Cancer mortality rates higher in NWT’s Indigenous population than others

Between 2011 and 2022 in the NWT, the number of cancer deaths in the Indigenous population was higher than in the non-Indigenous population for all years except for 2021, where it was equivalent, states a new report.

After adjusting for the younger age structure of the Indigenous population, mortality rates were still higher in the Indigenous population, the GNWT’s report called Cancer in the Northwest Territories from 2011 to 2022 shows.

However, after accounting for overall Indigenous and non-Indigenous population age, overall cancer rates in the NWT remained relatively stable over time and were “generally similar to the rest of Canada,” read the report.

The executive summary explained: “This report aims to provide a broad profile of cancer in the NWT to help inform program planning, policy, and practice. It also seeks to enhance the understanding of cancer in the NWT in interested members of the public.”

Across the 2011 to 2022 period, there was an overall Indigenous and non-Indigenous average of 62 cancer-related deaths per year in the territory — 17 deaths per year higher on average than in 2000.

The highest number of deaths were seen in 2016, 2020, and 2022, stated the report.

There were 1,971 new cases of cancer diagnosed in residents of the NWT from 2011 to 2022.

There was an average of 164 invasive cancer diagnoses each year from 2011 to 2022.

The top three more common cancers overall in Yellowknife and smaller communities were the same in both the 2001 to 2010, and the 2013 to 2022 time period.

From the GNWT’s decade report:

Cancer in Females

• The most frequent cancer diagnoses by site in females were breast (29%), colorectal (15%), and lung and bronchus (13%); these three accounted for 57% of all new cancer diagnoses in females from 2013 to 2022.
• Colorectal cancer made up a higher proportion of cases in the Indigenous female population (21%), compared the non-Indigenous female population (8%).
• Cancer staging at the time of diagnosis for breast, colorectal, and lung and bronchus cancer was similar in the NWT to Canada in females.
• Colorectal cancer accounted for a higher proportion of cancer cases in smaller communities (23%) than in regional centres (14%) and Yellowknife (9%) from 2013 to 2022 in females.

Cancer in Males

• The most frequent cancer diagnoses in males by site were colorectal (19%), prostate (17%), and lung and bronchus (16%); these three accounted for 52% of all new cancer diagnoses in males from 2013 to 2022.
• The most common site of cancer was colorectal in Indigenous males and prostate in non-Indigenous males. From 2013 to 2022, colorectal cancer accounted for 27% of all cancer in
  Indigenous males compared to 13% in the non-Indigenous males.
• 45.8% of prostate cancer cases in the NWT were diagnosed at stage I or II, compared to
  approximately 75% of prostate cancer diagnoses nationally.
• Colorectal cancer accounted for a higher proportion of cases in smaller communities (25%) compared to regional centres (18%) and Yellowknife (16%) in males.

In regional centres in 2013 to 2022, the top-three cancers in descending order were: Lung and bronchus; colorectal; and prostate cancer.

In 2001 to 2010, prostate cancer was most common and lung and bronchus cancer was third most common.

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In this report, the GNWT only includes Fort Smith, Hay River and Inuvik as regional centres; Yellowknife includes Yellowknife, Ndilǫ, and Dettah.

According to the 2021 census, 49.6% of the population in the NWT are Indigenous.

About sex-based cancer reporting:

Data in this report are reported by sex (male/female), as recorded in existing cancer surveillance data sources. The report pointed out that sex refers to a set of biological attributes in humans and animals. It is primarily associated with physical and physiological features including chromosomes, gene expression, hormone levels and function, and reproductive/sexual anatomy. Sex is a key variable in cancer incidence, screening eligibility, and organ-specific risk.

The report stated: “This does not capture the full diversity of gender identity among NWT residents. Future exploration of gender identity data collection would support a better understanding of cancer risk and outcomes across gender-diverse populations.”

It is noted that some inclusive terms, such as “people born with breasts,” can be found in the report.