Erie St. Clair Regional Cancer Program together with Cancer Care Ontario is making it easier for men and women to reduce their cancer risk with a new online tool called My CancerIQ. An interactive booth will be set up for staff at Meritor Suspension Systems, at 201 Park Avenue, to access on March 31st between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

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.

“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”, said Sandy Kambouris, Chatham-Kent Public Health.

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

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 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”, said Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

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 smart phone, tablet or desktop at www.mycanceriq.ca/