Ontario Has Among the Highest Cancer Screening Participation, but More Could Be Done
July 12, 2016
Ontario has among the highest percentage of people who report being up-to-date on colorectal and breast cancer screening among the Canadian provinces and territories, while cervical cancer screening rates fall in the mid-range, according to a new report released today by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (The Partnership).
The 2016 Cancer System Performance Report found Ontario is a leader in screening participation, has some of the country's lowest lung cancer rates and has among the shortest wait times for results following an abnormal screen for breast cancer.
Ontario also has one of the highest rates of breast conserving surgery and one of the highest percentages of mastectomies done as day surgery, which can avoid overnight hospital stays and reduce the use of anesthesia.
The report – the seventh in a series – found change involving multiple sectors in the healthcare system is still slow and requires more collaborative efforts across clinical settings. Since the Partnership began reporting on pan-Canadian cancer system data in 2009, there have been system-wide improvements, most notably more consistent pathology reporting, resulting in more accurate staging and better treatment plans for colon cancer patients.
Positive trends
- Mortality rates have been decreasing in Ontario and Canada as a whole since the early 1990s for most of the cancers profiled in this report, including breast, lung (in men), colorectal, prostate and pancreatic cancers.
- Clinical trial participation overall increased in 6 of 8 reporting provinces (including Ontario) from 2013 to 2014, although for some cancers, participation has decreased (e.g., breast, colorectal and lung).
Areas for continued improvement
- Though smoking prevalence continued to decline, prevalence in all provinces remains higher than the national target of 12%. Ontario has the third lowest smoking prevalence rate at 17.4%.
- Colorectal cancer screening rates in particular are low across the country. Compared to other provinces, Ontario's cervical cancer screening rates fall in the mid-range.
- One in 5 cancer patients in Canada reported daily or occasional smoking after their diagnosis.
Quotes
"Performance measurement enables us to identify trends and drive system-level improvements," said Michael Sherar, President and CEO, CCO. "Cancer Care Ontario welcomes these findings and will continue to work towards improving all areas of the cancer system, including those identified in the 2016 Cancer System Performance Report. These data show there is more work to be done to ensure an efficient, safe, high-quality and equitable cancer system for all Ontarians."
"Across Canada, there is a need to collect more cancer-related data, better leverage and link existing data holdings and strengthen analysis. This will help support and guide improvements to patient care and the sustainability of the cancer system," said Dr. Heather Bryant, Vice President of Cancer Control at the Partnership.