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AHS Report: Fort Chipewyan's cancer rates aren't higher than expected

PHOTO. Supplied. Northern Alberta hamlet, Fort Chipewyan.

A new Alberta Health Services report says Fort Chipewyan’s cancer rates between 1992 and 2011 aren’t higher than expected.

“Overall, cancer rates in the region are what would be expected for the rest of Alberta. There are 91 cases in the region in that time frame and we would expect 89 from data,” says Alberta Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Talbot.

“However, there are three kinds of cancer that are cause for concern. Two reached statistical significance, and one almost reaches statistical significance. But the numbers thankfully are small,” he said.

Those three kinds are cervical cancer, where one case would be expected, but three were reported, bile duct cancer, where none were expected and three were reported, and lung cancer in women.

Eight women were diagnosed with lung cancer in that time, double the expected average.

Talbot says some of those numbers are probably because of the large number of smokers in Aboriginal communities.

“So, not unsurprising to find that lung cancer, particularly among women might be a higher concern within an Aboriginal community,” he said.

RMWB Councillor John Chadi was diagnosed with bile duct cancer last year, however his case is too recent to be included in the report.

Talbot says previous studies on the correlation between pollution and cancer are “weak”, and thatĀ Fort Chipewyan’s rates compare “reasonably well” to other Aboriginal communities.

Among Talbot’s recommendations for the hamlet were more HPV vaccinations, increasing pap smear screening, and growing the anti-smoking programs.