Sudbury – The Northeast Cancer Centre (NECC), together with Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) is making it easier for men and women to reduce their cancer risk with a new
online tool called My CancerIQ.
In less than 10 minutes, My CancerIQ users can calculate their personalized risk of developing breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers through a series of interactive questionnaires. Based on the results, My CancerIQ helps Ontarians reduce their cancer risk by providing personalized recommendations and access to additional trusted resources.
“My CancerIQ is an important part of the government’s Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, “ says Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “ I encourage Ontarians to complete the My CancerIQ assessments and discuss their risk reports and action plans with their healthcare providers.”
My CancerIQ personalized risk reports and guides can be saved, printed and emailed. These results can be discussed with a healthcare provider. My CancerIQ can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet or desktop at MyCancerIQ.ca.
“My CancerIQ is designed to support a conversation between health care providers and their patients about cancer prevention, ”says Dr. Amanda Hey, the NECC’s Regional Primary Care Lead. “With patients completing their own My CancerIQ risk assessment and bringing this to a clinic visit, we can spend more time discussing a personalized cancer prevention, screening and health behavior plan.”
DID YOU KNOW?
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? There are a number of other modifiable and non-modifiable factors that My CancerIQ identifies, 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; and
· Women who consume alcohol are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.
Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) – an Ontario government agency – 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. Known for its innovation and results-driven approaches, CCO leads multi-year system planning, contracts for services with hospitals and providers, develops and deploys information systems, establishes guidelines and standards and tracks performance targets to ensure system-wide improvements in cancer and chronic kidney disease care.
The Northeast Cancer Centre (NECC) is part of Health Sciences North/Horizon Santé-Nord (HSN). Located in Greater Sudbury, the NECC is the adult and pediatric cancer treatment referral centre for northeastern Ontario. It provides chemotherapy and radiation therapy in Greater Sudbury and at various satellite clinics throughout northeastern Ontario. It also provides a range of other cancer care services, including dental oncology, cancer screening and supportive care.