For those of us in the Canadian Cancer Society,  daffodils have a special significance.  They have long been recognized as our symbol, and evoke feelings of hope and renewal—or as one of our supporters told us, they are “relentlessly cheerful”.

For years, in the latter part of March, we have had live daffodils available for purchase or donation as a fundraiser for the important work we do in funding cancer research, providing support programs and leading prevention initiatives.

Wearing my daffodil pin proudly at our 2010 Daffodil Day event.

Last year, we tried something new.  We introduced a daffodil pin, which I proudly wear in the photo above. We encouraged British Columbians to make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society and by wearing a daffodil pin in April, showing people who are on a cancer journey that they are not alone. 

And show them we did.  Last year, we distributed 400,000 pins in BC and our biggest problem was keeping up with the demand for more!

This was a pilot initiative in 2010, and because it was so successful, it is now going to be implemented across the country through all divisions of the Canadian Cancer Society. 

This year, we believe six million Canadians will wear the daffodil pin. 

Imagine if you or one of your loved ones were one of the roughly 175,000 people in this country who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2011, and everywhere you turned you saw someone wearing this badge of courage, wishing you well.

You wouldn’t feel alone.  You’d feel less frightened.  You’d deepen your resolve to fight back.

So when you have an opportunity to obtain one of our daffodil pins, please do so.  And if you can spare some time to volunteer to distribute these pins and collect donations for us, that would be terrific!  Please check out www.cancervolunteer.ca  or contact one of our local offices.

A recent study published in the medical journal, The Lancet, revealed that among six countries, cancer survival rates improved for breast, ovarian, lung and colorectal cancer.

In fact, the study found that in all of the four types of cancers Canada’s one year and five-year survival rates were in the top group. Canada had the highest five-year survival rates for both ovarian and lung cancers. And BC had the highest five-year survival rate for ovarian and breast cancer of all jurisdictions in the study.

This is great news and demonstrates some of the progress we’ve made. But we shouldn’t stop here. This same study also highlights that primary prevention to reduce incidence remains the best long-term strategy to reduce cancer burden.

Less than 15 years ago we were in search of the magic bullet cure. We now recognize that likely isn’t possible—at least not in the foreseeable future. Today, thanks to advances in research and a focus on public education, we know that about half of all cancers can be prevented through healthy living, healthy environments and public policies that protect the health of all.

Look at smoking and lung cancer. In BC we can boast that we have the lowest smoking rates in the country — 12 percent.  However, lung cancer still remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Smoking is also associated with an increased risk of developing cancer of the bladder, cervix, colon and rectum, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, stomach mouth and throat and others. Twenty six percent of all cancer deaths in BC will be attributed to lung cancer yet tobacco use remains the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in British Columbia.

Let’s also look at obesity and colorectal, prostate and breast cancer. Studies have shown that one in four Canadians are obese and that number is expected to grow over the next 10 years. What many are still unaware of is that there is a direct link between obesity and cancer. Although we are making progress in survival rates of breast and colorectal cancers, much of this can be undone with the rising obesity rates.

As an individual you can take the steps to prevent cancer in your lifetime and for future generations. You can advocate for healthy public policy and ask for smoking bans in public parks and on beaches. You can commit to walking more and driving less. You can adopt a healthy living lifestyle that includes more exercise and healthy eating. Every step you take will make a difference.

The Canadian Cancer Society encourages you to live well, to be aware and to get involved. We encourage you to join our fight.

An estimated 70% of people who smoke say they want to quit. The Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon, is urging the BC government to support smokers trying to quit.

Like Quebec and Saskatchewan, we’d like to see the BC government fund smoking cessation products like nicotine replacement therapies and medications.

It’s well known that nicotine replacement therapies, such as the nicotine patch and nicotine gum, combined with physician counseling have a proven record of treating tobacco addiction. Similar improvements in quitting success result from medications that mimic the effects of nicotine on the brain.

BC’s smoking rates are at 15%, one of the lowest in the country – and for that we should be proud — but cigarette smoking causes about 30% of cancer deaths in Canada and about 85% of lung cancer cases so even a low rate of smoking like we have in BC is still too high.

Addicted smokers should be supported when they make a decision to try to quit. It only makes sense to support people as they move to improve their health and prevent cancer.

The Canadian Cancer Society commends the BC government for continuing to fund QuitNow and QuitNow by Phone, free smoking cessation programs that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all British Columbians.

But, more work needs to be done if we want to see smoking rates decline further.