Good morning.
I'm very happy to be here to speak to this really important topic for indigenous women and men across Canada.
I recall attending a national cancer conference about 10 years ago at which the researchers were reporting on links between type 2 diabetes and breast cancer. I believe those linkages and the research have grown since that time.
The importance of breast cancer among these populations becomes even more critical when we begin to think about possible linkages between other comorbidities. With first nations women and cancer, these rates have steadily increased. Of course, we have significant issues that impact outcomes. They include late-stage diagnosis, which leads to poorer options and choices for treatment and more deaths from the disease.
In Alberta, we've done a fair amount of research looking at the data on different cancers, including breast cancer. What we've found is that first nations women, when compared to non-first nations women in Alberta, are almost 24% more likely to have a breast cancer diagnosis. They're certainly more likely to be diagnosed with an invasive cancer at stages 2 through 4. We've also found that it's taken two to four weeks longer for first nations women to receive their first diagnosis, as well as a definitive diagnosis, when compared to non-first nations women. What this leads us to conclude is that collectively these findings suggest that access to and provision of screening services for first nations women may not be equitable when compared to non-first nations women.
We've also done some work with Métis women in Alberta. Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among this population. Programs, of course, can detect cancer early at the most treatable stage, or when precancerous lesions can be noted. This can contribute to good cancer outcomes and decrease cancer mortality, incidence and morbidity.
In Alberta, provincial screening programs are available for breast cancer and are publicly funded through Canada's universal health care system. Despite the availability of these screening programs, we are still noting disparities in cancer screening for breast, colorectal and cervical cancers. We also believe from our research that some of these disparities can be addressed by leveraging the experiences of indigenous women and people to inform the development of more meaningful interventions that reduce these disparities. Because breast cancer appears in indigenous women at higher rates, both first nations and Métis women, we need to be looking at distinct indigenous services or services that meet the needs of both of these populations.
According to a 2024 publication on some research that I was involved in, both cervical and breast cancer screenings of Métis women were shown to be fewer than those of non-Métis women. This leads us to the fact that we need to have more studies across Canada, and certainly within Alberta, that look at breast cancer rates among the indigenous-distinct populations to get a better understanding of what's going on with indigenous women and breast cancers.
When we start talking about outcomes and needs going forward, more work is definitely needed in this area. We need to raise awareness around prevention and screening. Most of my work is in prevention and screening, and it's becoming more evident that we need to shift the thinking and knowledge indigenous women have when it comes to breast screening. It needs to be seen as a healthy lifestyle choice and something you regularly participate in, not just an action you take when you believe there's an issue or a problem.
There are many issues that underlie that. Some of them are related to indigenous women having regular access to a primary care provider. This depends sometimes on the area they live in. Of course, trust, racism and all those types of factors come into play.