THUNDER BAY -- Knowing is half the battle.
In cancer’s case, it could save a life.
This week Cancer Care Ontario launched a new online tool, My CancerIQ.ca, a survey to let people learn their risk factors for breast, colorectal, lung and cervical factors.
Cathy Paroschy-Harris, the director of prevention and screening services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, said the new website is especially handy in Northern Ontario, where cancer rates are often well above the provincial average.
Early detection is the best way to prevent the disease from becoming deadly, and knowing if you’re more susceptible to particular types of cancer allows one to make lifestyle changes to help reduce the risk, she said.
And it’s simple to do.
“It’s an opportunity for individuals across Ontario to understand their risk of cancer and understand what are the risk factors involved with various cancers,” she said.
“It’s pretty important to people in Northwestern Ontario, because Northwestern Ontario has one of the highest cancer rates. And many of the cancers, if you detect the cancer early enough it can be treated and the survival rate is much greater.”
Paroschy-Harris estimated it takes about five to 10 minutes to complete each of the four surveys, with questions that ask about one’s family history with the disease, eating and exercise habits, age and weight.
“It’s a pretty easy too to use,” she said.
Many people aren’t aware they could be making themselves more susceptible to various cancers. For example, studies show people who eat more red meat are at a higher risk to develop colorectal cancer, while women who smoke are more likely to develop cervical cancer and those who drink alcohol have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The tool is not a diagnosis, Paroschy-Harris said.
“You can’t see inside your body to find out how your choices are affecting your health,” she said. “With My CancerIQ, in less than 10 minutes you can better understand your cancer risk factors and start making lifestyle changes to avoid it.”
