Grant: Op Grant: Analyses of Existing Canadian Cohorts & Databases - Cancer Control

In Canada, lung cancer is the most deadly cancer among men and women. Though smoking causes most lung cancers, only about 15% of smokers eventually get lung cancer and some people who have never smoked can also develop lung cancer. It is therefore clear that other factors are involved in lung cancer development. Being physically active have been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers. There are different types of physical activity, including activity at work and recreational activities. Participation in recreational activities has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer. However, the role of physical activity at work in affecting the development of lung cancer is not well established. In fact, some studies have found that people who have physically demanding jobs also have a higher risk of lung cancer. As people spend many hours at work and some jobs are very physically demanding, new studies are needed to fully understand the role of physical activity at work on lung cancer development. In this research, we will examine how lung cancer risk is associated with physical activity levels at work. Our research will be based on an ongoing Canadian study that began in 2009. This study included men and women who have volunteered to share information on their health, lifestyle, environment and behaviour over their adult lives. Our research will include all men and women who were newly diagnosed with lung cancer since the study began. For comparison, we will select a sub-group of people, who did not have cancer at the beginning of the study. The interview asked detailed questions on the longest-held job for all participants. Using this information, we will compare activity levels in the longest-held job between those who were diagnosed with lung cancer and those who remained cancer-free. This study offers a valuable opportunity to examine, in a short time frame and at a low cost, whether physical activity work at plays an important role in lung cancer development.