coming years … we must be prepared.”
However, it is very important to note that despite the predicted rise in the sheer number of cancer cases, the risk of getting cancer will not change significantly by 2030. The foreseen surge in cancer cases will occur mostly due to the growing and aging of Canada’s population; in 15 years, the national population will increase by six million people, with the 65-plus age group rising greatly as well.
This is the first time that the annual Canadian Cancer Statistics report is presenting long-term predictions on the future burden of cancer. “[This report] shows how important it is to emphasize healthy living and policies that protect public health if we want to reduce the number of people with cancer in the long run,” says André Beaulieu, spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society.
“Over the next 15 years, we’re surely going to improve our methods to identify people at risk, detect cancer earlier and treat the disease with greater precision,” Beaulieu continues. “This will certainly lead to a better diagnosis for people living with cancer.”
