Ontario Métis face higher cancer risk than non-aboriginal residents: study
Cancer Care Ontario, Métis Nation of Ontario behind release of new data
New research suggests Métis residents in Ontario face a significantly higher cancer risk than the province's non-aboriginal population.
A joint report from Cancer Care Ontario and the Métis Nation of Ontario outlines the aboriginal group's cancer risk factors such as higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity.
For example, the report says nearly half of Métis in their 20s smoke, compared to 27 per cent of non-aboriginal Ontarians.
It says Métis people, who tend to be under-identified or under-represented in indigenous health research, are also less likely to be up to date with cancer screening tests.
Dr. Loraine Marrett, a senior scientist at Cancer Care Ontario, says in a release that the data underlines that the Métis community would benefit from programs framed in their community — and family-centric culture.
The study combined six years of data from Statistics Canada on the lifestyle factors that play the largest role in cancer risk.