Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada among both men and women. In fact, a new report from the Canadian Cancer Society says lung cancer leads to more deaths than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. More than 28,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. Nearly 21,000 of those people will die from the disease.

Overall, the report estimates that 202,400 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year. About 78,800 of those diagnosed will die.

Among men, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease, representing 21 percent of new cases. But the good news is that the incidence and death rates tied to prostate cancer are on the decline.

Among women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed, representing 26 percent of new cancer cases. The death rate linked to breast cancer has also steadily declined in recent decades as a result of screening and improved treatment options.

Mouth and throat cancers caused by the human papillomavirus are on the rise. The report’s authors say this underscores an urgent need for all provinces to publicly fund vaccine programs for boys, in addition to programs which already exist for girls.