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Cancer Prevention

 

Further information on cancer prevention can be obtained on the Cancer Care Ontario Website.

More on Cancer 2020.

Position:
Given that treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer have only limited impact on reducing incidence and burden of the disease, prevention and  early detection are critical strategies to reducing their associated morbidity and mortality. Governments at all levels and research institutions must continually optimize these strategies by implementing  reliable screening protocols, improving awareness and acting where possible to minimize risk factors.  

Active Resolutions:

Closed Resolutions:

 Resolution  Recent Developments

#A07-9, Cancer Care Ontario Support for Boards of Health

alPHa urges Cancer Care Ontario to develop the following:

a clear process whereby boards of health may obtain timely data for areas smaller than the health unit level
mechanisms and/or workshops to train public health epidemiologists on cancer analysis techniques
a forum by which boards of health and CCO can share findings and data quality issues;

 

December 12, 2007
alPHa has written to the President and CEO of Cancer Care Ontario to introduce this Resolution. Please click here to read.

 #A07-7, Request for Public Funding for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

alPHa requests the Government of Ontario to include HPV vaccine as a publicly funded immunization for females between the ages of nine and 26 years

August 3, 2007
The provincial government has announced a publicly-funded programme for voluntary immunization of grade 8 girls against the human Papillomavirus, a known cause of genital warts and cervical cancer.
Please click here for details of the programme.
Please click here for alPHa's press release.

A06-3, Health-Based Regulation of the Management and Use of Artificial Tanning Equipment 

alPHa urges the Government of Ontario to pass and promote legislation governing the use and management of artificial tanning equipment based on  the World Health Organization report, Artificial Tanning Sunbeds - Risks and Guidance.

October 27, 2006
alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached. 
 Please click here to read

October 13, 2006
The Provincial Cancer Prevention and Screening Council's Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario has been released. It is a comprehensive document that sets measurable objectives for many aspects of cancer prevention and control, including research, healthy lifestyles, and early detection.  Among its recommendations, it urges that the provincial government develop legislation to restrict the use of artificial tanning equipment by those under the age of 18.
Please click here for the report.

September 19, 2006

alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing Resolution A06-3. Please click here to read.

 #A03-3, Helicobacter Pylori and Gastric Cancer Prevention 

alPHa urges the Canadian Institute of Health Research and Ontario Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation to fund a demonstration project to evaluate the merits of a high-risk H. pylori screening and treatment program.

October 27, 2006
alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached. 
 
Please click here to read

March 25, 2004
A telephone meeting was held with Dr. Terry Sullivan and Dr. Verna Mai of Cancer Care Ontario. Dr. Sullivan committed to take a lead on this resolution. He agreed to convene a workshop to determine a potential study design for a prevalence and treatment study. His initial thoughts were to have two health units with high risk populations pilot a prevalence study. This would hopefully be in conjunction with primary care providers and as part of a patient's annual check-up.  Dr. Sullivan will ask alPHa for support and keep the Association informed of any material developments.

January 5, 2004
Letter written to Dr. Terry Sullivan, Provincial Vice President of Research and Cancer Control at Cancer Care Ontario, requesting advice on identifying researchers who might apply for CIHR funding to evaluate the effectiveness of h. pylori screening in gastric cancer prevention.
Click here to read the letter. 

October 20, 2003
Received response from Dr. Jean François St. Denis of CIHR, summarizing the application requirements that precede CIHR funding. What this means is that further advocacy on h. pylori screening should be directed at the research community at large to design the demonstration project and apply to CIHR for the funding to implement it.
Click here to read the response.

September 8th, 2003
Letters sent by alPHa staff to
CIHR President Alan Bernstein and Ontario Minister of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation Jim Flaherty for their consideration of and action on the h. pylori Resolution.

 #A02-4, Mandatory Cervical Screening Test Reporting 


alPHa urges the Government of Ontario to amend the HPPA and its regulations such that laboratory operators and colposcopists are required to file reports on cervical screening to Cancer Care Ontario.  In addition, the Government must investigate mandatory reporting of other non-communicable diseases.


