BY JANET GIBSON  
Thinking of going to the beach over your lunch break? How about driving to the take-out for a quick hit of junk food? Well, think again.
Ontario has declared war on cancer, the disease that will affect 40 per cent more people by 2017. In 2007, 172 people were diagnosed with cancer every day. By 2017, that number will go up to 228.
Cancer Care Ontario has unveiled a battle plan to reduce the numbers.
Because the agency believes 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented through healthy eating and active living, one of its goals is all about prevention and screening.
"I don't think enough is being done on the prevention side," CEO Terry Sullivan told Northern Life in an exclusive interview. "Many family doctors think they're doing a good job but they don't do routine audits of their own charts."
Cancer Care Ontario wants to provide doctors with information about their own patients, as well as reminders to the patients. For instance, a patient would be reminded to get a mammogram or colonoscopy.
Sullivan said the province has a long way to go to improving residents' diets and exercise plans. For example, he said, look at the ingredients of Girl Guide cookies.
Mandatory nutrition labelling on prepackaged foods has had a positive effect on shopping habits, Sullivan said, but people need to know how much sugar and salt is in exotic foods.
Ontario has done a good job in its war on smoking, he said. In fact, Ontario's smoke-free strategy has been so successful, Cancer Care Ontario is going to develop a similar policy for nutrition and lifestyle.
Consider 10 of the targets outlined in Report on Cancer 2020, written by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario division of the Canadian Cancer Society.
By 2020:
- Only two per cent of teenagers and five per cent of adults
smoke.
- Less than one per cent of residents are exposed to
second-hand smoke in their homes and vehicles.
- Nine of 10 residents consume five or more servings of
vegetables and fruit daily.
- Nine of 10 residents participate in moderate to vigorous
activity on most days of the week.
- Zero residents are obese.
- Nine of 10 women aged 50 to 69 get a mammogram.
- 95 per cent of women who are sexually active get a Pap smear.
- Nine of 10 residents get screened for colorectal cancer.
- Just nine per cent of residents are out in the sun without
sun block between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Just five per cent of young adults use tanning equipment.
