Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

In the past, First Nations have enjoyed lower rates of cancer incidence and mortality compared to non-Aboriginal populations. However, for some cancers including colorectal cancer, incidence is now as high among First Nations men as among non-First Nations men. The cancer picture in First Nations has changed owing to increased life expectancy, a growing population, and multiple modifiable risk behaviors, e.g. poor diet, tobacco smoking, low uptake of cancer screening. Moreover, because First Nations people are diagnosed at a later stage of their disease compared to non-First Nations people, survival tends to be worse. Preliminary work with health care practitioners in Kahnawake (an educational session held in March 2013) revealed a lack of awareness that screening occurs in healthy people. In the proposed Café we will address how routine screening may lower people's risk for developing colorectal cancer, possible ways to improve accessibility to CRC screening, and touch upon the modifiable risk factors that are pertinent to the First Nations community. Findings from our research on a telehealth method of delivering CRC screening will be discussed as will findings from our work on patient indicators of quality in colonoscopy.