New statistics that say nearly one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime didn't come as a surprise to Central Plains Cancer Services.

CPCS executive director Sharilyn Knox says they've already been operating with the expectation of increased demand on services after Cancer Care Manitoba said in the fall of 2016 there would be a 50 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses in the province over the next 10 years.

"What that means to us is there is going to be that many more people who will require services like our transportation services," Knox explains. "So we need to make sure we still have funding and volunteers to keep that program going very strong."

Other new statistics released by the Canadian Cancer Society say 206,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. More than half of new patients will be diagnosed with lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. And, one major positive Knox points too, the five-year survival rate for cancer has increased from 25% in the 1940s to 60% today.

"I think that's what we have to focus on, is the positive part," Knox adds. "That just shows the advances that we have in what we're doing in cancer research and cancer treatments throughout our province and our country."