A recent report by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has brought encouraging news in the fight against cancer. It details a significant reduction in lung cancer deaths in Canada, the most common and deadly form of cancer in the country. This decrease is largely attributed to the reduction in smoking and tobacco use. Since 2014, lung cancer death rates have declined by 4.3% per year for men and by 4.1% per year since 2016 for women. This marks the largest annual decline in mortality rates for any cancer type in Canada and the fastest decrease in lung cancer mortality to date.
The progress is particularly notable in the reduction of the lung cancer death rate. In 2023, the rate for men is expected to be less than half of its peak in 1988. For women, the rate is projected to be 24% lower than its peak in 2006. Lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer in Canada, causing more annual deaths than colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers combined. However, an estimated 20,600 Canadians are still expected to die from lung cancer in 2023.
The decrease in lung cancer cases is strongly linked to smoking, as research shows about 72% of lung cancer cases in Canada are due to smoking tobacco. The significant decrease in lung cancer deaths is a direct result of Canada's efforts to reduce tobacco smoking. The country boasts some of the world's strongest regulations for the tobacco industry and aims to reduce tobacco use to less than 5% by 2035. According to Dr. Jennifer Gillis from CCS, over 50,000 cancer cases could be prevented in Canada by 2042 if the smoking prevalence is reduced to 5% by 2035.
This positive trend offers hope and encouragement to people affected by lung cancer and the wider cancer community. It reflects the impact of sustained public health efforts and stringent regulations on tobacco use, reaffirming the need for continued work towards more progress in cancer prevention and treatment.
For more information, you can read the full report on CTV News.
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