Geographic variation in female breast cancer incidence and mortality in Canada

Previous research has found variability in cancer incidence and cancer-related outcomes according to place of residence. This study examined geographic variability in the incidence and mortality of breast cancer among females in Canada, using data from the 2021 Canadian Cancer Registry (breast cancer incidence) and the Canadian Vital Statistics – Death database (breast cancer mortality). Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) per 100,000 females per year and their rate ratios were calculated, as well as age group-specific and age-standardized stage-specific incidence rates, and examined across provinces and territories, community sizes, and peer groups (i.e., clusters of health regions with similar socioeconomic and demographic characteristics).