Calculate your cancer risk with My CancerIQ

Regional Cancer Care Northwest, together with Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) is making it easier for men and women to reduce their cancer risk with a new online tool called My CancerIQ.

In less than 10 minutes, My CancerIQ users can calculate their personalized risk of developing breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers through a series of interactive questionnaires. Based on the results, My CancerIQ helps Ontarians reduce their cancer risk by providing personalized recommendations and access to additional trusted resources.

“My CancerIQ is an important part of the government’s Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care. I encourage Ontarians to complete the My CancerIQ assessments and discuss their risk reports and action plans with their healthcare providers” says Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

With My CancerIQ, Ontarians can take action now to improve their overall health.

DID YOU KNOW?

As many as half of all cancers in Ontario can be prevented by eliminating known risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of physical activity. There are a number of other modifiable and non-modifiable factors that My CancerIQ identifies, such as:

• People who eat more red meat are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer;
• Women who smoke are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer;
• Workplace exposures may increase the risk of developing lung cancer; and
• Women who consume alcohol are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.

My CancerIQ personalized risk reports and guides can be saved, printed and emailed. These results can be discussed with a healthcare provider. My CancerIQ can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet or desktop at MyCancerIQ.ca.

Cathy Paroschy-Harris, Director of Prevention and Screening Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is promoting the tool as a means of educating yourself about your risks, but also using it to make healthy changes. “You can’t see inside your body to find out how your choices are affecting your health. With My CancerIQ, in less than 10 minutes you can better understand your cancer risk factors and start making lifestyle changes to avoid it. The new year is a great time to incorporate those changes into your everyday life.”

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