VANCOUVER -- The focus has always been on cancer treatment, now a leading researcher will be recruited to look at how cancers can be prevented. This is a joint effort mainly between the province and the Canadian Cancer Society. And it couldn't come soon enough. Right now someone in Canada dies from cancer every seven minutes. In BC, alone it's estimated there will be 200-thousand new cancer cases this year with nearly 9-thousand deaths. And those numbers will only rise as we age.
Now the BC government is putting up 4 million dollars, nearly half of the total funding, to bring an international expert to UBC to find out how we can avoid ever getting cancer the first place.
Premier Gordon Campbell says, "we recognize 50% of all cancers are preventable. Somehow we have to get into our minds, into what each of us do in our lives."
"There is growing interest in terms of occupational and environmental carcinogens, people want more information and we know more research needs to be done. We know more action needs to be taken and we know we can't do it alone," says Barbara Kaminsky.
And many are now realizing our healthcare system isn't sustainable as it is.
Dr. Gavin Stuart, Dean of Medicine at UBC, says, "we cannot continue to treat disease without seeking to promote health and prevent the onset of disease."
There's clearly more to cancer prevention than just diet and exercise. This new research chair will be looking at everything from environmental carcinogens to the role public policy plays in promoting healthier lifestyles.
Dr. Chris Lovoto, Faculty of Medicine at UBC comments, "we're trying to figure out what is the best mix of programs and policies that will reduce cancer."
Researchers here admit, many people are upset more isn't being done about known carcinogens, but they say a lot of study results are only in animals and haven't been generalized in human beings, so much more work needs to be done. As for this groundbreaking cancer prevention research position, it hasn't yet been filled, but it's expected an expert will be found within the year.
Wednesday April 26, 2006
