Every year, millions of Canadians are affected by cancer, either
through personal struggle, or by supporting a family member,
friend or neighbour who suffers from this devastating disease.
The Government’s commitment [is] to keep Canadians and their
families healthy, to help doctors detect cancer sooner and give
health-care workers, support groups and survivors the help they
need to fight back. Prime Minister Stephen Harper - March 10,
2011 Every hour an average of 20 Canadians will be diagnosed
with cancer and eight will die from it. Cancer is now the
leading cause of death in Canada and an estimated 177,800 new
cases will be diagnosed in 2011. Many cancers can be prevented
or controlled through early detection, diet and physical
activity, reduction of smoking and use of alcohol, and other
healthy behaviours. Recognizing the growing burden of cancer,
the Government of Canada, with provincial and territorial
partners and over 700 cancer experts and survivors developed the
Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.