Health Reports, April 2016
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Released: 2016-04-20
Differences in cancer survival in Canada by sex
A new study of five-year cancer survival over the 2004-to-2008 period, "Differences in cancer survival in Canada by sex," revealed a survival advantage for women compared with men for 13 of the 18 cancers examined.
For all cancers combined, women had a 13% lower relative excess risk of death. The advantage was greatest for thyroid cancer (69% lower relative excess risk), skin melanoma (48% lower) and Hodgkin lymphoma (35% lower), followed by oral cancer, lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and brain and other nervous system cancers.
The only cancer for which women had a significant survival disadvantage was bladder cancer (23% higher relative excess risk of death).
Women's survival advantage was particularly pronounced among those diagnosed at younger ages. For all cancers combined, women younger than age 55 had a 23% lower relative excess risk of death than men.
Significant advantages for women were observed at each follow-up interval for all cancers combined. However, the advantage was smaller in the first year after diagnosis (8% lower relative excess risk of death, compared with 14% to 15% in the second to fifth years).
The reasons for women's significantly better survival after a cancer diagnosis are not well understood, although female hormonal status may be involved. The notable advantage for women diagnosed at ages 15 to 54 lends indirect support to a hypothesized hormonal influence.
As well, women may be more likely than men to engage in health-promoting behaviours that could result in earlier and greater interaction with the health care system (for example, screening). In some circumstances, this may mean an earlier stage of disease at diagnosis, and ultimately, a better prognosis.
Note to readers
Based on data from the Canadian Cancer Registry, this study examines sex-specific differences in survival for all cancers combined and for 18 specific individual cancers or cancer groups. Cancer incidence data are from the October 2011 version of the Canadian Cancer Registry. Mortality follow-up through December 31, 2008, was based on record linkage to the Canadian Vital Statistics Death database (excluding deaths registered in the province of Quebec) and on information reported by the provincial/territorial cancer registries. Data from Quebec were excluded because the method of determining the date of diagnosis differed from that of the other provinces and because of issues in correctly ascertaining the vital status of cases.
Because the study examined differences by sex, cancers unique to one sex (genital system cancers) were excluded, as was breast cancer, which is rare in men.
Separate analyses were conducted for younger (15 to 54) and older (55 to 99) age groups. Age 55 was used as a surrogate indicator of menopause. Stratified analyses were also conducted for three follow-up intervals: the first year after diagnosis, the second and third years combined, and the fourth and fifth years combined.
In this context, the relative excess risk represents the ratio of the excess risk of death experienced by women after a cancer diagnosis compared with that of men.
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The article, "Differences in cancer survival in Canada by sex," is available in the April 2016 online issue of Health Reports, Vol. 27, no. 4 (82-003-X), from the Browse by key resource module of our website, under Publications.
This issue of Health Reports contains two other articles: "Active travel and adults' health: The 2007-to-2011 Canadian Health Measures Survey" and "Using a Betabinomial distribution to estimate the prevalence of adherence to physical activity guidelines among children and youth."
Contact information
For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca).
For more information on the article, "Differences in cancer survival in Canada by sex," contact Larry Ellison (larry.ellison@canada.ca), Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada.
For more information on the article, "Active travel and adults' health: The 2007-to-2011 Canadian Health Measures Surveys," contact Adrienne Vienneau (avienneau@cheo.on.ca), Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.
For more information on the article, "Using a Betabinomial distribution to estimate the prevalence of adherence to physical activity guidelines among children and youth," contact Didier Garriguet (didier.garriguet@canada.ca), Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada.
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