Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Helping Ontarians Lower Their Risk of Developing Cancer
Ontario is making it easier to reduce cancer risk through a new online tool that helps pinpoint cancer risk and provides a personalized action plan to lower that risk.
My CancerIQ is a new online tool that allows Ontarians to find out their risk for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancer. Users can determine their risk of developing one of these four cancers by completing a series of interactive questionnaires in less than 10 minutes.
Based on the individual's responses, the website provides personalized recommendations to help reduce the risk of cancer and identifies factors that increase a person's risk such as:
- People who eat more red meat are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer
- Women who smoke are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer
- Workplace exposures may increase the risk of developing lung cancer
- Women who consume alcohol are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer
In addition to a personalized report, the website also has resources to help Ontarians better understand how their lifestyle choices might be putting them at risk for cancer and how to take action now to lessen their risk.
Creating an online cancer risk assessment tool that promotes screening and prevention is part of the government's Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care. It is also part of the government's four-part plan to build Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
Quick Facts:
- The government takes the privacy of personal health information seriously. People who use My CancerIQ may choose to save, email or print their results, but to protect privacy this data will not be stored by Cancer Care Ontario.
- In 2014, an estimated 73,800 Ontarians were diagnosed with cancer and 28,000 died from the disease.
- As many as half of all cancers in Ontario can be prevented by eliminating known risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of physical activity.
- My CancerIQ is a new online tool created specifically for Ontarians. It was developed using Ontario data, making it a unique tool for Ontarians to manage their cancer risk.
- Cancer Care Ontario is an Ontario government agency that drives quality and continuous improvement in disease prevention and screening, the delivery of care, and the patient experience for cancer and chronic kidney disease patients.
Additional Resources:
Quotes:
"Ontario ranks amongst the best in the world when it comes to surviving cancer. Saving lives by preventing and detecting cancer early is a shared responsibility between government and all Ontarians. Together with Cancer Care Ontario, we created My CancerIQ to help Ontarians be more proactive when it comes to staying healthy and preventing cancer. As part of our Patients First Action Plan for Health Care, we’re providing Ontarians with the information they need to live healthy. I encourage Ontarians to complete the online questionnaires and discuss their risk reports and their action plans with their health care providers."
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"You can’t see inside your body to find out how your choices are affecting your health. With My CancerIQ, you can better understand your cancer risk factors and start making lifestyle changes to avoid it."
— Dr. Linda Rabeneck, Vice-President, Prevention and Cancer Control at Cancer Care Ontario
Media Contacts:
David Jensen
Communications and Marketing Division
416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca
For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
(Toll-free in Ontario only)
1-866-532-3161
Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media.moh@ontario.ca
Shae Greenfield
Minister’s Office
416-325-5230
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