{"id":1087,"date":"2024-02-21T20:39:36","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T01:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/?post_type=chapter&p=1087"},"modified":"2026-05-23T17:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T21:36:20","slug":"common-cancer-types-in-canada","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/chapter\/common-cancer-types-in-canada\/","title":{"raw":"Common Cancer Types in Canada","rendered":"Common Cancer Types in Canada"},"content":{"raw":"

Cancer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nUnfortunately, cancer is a disease that impacts millions of lives on a global scale, responsible for approximately one in six deaths.\u00a0 In Canada, the four most common types of cancer include\u00a0<\/span>prostate cancer<\/strong>\u00a0with older biological males being most at risk and\u00a0<\/span>breast cancer<\/strong>\u00a0with adult biological females being most at risk.\u00a0 Other prevalent cancers in Canada are\u00a0<\/span>lung cancer,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>colorectal cancer<\/strong>, <\/span>bladder\u00a0cancer<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>uterine cancer<\/strong>.\u00a0 Basal cell and squamous cell\u00a0<\/span>skin cancers<\/strong>\u00a0are also common forms of cancer and are associated with repeated exposure to sun\u00a0<\/span>UV rays<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>\r\n
\r\n\r\nOther major risk factors for development of cancer include\u00a0smoking,<\/strong>\u00a0air pollution,<\/strong>\u00a0alcohol consumption,<\/strong>\u00a0low intake of fruits and vegetables<\/strong>,\u00a0high body mass index (BMI)<\/strong>, sedentary\u00a0behaviour<\/strong>,\u00a0and\u00a0infection with\u00a0oncoviruses<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., human papilloma virus, HPV, hepatitis B and C\u00a0viruses,\u00a0Epstein-Barr virus,\u00a0and\u00a0H. pylori)\u00a0and\u00a0exposure\u00a0to\u00a0either\u00a0chemical carcinogens<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., asbestos)\u00a0or\u00a0ionizing<\/strong> (e.g., x-rays and gamma rays) and non-ionizing radiation<\/strong> (e.g., UV rays).\u00a0 In sum, any agent (physical, chemical, or biological) that can cause DNA damage are considered carcinogens,<\/strong> as DNA mutations are the cause of a cell becoming cancerous.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6060\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]\"Human<\/a> A human somatic (body) cell contains 23 pairs of) chromosomes.\u00a0 Each chromosome's DNA encodes critical information in the form of genes that are used in the production of the protein enzymes and building blocks necessary for cell function and survival. The specific protein activities of each cell in the body are vital in maintaining organ function, homeostasis, and survival.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2412\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]\"DNA<\/a> DNA mutation by exposure to radiation: (a) Ionizing radiation may lead to the formation of single-stranded and double-stranded breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA, as well as to the modification of bases (not shown). (b) Nonionizing radiation like ultraviolet (UV) light can lead to the formation of thymine dimers, which can stall replication and transcription and introduce frameshift or point mutations.\u00a0 UV exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nSmoking is widely regarded as the leading cause of cancer, increasing the risk of lung cancer and other types of cancer.\u00a0 In this unit we will explore the pathogenesis of different cancers, other causative agents, and different forms of treatment.\u00a0 Prevention strategies will also be discussed which include avoiding\u00a0tobacco use\u00a0and second-hand\u00a0smoke exposure.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nFor current Canadian statistics data on incidence, prevalence, mortality<\/strong> and survival rates<\/strong> of each cancer for children and teenagers, visit The Cancer in Young People in Canada Data Tool<\/a>, and for adults visit The Canadian Cancer Data Tool<\/a>.","rendered":"

Cancer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, cancer is a disease that impacts millions of lives on a global scale, responsible for approximately one in six deaths.\u00a0 In Canada, the four most common types of cancer include\u00a0<\/span>prostate cancer<\/strong>\u00a0with older biological males being most at risk and\u00a0<\/span>breast cancer<\/strong>\u00a0with adult biological females being most at risk.\u00a0 Other prevalent cancers in Canada are\u00a0<\/span>lung cancer,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>colorectal cancer<\/strong>, <\/span>bladder\u00a0cancer<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>uterine cancer<\/strong>.\u00a0 Basal cell and squamous cell\u00a0<\/span>skin cancers<\/strong>\u00a0are also common forms of cancer and are associated with repeated exposure to sun\u00a0<\/span>UV rays<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Other major risk factors for development of cancer include\u00a0smoking,<\/strong>\u00a0air pollution,<\/strong>\u00a0alcohol consumption,<\/strong>\u00a0low intake of fruits and vegetables<\/strong>,\u00a0high body mass index (BMI)<\/strong>, sedentary\u00a0behaviour<\/strong>,\u00a0and\u00a0infection with\u00a0oncoviruses<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., human papilloma virus, HPV, hepatitis B and C\u00a0viruses,\u00a0Epstein-Barr virus,\u00a0and\u00a0H. pylori)\u00a0and\u00a0exposure\u00a0to\u00a0either\u00a0chemical carcinogens<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g., asbestos)\u00a0or\u00a0ionizing<\/strong> (e.g., x-rays and gamma rays) and non-ionizing radiation<\/strong> (e.g., UV rays).\u00a0 In sum, any agent (physical, chemical, or biological) that can cause DNA damage are considered carcinogens,<\/strong> as DNA mutations are the cause of a cell becoming cancerous.<\/p>\n

\"Human<\/a>
A human somatic (body) cell contains 23 pairs of) chromosomes.\u00a0 Each chromosome’s DNA encodes critical information in the form of genes that are used in the production of the protein enzymes and building blocks necessary for cell function and survival. The specific protein activities of each cell in the body are vital in maintaining organ function, homeostasis, and survival.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"DNA<\/a>
DNA mutation by exposure to radiation: (a) Ionizing radiation may lead to the formation of single-stranded and double-stranded breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA, as well as to the modification of bases (not shown). (b) Nonionizing radiation like ultraviolet (UV) light can lead to the formation of thymine dimers, which can stall replication and transcription and introduce frameshift or point mutations.\u00a0 UV exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smoking is widely regarded as the leading cause of cancer, increasing the risk of lung cancer and other types of cancer.\u00a0 In this unit we will explore the pathogenesis of different cancers, other causative agents, and different forms of treatment.\u00a0 Prevention strategies will also be discussed which include avoiding\u00a0tobacco use\u00a0and second-hand\u00a0smoke exposure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

For current Canadian statistics data on incidence, prevalence, mortality<\/strong> and survival rates<\/strong> of each cancer for children and teenagers, visit The Cancer in Young People in Canada Data Tool<\/a>, and for adults visit The Canadian Cancer Data Tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Media Attributions<\/h2>