As I write this, the world is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. People are focused on disease prevention to a degree not seen in a century. The public understands the need for preventive measures and has taken extraordinary steps trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are seeing public health prevention working.…
I read with interest the latest Canadian Cancer Statistics: A 2020 special report on lung cancer. The report has new results from the ComPARe study showing the population attributable risk (PAR) for known risk factors for lung cancer in 2020. We see the impact of physical inactivity, residential radon and air pollution, which respectively account for 11%, 7% and 6% of lung cancer cases. Tobacco use, the most commonly known risk…
Did you know it takes an average of 17 years to move research evidence into practice? And sometimes, it doesn’t even make it into practice. One of the major findings from clinical and health services research is the failure to translate research into practice and policy. Further, the best evidence may not be contextually relevant to…
With the start of a new year, many Canadians are hauling out their gym bags and starting to act on a resolution to be more active in 2020. This is good news! Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and a cancer-free future. No matter what kind of physical activity you enjoy,…
Air pollution is a leading cause of disease and death worldwide. We see the short-term consequences of air pollution through health effects such as asthma attacks and shortness of breath, but the long-term effects of air pollution can have an even stronger impact on our health. As part of the ComPARe Study, I was responsible…
“It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.” – Danish proverb In fact, we (the researchers from the ComPARe study) did not predict what the future cancer burden would be. Instead, we projected what the future cancer burden could be, given the past trend of cancer incidence and the prevalence of risk factors.…
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada. It increases the risk of at least 16 different types of cancer, including lung cancer. The ComPARe study found that about 17.5% of cancer cases are due to smoking tobacco, making it the leading preventable cause of cancer. And it will continue…
When you think of causes of cancer, you might think of smoking tobacco, chemicals and genes. Infections are likely not one of the first causes to come to mind, yet some of the most important risk factors for certain cancers are infections. For example: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes nearly all cervical cancers and at least…
It’s been about 6 weeks since the Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC) took place in Ottawa, and we’re already feeling nostalgic about the event. CCRC is a meeting organized by the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA), a coalition of over 30 member organizations that support cancer research. The goal of the CCRA is to work…
Tweet We have the ComPARe study findings. Now how can we use them? The ComPARe study gives us vital information about how many cancer cases we can prevent. But understanding prevention is only one piece of the cancer control puzzle. To determine where and how to focus our cancer control and research efforts, we need…
Tweet Radon is an invisible, colourless and odourless gas that is found naturally in the earth’s crust. It’s diluted by the outdoor air, so we are only exposed to very small amounts of it when we spend time outside. But during the cold winter months when we tend to stay indoors, radon seeping in from…
Tweet Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of completing my practicum with the knowledge translation (KT) team of the Canadian Population Attributable Risk of Cancer (ComPARe) study. This team consists of individuals from both the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and Cancer Care Ontario (CCO). My practicum was unique in that I was co-supervised by…
As we reach the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s talk about a growing area of awareness – breast cancer prevention. Many risk factors that increase breast cancer risk – including personal or family history of breast cancer, BRCA gene mutations, certain genetic conditions and reproductive history – cannot be changed. But there are…
Upon joining the ComPARe Study, I knew I had been given the opportunity to be a part of something that could have a far-reaching impact on the health of Canadians. From day one, we were constantly reminded of who our research could ultimately benefit – all Canadians. Every scientific word we wrote and graphic we…
Have you used the ComPARe study results in your work? Are you interested in submitting a guest post to the ComPARe study blog? We’re interested in hearing from you! Potential areas of work include research, advocacy, programs, information, policy and patient education. Connect with the ComPARe study team to discuss your topic or see our blog submission guidelines for more information.
The first of its kind in Canada, the Canadian Population Attributable Risk of Cancer (ComPARe) study provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date estimates of the preventable burden of cancer in Canada. Released on May 8, the study, led by Drs Christine Friedenreich and Darren Brenner of Alberta Health Services, provides estimates of the number and percentage…
The Canadian Population Attributable Risk of Cancer (ComPARe) study estimates the number and percentage of cancer cases in Canada caused by modifiable lifestyle, environmental and infectious agent risk factors. The ComPARe study also estimates how changes to these risk factors through prevention could affect the number of cancer cases in the future.