October 27, 2006
alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached. 
 Please click here to read

 May 1, 2006
Cancer Care Ontario's 2006
Cancer System Quality Index has been published, which uses 25 indicators to measure cancer care system performance. The following is an excerpt from the Cervical Cancer Screening section:

Data Sources

  • Cytobase is an Ontario Pap test registry that captures data from participating laboratories (MDS, Gamma Dynacare, Canadian Medical Laboratories, Medical Laboratories of Windsor), and about 85% of all Ontario Pap test screening.
  • Statistics Canada, Annual Demographic Statistics 2004 (population statistics)
  • Canadian Community Health Survey (to correct for hysterectomies)

May 5, 2005
Letter sent to Minister of Health and Long Term Care re-introducing resolution A02-4, on mandatory cervical screening test results reporting.
Please click here to read.

February 7, 2003
Received a response from Geoff Kettel at the Public Health Branch indicating that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) is aware of Manitoba's prescribed registry of cervical cancer screening results, and that the MOHLTC will continue to work with Cancer Care Ontario to build on the Ontario Cervical Screening Program. This will include a review of the legislative barriers to information access and the use and disclosure of data.

CLOSED RESOLUTIONS

 Resolution  Recent Developments
 

 #A01-11, Colorectal Cancer Screening

alPHa urges the Government of Ontario to approve and fund Cancer Care Ontario’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Project so that the project can be implemented and evaluated as soon as possible and by so doing, lay the groundwork for the establishment of a future organized Ontario colorectal cancer screening program.

 

May 4 2007
The MOHLTC has provided a breakdown of the distribution of $11M among LHINs for 2007-08 colorectal screening programs.

April 27 2007
alPHa Board of Directors closes Resolution A01-11

April 24 2007
alPHa Advocacy Committee recommends closure of Resolution

January 23 2007
The Ontario Government has announced investments of $193.5 million over the next five years to implement and expand a program to increase access to colorectal cancer screening for Ontarians aged 50 years or older. Please click here to read the government news release

October 27, 2006
alPHa has sent a letter to CCO CEO Dr. Terry Sullivan following the release of the Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario, with a request to discuss how alPHa and CCO can work together to achieve its goals and objectives. Each of alPHa’s active cancer-related Resolutions was attached. 
 
Please click here to read

October 13, 2006
The Provincial Cancer Prevention and Screening Council's Report on Cancer 2020: A Call for Renewed Action on Cancer Prevention and Detection in Ontario has been released. It is a comprehensive document that sets measurable objectives for many aspects of cancer prevention and control, including research, healthy lifestyles, and early detection.  Among its recommendations, it urges that the MOHLTC fund a provincial population-based colorectal cancer screening program.
Please click here for the report.

May 1, 2006
Cancer Care Ontario's 2006
Cancer System Quality Index has been published, which uses 25 indicators to measure cancer care system performance. The following is an excerpt from the Colorectal Cancer Screening section:

 What is being done?

  • A Cancer Care Ontario panel recommended in 1999 that Ontario introduce an organized FOBT-based colorectal cancer screening program for average risk people aged 50 to 75 years.11
  • The final report of an Ontario pilot project that compared different methods to promote participation in FOBT screening has been completed and submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This pilot evaluated several aspects related to the recruitment and participation in a colorectal cancer screening program.
    The report details recommendations to establish a population-based colorectal cancer screening program that would include: a mass media awareness campaign for primary care providers and Ontarians aged 50-74; mailing invitations and FOBT test kits to the target population; and organized recall, after two years, to those who tested negative.
  • CCO is working with the government and stakeholders on a plan to introduce a colorectal cancer screening program in Ontario.

 

April 2005

Cancer Care's Colorectal Screening Pilot Project Report is now available. Click here to read.

 

February 2005

Cancer Care Ontario's pilot project is in the final stages of completion with a report due late spring/early summer. CCO will push forward with an organized screening program given the UK's announcement it will have one starting in 2006.

June 19, 2003
Minister of Health and Long Term Care Tony Clement
announced a $2.8M investment in the Cancer Care Ontario pilot program for colorectal cancer screening, the first of its kind in Canada.

March 3, 2003
Cancer Care Ontario releases its report, PILOT PROJECT COMPARING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT PROGRAM RECRUITMENT FOR COLORECTAL SCREENING BY FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TESTING IN ONTARIO. To view report click
here.

February 27, 2003
Letter drafted by alPHa to Terry Sullivan at Cancer Care Ontario in support of moving the colorectal cancer screening pilot project forward.  The letter is in response to the Chief MOH's statement to CCO's Verna Mai that he is not aware of public health's support for colorectal cancer screening and the pilot project.  Copies of the resolution, the letter to the Ministry and the reply from the Chief MOH were included to reinforce our members' stated support of this project. To read the letter, please follow this
link.

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