This data set is population based and national in scope. The wide variation in cancer rates, both regionally and over time, offer insight on how successful we have been in prevention and control of cancer and help assess the need for future programs. In this exercise, data on female cancer have been provided in the attached tables, with the exception of regional breast cancer incidence, which is available online at Health Canada 's Disease Surveillance web site. This web site provides examples of standard analyses and charts, as well as a glossary of terms. The data provided in this exercise provide an opportunity to become familiar with statistical methods used in epidemiological research.
Epidemiology is the study of patterns in disease.
There are many methods available for analysis and presentation. The data set includes population, number of deaths attributed to breast cancer and the number of new cases of breast cancer by age group at the national level since 1969 and at the regional level since 1984. The main cancer control initiative has been breast cancer screening in women over 50 years of age, and in some provinces in women over 40 years of age where a family history of breast cancer exists. Initiation of a screening program will typically increase the number of new cases for a short period of time, then the number of new cases will level off, or even return to previous levels. Age, socioeconomic status, nulli parity, first pregnancy after 30, late age at menopause, early age at menarche, family history of breast cancer, chest radiation in high doses are consistently associated with increased risk of breast cancer.