HIGHLIGHTS – REPORT CARD 2005

International Comparisons of Prevention Programs

Primary prevention refers to measures that prevent the occurrence of cancer

Secondary prevention refers to measures for early diagnosis of a cancer

Breast cancer screening compliance in the last two-three years

Finland 87% screening every two years

Australia 72% two years

UK 70% three years

USA 70% two years

Canada 27-60% two years

Cervical cancer screening compliance in the last three to five years:

UK 83% screening every three to five years

USA 79% three years

Finland 72% five years

Australia 53% every two years

Canada 52-71% two to-three years

Provincial Screening Programs

Note: Figures refer to the organized screening programs of the provincial cancer agencies or health ministries.

Breast cancer

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• Highest rates of breast cancer expected in 2004: Quebec at 113 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Manitoba (112), Nova Scotia (109) and PEI (108)

• Highest percentage of target population screened: Newfoundland and Labrador (30 per cent in one year), Saskatchewan (57 per cent in two years) and New Brunswick (55 per cent in two years).

• Lowest percentage of target population screened: Ontario (26.8 per cent every two years).

Cervical cancer

• Highest rate of cervical cancer expected in 2004: Nova Scotia at 11 cases per 100,000 population, followed by New Brunswick (10), PEI (10), and Alberta (10)

• Highest percentage of target population screened: Manitoba (52 per cent in a two-year period), Nova Scotia (67 percent in three years), and BC (either 58 per cent or 71 per cent depending on hysterectomy exclusions, in 30 months).

• Lowest percentage of target population screened: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and PEI could not report, which we take to be more discouraging than the 43 per cent rate in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Colorectal cancer

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• Highest rates of colorectal cancer expected in 2004: Newfoundland and Labrador at 127 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Nova Scotia (122), PEI (116) and New Brunswick (111)

• No organized screening program for colorectal cancer in the country.

• Goal for reaching target population: Not one province identified a goal for colorectal screening.

• Target population screened: Unknown. Not one province answered this question.

Prostate cancer

• Provincial policy on PSA screening: BC, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia – the cancer agencies are uniformly against use of the PSA test for screening purposes, and PSA screening is not covered by the provincial health plan.

• In BC, Alberta , Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, PSA testing is covered for men with symptoms suggesting prostate cancer