Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and health services utilization costs of patients diagnosed with lung cancer.

Introduction: Healthcare service disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused worse health outcomes and resulted in more expensive treatments for patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort design was used to compare 1-year survival, mortality, and health services utilization costs of patients diagnosed with lung cancer pre- (March 17th, 2018 to March 16th, 2019), intra- (March 17th, 2020 to March 16th, 2021), and post-pandemic (March 17th, 2021 to March 16th, 2022). Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regressions were used for estimating survival and hazard ratios.

Cancer chemotherapy in pregnancy and adverse pediatric outcomes: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Administration of chemotherapy during pregnancy is often delayed, while preterm delivery is common. If in utero exposure to chemotherapy is associated with adverse pediatric outcomes, it is unknown whether that relationship is directly attributable to the chemotherapy or is mediated by preterm birth.

Methods: Cases were identified from Canadian cancer registries and administrative data in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, 2003-2017, with follow-up until 2018.

Procedural abortion, provider-initiated preterm delivery and survival in pregnant people with cancer: A population-based cohort study.

Objective: To assess whether procedural-induced abortion or provider-initiated preterm delivery are associated with improved survival in pregnant people with cancer.

Design: Retrospective population-based cohort study.

Setting: Provinces of Alberta and Ontario, Canada, 2003-2016.

Projected estimates of cancer in Canada in 2024.

Background: Cancer surveillance data are essential to help understand where gaps exist and progress is being made in cancer control. We sought to summarize the expected impact of cancer in Canada in 2024, with projections of new cancer cases and deaths from cancer by sex and province or territory for all ages combined.

Methods: We obtained data on new cancer cases (i.

Stage Shifting by Modifying the Determinants of Breast Cancer Stage at Diagnosis: A Simulation Study.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women; nearly 25% of women diagnosed with cancer have breast cancer. The early detection of breast cancer is a major challenge because tumours often grow without causing symptom. The diagnosis of breast cancer at an early stage (stages I and II) improves survival outcomes because treatments are more effective and better tolerated.

Use of chemotherapy in patients with oesophageal, stomach, colon, rectal, liver, pancreatic, lung, and ovarian cancer: an International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) population-based study.

Background: There are few data on international variation in chemotherapy use, despite it being a key treatment type for some patients with cancer. Here, we aimed to examine the presence and size of such variation.

Methods: This population-based study used data from Norway, the four UK nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), eight Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan), and two Australian states (New South Wales and Victoria).

Revisiting the Calculation for a Novel Measure of Average Lifespan Shortened: Real-World Examples From Cervical and Ovarian Cancers in Alberta, Canada, 2000 - 2020.

In this technical note, we primarily demonstrate the computation of confidence limits for a novel measure of average lifespan shortened (ALSS). We identified women who had died from cervical and ovarian cancer between 2000 and 2020 from the Alberta cancer registry. Years of life lost (YLL) was calculated using the national life tables of Canada.

Health-Related and Psychosocial Factors Associated with Prostate Cancer Stage at Diagnosis among Males Participating in Alberta's Tomorrow Project.

Prostate cancer (PCa) stage at diagnosis is an important predictor of cancer prognosis. In Canada, over one-quarter of males are diagnosed with advanced-stage PCa. Studies have identified several factors associated with PCa stage at diagnosis; however, evidence from Canada is limited.

Development and External Validation of Partial Proportional Odds Risk Prediction Models for Cancer Stage at Diagnosis among Males and Females in Canada.

Risk prediction models for cancer stage at diagnosis may identify individuals at higher risk of late-stage cancer diagnoses. Partial proportional odds risk prediction models for cancer stage at diagnosis for males and females were developed using data from Alberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP). Prediction models were validated on the British Columbia Generations Project (BCGP) cohort using discrimination and calibration measures.

Long-term Mortality in Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer During Pregnancy or Postpartum.

Importance: Outcomes among patients with pregnancy-associated cancers (diagnosed during pregnancy or 1-year postpartum) other than breast cancer have received relatively little research attention. High-quality data from additional cancer sites are needed to inform the care of this unique group of patients.

Objective: To assess mortality and survival in premenopausal women with pregnancy-associated cancers, with a particular focus on cancers other than those of the breast.

Average lifespan shortened due to cancer in selected countries of North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, 2006 and 2016.

Purpose: We applied a novel measure of average lifespan shortened (ALSS) to examine changes in lifespan among patients who died of cancer over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2016 in 20 selected high-income countries from North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Methods: We retrieved cancer deaths in each country from the World Health Organization mortality database. We calculated ALSS as a ratio of years of life lost to the expected lifespan among patients who died from cancer.

