Epidemiological cancer surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of information related to cancer. Scientific staff analyze and interpret information about cancer and its risk factors, precursors and late effects. Their work describes the risk and burden of cancer in Ontario, and helps to determine priorities for planning and action, and to evaluate the effects of changes in policy and risk factors.

Cancer surveillance results, published in peer-reviewed journals and other print and online publications, are used to predict future cancer rates and trends to help plan for future resource, policy and research needs. We also use surveillance results to analyze past cancer trends and improve our understanding of how changes in risk factors and policy can influence cancer incidence, mortality and survival rates.

Where we get our data

Cancer surveillance data come primarily from the Ontario Cancer Registry, which compiles information about all newly diagnosed cancer cases in Ontario, and from provincial and national population-based surveys.