Canadian Cancer Society encourages Ontarians to join the Ontario Health Study
to fight back against cancer

TORONTO, Sept. 29 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cancer Society encourages Ontarians to join the Ontario Health Study and help lead to a better understanding of the various factors that cause cancer and other diseases.

Launched today, the Ontario Health Study is a large-scale, population-based study that will follow the lives of eligible Ontarians to determine how environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors affect the risk of developing cancer and other diseases.

"As one of the leading causes of death in Ontario, cancer touches everyone," says Martin Kabat, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. "We fully support the Ontario Health Study because this research will provide invaluable information that will lead to better prevention strategies and treatments for diseases such as cancer."

An estimated 65,100 Ontarians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and 28,200 will die of the disease.

As Ontario's population grows and ages, the number of new cancer cases and deaths are expected to rise, negatively affecting families and quality of life and placing an increasing burden on the province's health care system.

"The increasing cancer burden on our society illustrates why we need to enhance prevention, early detection and treatments," says Kabat. "The findings of the Ontario Health Study will help us do that now and for generations to come."

Ontarians aged 18 and older are invited to participate in the study. To enroll, visit www.ontariohealthstudy.ca.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

For further information:

Media contact: Christine Koserski, Public Affairs, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division: [phone] or [email protected]