Leading Causes of Cancer Incidence

All Ages
     Males
     Females
Children & Youth
Adults

Cancer incidence data are derived from the Ontario Cancer Registry (OCR) operated by Cancer Care Ontario. The OCR contains information on Ontario residents who have been newly diagnosed with all types of malignant cancers, with the exception of basal cell and squamous cell (non-melanoma) skin cancers. Cancer sites were coded using the Third Edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICDO-3). Beginning in 2014, the OCR adopted the National Cancer Institute (NCI) SEER standards for counting multiple primaries for cancer cases diagnosed in 2010 and beyond. This standard is more liberal than the previously used case counting rules from the modified version of the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR). Cancer incidence data presented on this and other HealthSTATS pages reflect the new rules for counting multiple primary cancers. To ensure consistent interpretation of trends, cancer incidence data will only be presented from 2010 onward on all HealthSTATS pages.

All Ages

Over the nine years between 2010 and 2018, there were 32,625 new cancer cases diagnosed among residents of Simcoe Muskoka (16,784 among males and 15,841 among females). The leading causes of cancer are different for adult males and females so the data will be presented separately. The leading causes of cancer incidence for children and youth will be presented together for both sexes combined due to smaller numbers of new cancer cases.

Males

The number one cause of new cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka males between 2010 and 2018 was prostate cancer, which accounted for 23 per cent of all cancers over this period. This was followed by lung cancer and colorectal cancer which accounted for 13 per cent and 12 per cent respectively of all new cancer cases diagnosed among Simcoe Muskoka males over this period. Together these three cancers accounted for nearly half of all new cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka males diagnosed from 2010 to 2018.

The leading causes of new cancer cases among Ontario males over this same period were quite similar to what was observed in Simcoe Muskoka as depicted in the chart below; however, the proportion of new cancer cases was significantly higher among Simcoe Muskoka males when compared to the province overall for melanoma of the skin and lymphocytic leukemia. The proportion of new non-Hodgkin lymphoma and thyroid cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka males was significantly lower than the provincial average.
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Females

The number one cause of new cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka females between 2010 and 2018 was breast cancer, which accounted for 26 per cent of all cancers over this time period. This was followed by lung cancer and colorectal cancer which accounted for 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of all new cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka females. Together these three cancers accounted for over half of all new cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka females.

The leading causes of new cancer cases among Ontario females over this same period were quite similar to what was observed in Simcoe Muskoka as depicted in the chart below; however, the proportion of new cancer cases was significantly higher among Simcoe Muskoka females when compared to the province overall for lung cancer, esophageal cancer and melanoma of the skin. The proportion of new breast cancer, thyroid cancer, stomach cancer and non-Hydgkin lymphoma cases among Simcoe Muskoka females was significantly lower than the provincial average.
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Children and Youth

In Simcoe Muskoka between 2010 and 2018, there were 205 new cases of cancer diagnosed among children and youth under 20 years of age. The leading cause of cancer among Simcoe Muskoka children and youth was lymphocytic leukemia accounting for nearly one-quarter of new cancer cases. Cancer of the brain was the second leading cause of cancer among Simcoe Muskoka children and youth, accounting for just under one-in-six new cancer cases. Hodgkin Lymphoma accounted for approximately one-in-ten new cancer cases among Simcoe Muskoka children and youth. The leading causes of cancer for Simcoe Muskoka children and youth are consistent with what was observed with the overall provincial data.
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Adults

In Simcoe Muskoka between 2010 and 2018, the leading causes of new cancer cases among adults (20 years and older) varied by sex and age group. Among younger adult males between the age of 20 and 44 years, testicular cancer was the leading cause followed by melanoma of the skin. Among adult males for all other age groups, prostate cancer was the leading cause followed by lung and colorectal cancers. Breast cancer was the leading cause of new cancer cases for adult females of all age groups. Among younger adult females between the age of 20 and 44, breast cancer was followed by thyroid and cervical cancers. Among females of all other age groups, breast cancer was followed by lung and colorectal cancers (see table below for details).

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Leading Causes of New Cancer Cases, Simcoe Muskoka Adults, by Sex and Age Group, 2010 to 2018 (combined)