Melanoma and other skin cancers on the rise in Canada

Canadian Cancer Society releases 2014 edition of Canadian Cancer Statistics

Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014 report coverThe 2014 edition of Canadian Cancer Statistics, released May 28 by the Canadian Cancer Society, provides updated estimates of the state of cancer in Canada with a special focus on skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer and one of the fastest rising types of cancer in Canada.

While the survival rate for skin cancer is relatively high, Canadian Cancer Statistics estimates that 6,500 new cases of malignant melanoma and 76,100 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers will be diagnosed in 2014. Together, melanoma and other skin cancers will account for nearly the same number of new cancer cases as lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancers combined. The 2014 statistics publication estimates that 191,300 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Canada this year, not including 76,100 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer.

The Partnership recognizes the importance of helping to reduce the number of Canadians being diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Sun at Work, one of the recently funded projects from the Coalitions Linking Action and Science for Prevention (CLASP) initiative, is working to create an effective and sustainable sun safety program for outdoor workers that will address both skin cancer prevention and heat illness prevention, and can be implemented by individual workplaces across Canada. Building on the success of Alberta’s Be Sunsible program by expanding it into a comprehensive project that extends to more workplaces in Alberta, British Columbia, the Atlantic Provinces and Ontario, the project team will tailor a comprehensive sun safety program to the specific characteristics of each worksite, and embed the program into their existing prevention, and occupational health and safety efforts. A website with tools and resources will be created to help workplaces across Canada implement their own effective and sustainable sun safety policies and practices.