According to the Estonian Cancer Registrer, 8779 cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2017, of which 4425 were among men and 4354 among women. Malignant neoplasms of skin (other than melanoma), malignant neoplasm of prostate and colon and colorectal and lung were the most common (1326, 1113, 1031 and 827 cases respectively).
Malignant neoplasm of prostate accounted for the largest share among men, followed by malignant neoplasm of lung and skin (other than melanoma). Among women, malignant neoplasms of skin (other than melanoma), breast and colon and colorectal are the most frequent.
Over 60% of malignant neoplasms' new cases were diagnosed among people who were 65 years and older. In 2017, 36 malignant neoplasms were diagnosed among children aged 0–14 years.
Statistics on malignant neoplasms diagnosed in 2017, based on data from the Estonian Cancer Register, were added to the Health Statistics and Health Research Database. Data was updated for years 2000–2016. New data from 1968 to 1999 were also added. The incidence of cancer has more than doubled in 50 years.