Incidence of cancer in Sydney and Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia 1979-1997

The primary purpose of this study was to assess whether Sydney, Industrial Cape Breton County excluding Sydney (ICBxS) and Cape Breton County (CBCo) r esidents were at increased risk for cancer compared to Nova Scotia (NS) res idents over five-year periods during 1979 through 1997. Gender-stratified, age-standardized cancer incidence rates were calculated following the direc t method. All-cause rates were higher for female and male residents of Sydn ey, ICBxS and CBCo compared to NS based upon both municipality and postal c ode methods of residence classification. A sensitivity analysis of resident ial coding yielded a high degree of consistency for all geographies except Sydney, limiting comparisons of Sydney rates with other local geographies e xcept where consistencies were observed. The results of this ecological stu dy support the need for further analysis of factors contributing to the inc reased risk for cancer in CBCo.