A new report by the Cancer Quality Council of Ontario says the incident rate of three out of four prominent cancers is higher in the Erie St. Clair LHIN than the provincial average.
The report says there are 150.9 cases of breast cancer compared to 146.1, the provincial average. The number of prostate cancers is 127.2 compared to 115.3, and 84 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer compared to the provincial average of 70.5.
The incidence of colorectal cancer was slightly below the provincial average at 70.9 compared to 71.7.
Survival rates in the Erie St.Clair LHIN for those four cancers were also below the provincial average with the biggest discrepancy for colorectal cancer. Province-wide 64.5% of patients survive, but only 59% do in the Erie St.Clair LHIN.
The report also projects 4,488 new cancers will be diagnosed this year.
Geographically, the Southwest LHIN which includes the City of London is the closest to Erie St. Clair.
While more cancer deaths are projected for that region, it also has a larger population and the mortality rate is comparable.
The number of breast cancer diagnoses is below the provincial average at 141.3, but above for prostate, colorectal and lung cancer.
