The first ever Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control  is more than a decade old.  One in two Canadians will experience cancer in their lifetime and Canada needs an updated, bold vision to drive advancements that will result in world-class cancer care for all.

More than a decade ago, over 700 Canadians developed the Strategy and set out an ambitious 30-year plan to improve the cancer experience for all Canadians. To move the plan into action, the federal government created the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to oversee the implementation of the Strategy in collaboration with a vast network of more than 4,000 partners, including leaders of provincial cancer agencies, patients with cancer and their families as well as the front-line nurses and doctors who deliver high-quality care every day.

While considerable progress has been made, Canada faces new challenges – an aging population, increasing health care costs and inequities in care continue to affect the health outcomes of some Canadians. Advances in medicine and technology offer new hope to cancer patients, but they are often expensive. A refreshed Strategy must tackle these difficult challenges and build on our shared successes.

 As the steward of Canada’s first strategy for cancer control, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has been asked by the Federal Minister of Health to engage Canada in refreshing the strategy to tackle the most urgent challenges that will impact patients with cancer.  Now, more than ever, we need to hear from all of Canada’s diverse voices.

Share your voice today

You can help shape the future of cancer control in Canada.

Check back in October to participate in the choice book: an online survey that lets you to identify the areas for action that are most important to you and assess trade-offs to determine which issues should be prioritized over others to achieve the greatest benefit for all Canadians.

By contributing to this important work, you will help us reach our shared goal of a future in which fewer Canadians develop cancer, fewer die from cancer, and those affected by cancer have a better quality of life.

FAQs

Why was the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (the Strategy) created?

The Strategy was developed to create efficiencies across provincial and territorial health systems struggling to manage a complex disease with more than 200 types, many risk factors, and continually advancing diagnostic technologies and treatments.

Why does Canada need a cancer control strategy?

A national cancer control strategy serves as an important pan-Canadian guide and organizing framework to tackle difficult-to-solve challenges that require new solutions and to address the needs and challenges of diverse populations spread across Canada’s different provinces and territories.

Who was involved in the creation of the Strategy?

The Strategy was developed by over 700 Canadians – health professionals, researchers, academics, health system leaders and patient advocates.

When was the Strategy created?

Work began on the Strategy in the late 1990s and it launched in 2006.

What was the goal of the Strategy?

The Strategy has three ambitious goals in which fewer develop cancer, fewer die of cancer and those living with cancer have a better quality of life.

What was included/considered in the Strategy?

All aspects of cancer control were included: prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, palliative and end-of-life care, and the use of data and research to drive improvements.

Why does Canada’s Strategy need to be modernized?

Canadians have new and emerging challenges with an aging population increasing demands on health services, increasing health care costs and inequities for underserved and underrepresented populations. Advances in medicine and technology affect every aspect of cancer care and while they offer new hope to cancer patients, they are often expensive. We want to build on our accomplishments, reflect on existing gaps and make necessary adjustments to ensure that all Canadians can benefit equally from prevention and cancer care over the course of the next decade.

Why is this happening now?

The Strategy was launched almost 12 years ago. As such, the Minister of Health called for modernizing the Strategy so that it remains adaptive to and reflective of changes in technology and innovation, population demographics, the economy and the political climate.

Why is the Partnership leading the Strategy modernization?

The Partnership has been asked by the Federal Government to coordinate the development of a modernized Strategy (The Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control: A Cancer Plan for Canada) by supporting open consultations, both in-person and online, from coast-to-coast-to-coast. The Partnership is the steward of the original national cancer strategy, drafted in 2006, which is undergoing this consultation and modernization activity.