Women have better survival rates than men in 13 types of cancer, a Statistics Canada report has revealed.
An investigation of Canadian Cancer Registry data and Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database has showed that in 13 of 18 malignancies, Canadian women have a higher survival rate compared to men. The study excluded those that are sex-specific such as cancers of the genital system.
For all the 18 cancers combined, women have a 13 percent lower excess risk of death than men. The greatest survival rate was seen in thyroid cancer at 69 percent.
The finding has similarities to what is found in Europe and the United States. It also gives a general picture of the cancer trend but does not provide analysis as to why women have predominantly higher chances of surviving majority of cancers.
Larry Ellison from the Health Statistics Division of Statistics Canada said that women, particularly those younger than 55 years old, have a 23 percent lower relative excess risk of death than men.
Estrogen, whether natural or synthetic, has been proven by previous studies to weaken several types of illnesses such as HIV, hepatitis, and ebola. Estimating that 55 is the average age of menopause, Ellison suggested that female hormones provide protection.
"We find a 23 percent lower risk of excess risk of death risk in the 15 to 55 category so that lends indirect support to that theory that's been postulated but it doesn't prove. Nothing direct would go along with it," Ellison said.
Ellison also attributed the findings to the difference in how the cancers were viewed by both sexes. In general, women are more likely to have regular screening than men, which could significantly affect the timing of diagnosis and treatment that ultimately lead to better survival rates.
The sole cancer for which males had an advantage in survival rate was in bladder cancers at 23 percent lower excess risk. Ellison said women may be at the disadvantage in bladder cancers because the detection of the said cancer may be delayed as a result of its rarity in women.
Assistant Director for Health Policy at the Canadian Cancer Society Robert Nuttall said knowing trends in prognosis can aid specialists and patients decide on treatments and follow-ups.
"It tells us we need to look at the way we look at health and the way we approach health-care delivery differently to make sure that survival rates do improve," said Nuttall. He added that male cancer patients should be advised to adopt lifestyle changes and seek medical attention regularly.
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