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Cancer: what are the odds? Health and wellness newsletter For most of us, cancer tops the list of feared diseases. It is the second leading cause of death in Canada, after cardiovascular disease. However, the odds of avoiding or surviving it are in your favour when you consider the following factors. Common types of cancer Lung cancer Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers, responsible for close to one-third of cancer deaths. The incidence of lung cancer is directly proportional to the ratio of smokers in the population, with a time lag of 20 to 25 years. Ten years after you quit smoking, it is estimated that your risk of developing lung cancer is cut in half. If you quit smoking for twenty years, your risk is about equal to that of a non-smoker. Skin cancer The incidence skin cancers has been increasing over the past decades. It is estimated that one in every five Americans will be affected. It was estimated that 74,100 new cases of skin cancer cases occurred in Canada in 2011, including approximately 5,500 diagnoses of melanoma—a highly malignant skin cancer. However, only about 950 deaths resulted from skin cancer in Canada in the same year. Colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer—which occurs most frequently in individuals over age 50—starts in glandular cells in the colon or rectum. Since 2000, the incidence of colorectal cancer has significantly declined. Cancer: what are the odds 01/02 Type of cancer Sex Lifetime risk (%) Lifetime risk of death (%) Breast Women 11.3 (1 in 8.9) 3.4 (1 in 29.2) Colorectal Men 7.5 (1 in 13.3) 3.6 (1 in 27.7) Women 6.4 (1 in 15.7) 3.1 (1 in 32.3) Men 8.7 (1 in 11.4) 8 (1 in 12.5) Women 6.7 (1 in 14.9) 5.7 (1 in 17.4) Men 14.2 (1 in 7) 3.6 (1 in 27.8) Lung Prostate Source: National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2011, table 6.1: probability of developing cancer by age, and lifetime probability of developing and dying from cancer, Canada. Advances in treatment have improved Your body is fighting for you the odds of surviving cancer Cancer begins in a single cell that has been Several cancers can be cured if caught early. The chart above lists some examples of the lifetime risks of getting different cancers and of dying from them. As you can see, most of these risks are well below 10%; there is also a lot you can do to improve your odds against cancer. Know your risks. Build your defences with a healthy lifestyle and go for regular cancer screenings. Not all cancer risks are equal Cancer is not one disease but many. Your risk of getting a particular kind of cancer depends on a variety of factors, including age. For example, a man has very little probability of developing prostate cancer by age 50; however, a 70-year-old man has a 6.2% (1 in 16) chance of developing it by age 80. invaded by a carcinogen, a cancer-causing agent such as those in tobacco, sunlight and certain chemicals. If the cell does not resist the alteration or damage caused by the invading agent, it can multiply out of control, eventually spreading and destroying healthy tissue. Fortunately, the body has natural defences— killer cells that rally to eliminate carcinogens before any damage occurs. We’re exposed to thousands of carcinogens on a daily basis; our bodies succeed in keeping us shielded most of the time. Source: Canadian Cancer Society Content provided by Personal Best Publications. Lifestyle can also be a risk factor. Smoking, for instance, is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths and 85% of all lung cancer deaths. Family history is another significant factor in developing cancer. A woman who has a family history of breast cancer has an increased risk of developing the disease. www.standardlife.ca The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada GE12612B GL 01-2015 ©2015 Standard Life, images reproduced under licence. 02/02