Cancer mortality rates in Newfoundland and Labrador are among the highest in the country, but survival rates among those diagnosed with cancer are higher in Newfoundland and Labrador than most other provinces according to the latest data released by the Conference Board of Canada.

The Mortality Due to Cancer report for 2022 was released this week. It shows that while deaths from all cancers are higher in Newfoundland and Labrador than any other province except Nova Scotia, overall survival outcomes based on a mortality-to-incidence ratio were actually quite good, roughly in line with Ontario, PEI and New Brunswick.

Newfoundland and Labrador and the other Atlantic provinces have high incidence rates for certain types of cancer compared to the rest of the country driven in large part by aging demographics.

The Conference Board of Canada shows surprisingly that provinces with a higher median income and a lower proportion of seniors per population have poorer survival outcomes, something they say requires further investigation and more “robust population-level data” although fair to poor self-rated mental health and high life stress are associated with poorer survival outcomes.