Health reports show that cancer has become a crisis in Canada. It has become the number #1 cause of death in the country. Even though we have seen huge medical advancements focused on cancer management and research, the growing trend is still quite concerning. It creates socio-economical disadvantages, especially for minority groups.
How Big is Cancer A Problem in Canada?
There is crucial evidence that indeed cancer is the number #1 killer in Canada. According to Canadian Cancer Statistics, a publication that offers an in-depth and current update on cancer impact in Canada, there is a huge surge in the rate of infection. Estimates show that about 2 in 5 people with have cancer in their lifetime in Canada, and 1 out of 4 will die from it. The reports show that about 230 000 people were diagnosed, where 84,600 succumbed to it. It’s clear that cancer is the top cause of death in these countries.
Cancer affects males, females, and young and older generations differently. Also, different regions report varying figures in the rates of diagnosis. Here is a brief breakdown:
Males are more affected by cancer in Canada than females in terms of diagnosis.
Close to 90% of cancer cases are reported in Canadians over 50 years of age. However, the impact on the younger generation is even more devastating. It’s reported that more children under 15 years died of cancer in 2019 than in any other year.
The eastern part of Canada generally records more cancer-related cases than the west.
What are the biggest risk factors of cancer in Canada
There are many risk factors in Canada, majorly linked to lifestyle. Here are the leading causes:
Smoking
Smoking is rated as the top cause of preventable deaths globally. Statistics show that it kills about 5 million people every year. Smoking leads to various issues, such as lung, head and neck, upper gastrointestinal tract, and similar cancers.
Alcohol
There is a close relationship between cancer and chronic alcohol consumption. Smoking shows the same cancer development risks as alcohol, primarily associated with the aerodigestive tract and liver cancers.
Nutrition and physical activity
The food we eat and the life we lead contribute greatly to our health. Consumption of unhealthy foods and lack of physical exercise leads to an increase in cancer cases. High body mass index and obesity, and lack of enough physical activity, tied with consumption of fat, meat, and dairy products, raise the risk of cancer development.
Sexual behaviour and reproductive health
Women between 20 and 49 are at a higher risk of cervical cancer due to sexual behaviour and other factors. This remains the third most common cancer among young and middle-aged women. According to the statistics mentioned above, 10-30% of the population in Canada carries human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancers.
Environmental pollution
The impact of environmental pollution is visible everywhere. It’s a risk factor felt and affecting the whole world. Pollutants like air and water contaminants have been the highest causes of cancer for a long time.
No One is Doing Anything About It
Even with all these figures showing that cancer is a big problem in Canada, no one is doing anything about it. The number of deaths continues to increase by the day as more and more people get affected.
Here are some of the reasons why no one is doing anything about it:
Lack of evidence-based policies to address the root causes
We have seen some of the cancer root causes above, and statistical analysis of how diseases affect different people. Despite all these, there are no clear policies to guide these cases and commit to the continuing assessments of interventions.
Some organizations are trying to stimulate the creation of such policies, but so far, more needs to be done. A lot has been said over the years, but too little has been done to curb the risk and ensure everyone is at least safer.
For instance, smoking continues to be the leading cause. And yet tobacco and other similar products continue to swell on the market as an economic factor. Environmental pollution continues to grow daily, further degrading mother nature and creating an even bigger cancer black hole.
Less investigation of disparities in all healthcare aspects
There is a great need to investigate cancer disparities in all healthcare sections. This includes allocating resources for health care, actual receipt services, and improving the quality of services. So far, there doesn’t seem to be much action in such areas.
The government, healthcare institutions, and other stakeholders are reluctant – or it seems so, to implement specific strategies to resolve this issue once and for all. Cancer cases will keep growing unless something is done, causing more harm to the general population.
Lack of commitment from individuals to change or improve their lives
There is a huge concern that individuals need to do more to improve their lives. Canadians continue to smoke freely, eat risky foods and pollute the environment daily with much concern. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many to stay indoors, which closed doors to gyms and physical exercise areas, further contributing to the lack of enough physical activity.
Creating awareness about cancer, its causes, and its effects on society is crucial. So far, nothing much seems to be happening, causing more concern about the general health status of this great nation. It could be, perhaps, but people are still afraid to talk or hear about it. But that should not be the reason to keep quiet.
Lack of a conceptual framework to promote equity
A conceptual framework to promote equity could be one of the best ways to deal with cancer-related issues. It could include the research and application of research and application of different factors that promote the development of strategies/policies, cultural competencies, community partnerships, and patient-focused care.
So, we haven’t seen such strategies. That means no one has realized the importance of focusing on cancer as a major threat to the socio-economic welfare of Canadians yet. And hence, we will continue seeing a spike in cases and spending more on ineffective treatments.
Conclusion
Cancer does not only affect the person diagnosed. It touches the lives of the loved ones mandated as caregivers, affecting their socioeconomic well-being. It also touches the whole community where the input of key members could be impacted negatively.
The disease remains the number #1 cause of death in Canada and the whole world. Individually, there is nothing much you can do, but together, we can all create a healthy environment. If you understand these factors, it becomes easier to take measures that could take from a cancer path. It’s the responsibility of every Canadian to combat such diseases and live a healthy life. It’s time to do something about it.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