Trends in the Incidence of Cancer Among Adolescent and Young Adults in Alberta, 1983-2017: A Population-Based Study Using Cancer Registry Data.

To describe the cancer incidence burden and trends among adolescent and young adults (AYAs) in Alberta, Canada over a 35-year period. We obtained data from the Alberta Cancer Registry on all first primary cancers, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, diagnosed at ages 15-39 years among residents in Alberta from 1983 to 2017. Cancers were classified by using Barr's AYA cancer classification system.

Health-Related and Behavioral Factors Associated With Lung Cancer Stage at Diagnosis: Observations From Alberta's Tomorrow Project.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canada, with stage at diagnosis among the top predictors of lung cancer survival. Identifying factors associated with stage at diagnosis can help reduce lung cancer morbidity and mortality. This study used data from a prospective cohort study of adults living in Alberta, Canada to examine factors associated with lung cancer stage at diagnosis.

Pre-diagnosis lifestyle, health history and psychosocial factors associated with stage at breast cancer diagnosis - Potential targets to shift stage earlier.

Background: Early detection of breast cancer improves survival, so identifying factors associated with stage at diagnosis may help formulate cancer prevention messages tailored for higher risk women. The goal of this study was to evaluate associations between multiple potential risk factors, including novel ones, measured before a breast cancer diagnosis and stage at diagnosis in women from Alberta, Canada.

Methods: Women enrolled in Alberta's Tomorrow Project completed health and lifestyle questionnaires on average 7 years before their breast cancer diagnosis.

A way to explore the existence of "immortals" in cancer registry data - An illustration using data from ICBP SURVMARK-2.

Background: Accurately recorded vital status of individuals is essential when estimating cancer patient survival. When deaths are ascertained by linkage with vital statistics registers, some may be missed, and such individuals will wrongly appear to be long-term survivors, and survival will be overestimated. Interval-specific relative survival that levels off above one indicates that the survival among the cancer patients is better than expected, which could be due to the presence of immortals.

Predictors of CRC Stage at Diagnosis among Male and Female Adults Participating in a Prospective Cohort Study: Findings from Alberta's Tomorrow Project.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Canada. CRC screening and other factors associated with early-stage disease can improve CRC treatment efficacy and survival. This study examined factors associated with CRC stage at diagnosis among male and female adults using data from a large prospective cohort study in Alberta, Canada.

Average lifespan shortened due to breast cancer in Australia, 1990-2015.

Background: This short report aims to investigate changes in lifespan of Australian women with breast cancer using the novel average lifespan shortened (ALSS) measure METHODS: We obtained the mortality data of Australian women with breast cancer from the World Health Organization mortality database for the 1990-2015 period. We calculated the age-standardized rate (ASR) according to the World Standard Population. We estimated the ALSS as a ratio of years of life lost in relation to the expected lifespan to examine changes in lifespan of Australian women with breast cancer over the study period.

Incidence of Pregnancy-Associated Cancer in Two Canadian Provinces: A Population-Based Study.

Pregnancy-associated cancer-that is diagnosed in pregnancy or within 365 days after delivery-is increasingly common as cancer therapy evolves and survivorship increases. This study assessed the incidence and temporal trends of pregnancy-associated cancer in Alberta and Ontario-together accounting for 50% of Canada's entire population. Linked data from the two provincial cancer registries and health administrative data were used to ascertain new diagnoses of cancer, livebirths, stillbirths and induced abortions among women aged 18-50 years, from 2003 to 2015.

Hospital-based acute care in the last 30 days of life among patients with chronic disease that received early, late or no specialist palliative care: a retrospective cohort study of eight chronic disease groups.

Objective: For eight chronic diseases, evaluate the association of specialist palliative care (PC) exposure and timing with hospital-based acute care in the last 30 days of life.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using administrative data.

Setting: Alberta, Canada between 2007 and 2016.

Average Lifespan Shortened due to Stroke in Canada: A Nationwide Descriptive Study From 1990 to 2015.

Background And Purpose: There are challenges in comparability when using existing life lost measures to examine long-term trends in premature mortality. To address this important issue, we have developed a novel measure termed average lifespan shortened (ALSS). In the present study, we used the ALSS measure to describe temporal changes in premature mortality due to stroke in the Canadian population from 1990 to 2015.

A comparative analysis: international variation in PET-CT service provision in oncology-an International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership study.

Objective: To explore differences in position emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) service provision internationally to further understand the impact variation may have upon cancer services. To identify areas of further exploration for researchers and policymakers to optimize PET-CT services and improve the quality of cancer services.

Design: Comparative analysis using data based on pre-defined PET-CT service metrics from PET-CT stakeholders across seven countries.