Annual Cancer Cases In Canada Projected To Rise 40% By 2030

The Canadian Cancer Society forecasts that cases of cancer will rise 40 percent over the next 15 years as the population grows and ages. According to the recently release statistics, nearly 277,000 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with the disease by 2030.

"We are going to have a dramatic increase in the number of Canadians who are being diagnosed with cancer. This is really a reflection of our aging and growing population," said Robert Nuttall, a spokeman for the group based in Toronto.

The increase in cases will be due to demographics, not a greater risk of developing the disease in individuals.

In Canada, the largest number of cancer cases are diagnosed in people between 50 and 79 years of age. The society also predicted that nearly 196,900 new cases will be diagnosed in 2015, with around 78,000 dying of the disease. Prostate, lung, colorectal and breast cancer are expected to account for about half of cases this year.

The report also predicts that prostate cancer will become the most commonly reported type by 2030, with an increase of 97 percent in volume. Colorectal cancer cases are projected to rise by 79 percent, followed by breast cancer, expected to rise by 55 percent.