February 4 marks World Cancer Day, an occasion that brings greater awareness to one of the most serious health risks that faces virtually every person on the earth. According to a recent survey, however, these initiatives have also led to more people taking preventive action.
The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer reports that among Canadians between the ages of 50 and 74, 50 per cent have been screened for colon cancer, a noted increase when compared to a similar poll conducted in 2009, when 44 per cent of respondents said they were screened.
Leona Aglukkaq, federal minister of health, said the increase in Canadians getting screened indicates more people understand the risks associated with cancer and that they can help protect themselves with precautionary measures.
"Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada, but it is also highly treatable if detected early through screening," said Aglukkaq. "This trend towards improved colon cancer screening is therefore extremely encouraging, and exemplifies why our government funded the implementation of a national cancer strategy through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer."
Heather Bryant, vice president of cancer control for the CPAC, added that screening programs are in effect throughout the country, enabling friends, family and health care providers to better understand that the risks are real but that they can be prevented. She further noted that more people have been getting screened particularly in the past two years.
While a greater percentage of Canadians are taking preemptive actions, the same poll also found that a considerable number of respondents may be unclear about when they should be screened. For instance, the survey found that while 92 per cent of Canadians understood that cancer screening was a test that helps detect the presence of cancer, 53 per cent wrongly believed that screening should only happen after symptoms are detected. Men were the most likely to think this, at 58 per cent versus 49 per cent of women.
Symptoms of colon cancer may include persistent abdominal discomfort, unexplained or intended weight loss and regular changes in bowel habits.
Something that is well understood, however, is just how much of an impact cancer has had on Canadians. According to Canadian Cancer Statistics, just about everyone in the country has been impacted by cancer in some way and approximately one in four Canadians will die from cancer.
The cost of treating cancer illustrates just how prevalent the disease is. According to the Conference Board of Canada, over the next 30 years, 2.4 million employed Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer, costing the economy approximately $180 billion in direct health care costs and $543 billion in wage-based productivity.
However, perhaps as a result of increased awareness, fewer Canadians are dying from the condition than in previous years. The Conference Board of Canada reports that the mortality rate from cancer has steadily fallen each year since the early 1990s.
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