Ten years after receiving their diagnosis, one in two people considered their health to be excellent or very good while about one-third considered it to be good, according to a study by Institut de la statistique du Québec (INSQ).
Over 45 per cent of those who received a cancer diagnosis in 2013-14 were still alive, according to Quebec Survey on Life 10 Years After a Cancer Diagnosis, released Thursday.
In a first of its kind survey in Quebec, INSQ said it aimed to paint a picture of the individuals’ physical and mental health, quality of life, and their use of health care and services.
“[The report] comes at a time when survival rates for most types of cancer are improving thanks to screening programs and therapeutic advances,” said Marc Sirois, chief statistician, INSQ.
About 91 per cent had access to a doctor, whether cancer-related or not, while 95 per cent received a cancer treatment for the initial or subsequent diagnosis. Nearly half of the people had one or more permanent after-effect such as removal of a body part (mastectomy, colostomy).
Sixty eight per cent did not experience anxiety or depressive symptoms in the month preceding the survey, despite any physical health problems they may have had.
Over half the people who were employed at the time of their initial cancer diagnosis or subsequent diagnosis.
The study was conducted in 2024 among 13,070 adults who received their first cancer diagnosis approximately 10 years ago.
