As our population expanded to over 7 billion last year, major health concerns are heading our way – and some already present. We hear a lot about heart disease and cancer as the leading concerns around the world and particularly in Canada, but we now know that cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in Canada. Every hour of every day, 8 individuals die from cancer and roughly 20 others are diagnosed with some form of cancer. It is expected that this year alone roughly 178 000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed, with an expected 75 000 cancer deaths in Canada².

Cancer is an important health concern to address, not only because it is the number one killer in Canada but because it affects all types of individuals no matter what race, gender, or age. It is not only important to educate individuals on what the most common types of cancers are but also on how being of different ethnic backgrounds and coming from different nations can alter the risk.

 So why does this matter to us?

Because almost half of all cancers can be prevented. That’s right! Prevented through healthy living based on each and every choice we make for ourselves and for those around us.

First, it is important to understand how cancer affects communities in Canada. The four most common cancers in Canada continue to be lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers¹. The rates of each type of cancer vary based on location, environment, and lifestyle. We are each unique human beings that may carry a genetic profile for an increased risk for cancer; however, through the choices we make within our lifestyle and behaviours we can definitely go a long way in altering the way cancer affects us.

 Cancer is not explicitly discussed in the Tamil community, but having this conversation can go a long way in terms of prevention and education. What research is beginning to recognize is that aside from genetic variation, each of us is prone to different environmental influences that can either increase or decrease our risk for cancer.

 What are the important risk factors?

• Smoking and Tobacco: The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more you increase your chance of developing lung cancer. Smoking in Canada is responsible for 30% of cancer deaths – specifically 85% of lung cancer cases². Another important aspect is second-hand smoke, which affects many of us as we breathe in smoke in public places, homes, cars, and at work. No amount of second-hand smoke is safe so it is important to maintain a non-smoking environment inside and outside of the home.
• Exercise: Maintaining a healthy body weight is imperative to preventing the onset of health conditions like cancer. Regular physical activity may be difficult to do daily; however, performing small everyday movements to work your muscles can begin the process. Stretching throughout the day, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, starting a lunchtime walk or run, and choosing active after work activities are initiatives to think about.
• Nutrition: South Asian cuisine is very different from western style dishes as it contains an assortment of flavours and spices. Sticking to a diet full of veggies, fruit, fibre, and little fat or sugar can help maintain a healthy body weight. Avoiding red meat or processed meat can also help to reduce the risk for cancer. Eating on time and at appropriate times of the day (avoiding late night meals) can prevent the build-up of fat in the adipose tissue of our bodies. Even as we have late night cultural events to attend almost weekly, managing a strict diet can help in the long run. South Asian cuisine does utilize spices that are great for our immune system; however, it is key to limit the use of fatty oils and to limit the consumption of carb-based products. Instead of eliminating the foods you love, you can take on alternative choices such as switching to whole grains, veggies and fruits, and low-fat products.
• Alcohol: It may be surprising to find out that alcohol can increase your risk of developing cancer. Drinking any type of alcohol – liquor, beer, wine, spirits – can increase cancer risk dramatically if not maintained with moderation. If you choose to drink alcohol, your risk can be reduced by keeping it to less than 1 drink a day for women and less than 2 drinks a day for men². Moreover, tobacco and alcohol together are more detrimental for your body than either one on its own.
• Vitamin D: This specific vitamin maintains our healthy bones and muscles and there is evidence that it may help to reduce risk for certain cancers like colorectal or breast cancer. Vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure, diet, and vitamin supplements. Your age, diet, skin colour, location, and amount of sunlight exposure can affect your risk. South Asians in Canada are at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because of having a darker complexion and because the northern latitude of Canada during the fall and winter months makes it more difficult to ensure sunlight exposure. To overcome this risk, you can consume vitamin D rich foods or attain supplements guided by your doctor.
• Environment: Further exposures such as air pollution, pesticides, radiation, and occupational exposures can also affect your risk for cancer. As our technology and population size grow, we need to examine environmental elements that start to surface as risks for cancer. Be aware of your home and work environment as you should know about the pollutants and chemicals used within your household and workplace. You always have the right to know and this in return will help you make informed decisions about health for yourself and for your family.

Risk factors for cancer are continuously researched and examined to reduce individual and community risks. This, along with the notion that people who migrate from one country to another eventually adopt the new country’s rate of cancer risk, is what we should embrace. In other words, this means that as families migrate from South Asia, where there were lower cancer rates and of different types, to the nation of Canada, the migrated families and newer generations become at risk for the higher cancer rates and types more common in Canada. This new realm of risk changing with migration is definitely impactful in research and in the community.

How do I reduce my risk for cancer?

Understanding the risk factors described and utilizing them to maintain a healthy lifestyle will definitely reduce your risk for cancer. Another important tool to use is our very own health care system. Ask your doctor about important screening tests for different types of cancers if you feel you are at risk or have a family history of a specific type of cancer. Improving your lifestyle will not only help to reduce your risk for cancer but also that of other growing chronic conditions like heart disease and obesity. The Tamil community tends to believe that cancer is a burden that should not be discussed; however, if we start preventing it now using the knowledge and tools we have, then we will be able to benefit the generations to come.

We now not only need to understand the possibility of risk but we also need to continue to create awareness to prevent cancer through the lifestyle and behavioural choices we make. Our genetic makeup is definitely not the only risk we have to worry about. So until research figures out each potential risk for cancer, we need to maintain our individual health by beginning to understand our genetic makeup, ethnic group, and the risk factors in Canada.

If you would like further information on specific cancer rates and risk factors in Canada, please go to http://www.cancer.ca/.

Jeavana Sritharan

References

1)       Adami, H., Hunter, D., Trichopoulos, D. (2008). Textbook of Cancer Epidemiology. New York, USA; Oxford
     University Press.

2)       Canadian Cancer Society. (2011). Canadian cancer statistics 2011. Retrieved on October 25, 2011 from website:
     http://www.cancer.ca/Canada wide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics.aspx?sc_lang=en

3)       World Health Organization. (2004). Mortality and health status: causes by death. Department of Measurement and
     Health Information. Retrieved on November 20, 2010 from website: http://www.who.int/research/en/