New Brunswick men face greatest cancer risk, study shows

A new report shows New Brunswick men have the highest per capita incidence of cancer in the country.

According to the latest figures from the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 2,000 males in the province will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Given the population, that's a higher incidence rate than any other province.

Women in New Brunswick have the second highest incidence, second only to Nova Scotia.

Dr. Eshwar Kumar says an aging population is one possible explanation for the high numbers.

But the head of Oncology at the Regional hospital in Saint John, also blames high smoking rates, unhealthy eating and not enough exercise.

Kumar says it's disheartening because many of the new cases are preventable.