Cancer of unknown primary statistics
Specific numbers for cancer of unknown primary are not reported separately but are included in the general category other ill-defined and unknown cancers. This broad category includes similar cancers that are grouped and reported together. As a result, the statistics provided do not necessarily reflect the incidence and mortality for cancer of unknown primary.
It can take several years to collect and confirm cancer data, so the number of new cancer cases and deaths from recent years may not be available for some time. The most recent data available are provided below.
Incidence and mortality
Incidence is the total number of new cases of cancer. Mortality is the number of deaths due to cancer.
The most recent incidence statistics for other ill-defined and unknown cancers are from 2016:
- 5,445 Canadians were diagnosed with other ill-defined and unknown cancers.
- 2,960 men were diagnosed with other ill-defined and unknown cancers.
- 2,485 women were diagnosed with other ill-defined and unknown cancers.
The most recent mortality statistics for other ill-defined and unknown cancers are from 2017:
- 3,637 Canadians died from other ill-defined and unknown cancers.
- 1,773 men died from other ill-defined and unknown cancers.
- 1,864 women died from other ill-defined and unknown cancers.
For more information about cancer statistics, go to the Canadian Cancer Statistics.
Your trusted source for accurate cancer information
With just $5 from readers like you, we can continue to provide the highest quality cancer information for over 100 types of cancer.
We’re here to ensure easy access to accurate cancer information for you and the millions of people who visit this website every year. But we can’t do it alone.
If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund reliable cancer information, compassionate support services and the most promising research. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.