Yukon releases cancer mortality report

May 01, 2017

The Government of Yukon today released a report called Cancer Mortality Trends, 1999-2013. The report provides detailed information about regional cancer mortality for the most common types of cancer.

The report is designed to help health professionals, policy-makers and researchers make better and more-informed decisions about cancer control and prevention in Yukon.

Quotes

“I would like to thank the dedicated team of professionals who worked so hard on this important project, which will do much to inform our cancer control efforts and to improve cancer outcomes across the territory. As the report recommends, we must move forward with a coordinated approach that includes close collaboration between the Government of Yukon and Yukon First Nations.”

–Minister of Health and Social Services Pauline Frost

“It is my great pleasure to present Cancer Mortality Trends, 1999-2013. It provides valuable information about major causes of cancer death and trends over 15 years. I hope it will motivate us to work collaboratively to reduce the suffering caused by cancer.”

–Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott

Quick facts

• This report is the first comprehensive analysis of cancer mortality in Yukon.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death in Yukon – one in three deaths are cancer-related.
• Yukon’s cancer burden is higher than that of Canada and, like Canada’s, it is expected to increase as the population ages and grows.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. The two major risk factors for lung cancer are tobacco smoke and exposure to radon.
• Although smoking rates appear to be declining in Yukon, they are still much higher than the Canadian average. Smoking is the single major preventable cause of cancer.

Learn more: Cancer Mortality Trends, 1999-2013

Contact:

Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7478
sunny.patch@gov.yk.ca

Patricia Living
867-667-3673
Communications, Health and Social Services
patricia.living@gov.yk.ca

Background

The Department of Health and Social Services administers a number of programs and initiatives aimed at reducing cancer rates and mortality in Yukon. These include:

• ColonCheck is a screening and awareness raising program aimed at preventing colorectal cancer.
• Active smoking prevention and cessation programming: The Kickin’ Ash program was designed to help community organizations and schools address the issue of tobacco use by young people. Quitpath is a smoking cessation program that offers one-on-one coaching, weekly drop-in visits and resources such as free nicotine patches. A new youth tobacco prevention campaign is in development.
• Annual radon awareness campaigns and radon exposure reduction in Health and Social Services workplaces. The department is collaborating across government and with the Yukon Lung Association to reduce radon in homes and buildings across Yukon.

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