CANCER\u2019S IMPACT FELT ACROSS LETHBRIDGE\u2013WORLD CANCER DAY EXPLAINS WHY<\/p>\n
From early detection and prevention to the cancers most affecting Albertans, Feb. 4 highlights a disease that touches residents of every age and background.<\/p>\n
WHY WORLD CANCER DAY MATTERS IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA<\/p>\n
Cancer remains a leading cause of death in Alberta, but early detection, prevention, and research continue to improve outcomes for patients of every age.<\/p>\n
In Lethbridge, cancer is rarely an abstract concept. It\u2019s the coworker who quietly steps away for treatment, the neighbour whose lawn fills with ribbons and signs, the fundraiser for a classmate\u2019s parent, or the loved one whose name appears in an obituary far too soon. Most people in southern Alberta know someone\u2014young or old, famous or not\u2014who has been affected by cancer.<\/p>\n
That shared experience is at the heart of World Cancer Day, observed annually on Feb. 4. The global awareness day focuses on education, prevention and early detection, while reminding communities like Lethbridge that cancer can touch anyone, anywhere.<\/p>\n
World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control and aims to reduce cancer deaths worldwide by encouraging action at every level, from individuals to governments. While the initiative is international, its message resonates locally, where access to screening, diagnosis and treatment can directly affect outcomes.<\/p>\n
Despite how often cancer is discussed, many people don\u2019t fully understand it. Cancer is not a single disease but a group of diseases that begin when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably. These cells can form tumours, spread to other parts of the body, and interfere with normal organ function. Cancer can affect anyone\u2014from children to seniors\u2014and often develops silently.<\/p>\n
In Alberta, the burden of cancer continues to grow. According to the 2024 Report on Cancer Statistics in Alberta 2001\u20132024, there were 21,729 new cancer diagnoses in the province in 2021, the most recent year of complete data available. That same year, 6,759 Albertans died from the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe overall number of new cancer cases has increased steadily over the past 30 years,\u201d said Jennifer Green, Senior Communications Advisor, Acute Care Alberta. \u201cCancer remains a leading cause of death in Alberta and impacts communities across the province.\u201d<\/p>\n
The most commonly diagnosed cancers in Alberta are breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer. Together, those four cancers account for 49 per cent of new cancer cases and 47 per cent of cancer-related deaths, highlighting both their prevalence and seriousness.<\/p>\n
Cancer rates also vary by region. Incidence rates for all cancers combined are lower in the Calgary Zone and higher in the Central Zone, while mortality rates are lower in Calgary and higher in the Central and North zones. Southern Alberta falls between those extremes, reinforcing the importance of access to screening and timely care.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, cancer diagnoses are expected to rise further. Approximately 24,505 new cancer cases are projected in Alberta in 2026, representing a 98 per cent increase since 2001.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat increase isn\u2019t driven by a single factor,\u201d Green said. \u201cAbout 64 per cent is related to the aging population, 58 per cent to population growth, while improvements in cancer prevention and control have actually reduced cases by about 24 per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Early detection remains one of the most effective tools in improving outcomes. Screening programs\u2014including mammograms, Pap tests, colon cancer screening, and lung cancer screening for those at high risk\u2014can detect cancer before symptoms appear. For residents of Lethbridge and surrounding rural communities, early screening can reduce the need for more intensive treatment and long-distance travel for specialized care.<\/p>\n
Prevention also plays a role. While not all cancers can be prevented, health experts say many cases could be reduced through lifestyle choices such as avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, staying physically active, protecting skin from sun exposure, and receiving recommended vaccines, including the HPV vaccine.<\/p>\n
World Cancer Day is also a reminder of progress. Advances in research, targeted therapies, and supportive care have improved survival rates and quality of life for many patients\u2014progress made possible through continued investment.<\/p>\n
Canadians wishing to support that work can donate to organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, the Terry Fox Research Institute, and Alberta-based hospital foundations that support cancer care and research closer to home.<\/p>\n
For Lethbridge and southern Alberta, World Cancer Day is both a reminder and a call to action. Cancer may touch nearly every family, but through awareness, early detection, prevention, and research, the story does not have to end the same way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CANCER\u2019S IMPACT FELT ACROSS LETHBRIDGE\u2013WORLD CANCER DAY EXPLAINS WHY From early detection and prevention to the cancers most…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22687,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,7714,20840,62690,18680,32279,14428,84,5432,13930,14427,14426,1058,32675,19639,65154,32146],"class_list":["post-453879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cancer","tag-cancer-prevention","tag-cancer-screening","tag-clinical-medicine","tag-colorectal-cancer","tag-diseases-and-disorders","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-health-sciences","tag-human-diseases-and-disorders","tag-medical-specialties","tag-medicine","tag-oncology","tag-preventive-healthcare","tag-screening-medicine","tag-spare-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=453879"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/453879\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=453879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=453879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=453879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}