Quebec prostate cancer mortality dropped in 1996.

Objective: To monitor incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer in the province of Quebec.

Design: Population-based incidence and mortality trends.

Setting: Entire population of the province of Quebec between 1979 and 1996.

Main outcome measures: Age-standardized incidence rates and mortality for prostate cancer.

Results: Prostate cancer mortality increased regularly until 1989, were stable between 1989 and 1995 and dropped in 1996 by 15%. Incidence rates increased steadily from 1989 until 1993 by an average of 9% per year.

Conclusion: The rise in incidence is due to the increasing use of prostate specific antigen as a screening test for prostate cancer. The reasons for the reduction in prostate cancer mortality are unknown but are likely to reflect improved treatment modalities.