2018 Cancer system performance report

November 9, 2018

Read our 2018 report that shines a light on the performance of Canada’s cancer system, showing what’s working and where improvements are needed

The 2018 Cancer system performance report compares provinces and territories in key areas of cancer care from prevention through to treatment and survivorship. It is the latest in a series of reports that shine a light on areas of Canada’s cancer system to show what’s working and where improvements are needed.

Ten years ago, there was little consistently available information on the quality of cancer care across Canada. Over the past nine years, the Partnership has been working with a network of national partners, provincial cancer agencies, and territorial health authorities to identify what data exists and can be measured, to drive policy and practice changes to improve the delivery of cancer services and patient experience.

Quick facts from this 2018 report

• More Canadians are surviving cancer than ever before.
• A high rate of HPV vaccination, along with effective screening has the potential of eliminating cervical cancer in Canada, but the disease still killed approximately 400 women last year (Canadian Cancer Society 2018).
• Too many Canadians are still being diagnosed with preventable cancers. The Partnership is helping jurisdictions across the country develop policies for reducing smoking and is launching a substantial effort to improve lung health in Nunavut.
• Canadians are still waiting too long for diagnostic tests to identify whether they have cancer, showing there is a need for more action to reduce wait times and streamline referrals.
• Patients going through cancer treatment suffer symptoms like fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression and are often unable to receive the support they need to address their concerns. More work is needed to link patients to the vast resources available across the country.

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