Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, with an estimated two in five Canadians being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Brain tumours continue to carry a significant risk of morbidity. They affect approximately 50,000 Canadians each year with an estimated 27 new diagnoses each day.
Today is Brain Cancer Awareness Day - a time to bring awareness to the impact of brain cancer and highlight important research discoveries that have supported those affected by this disease.
The Government of Canada is committed to investing in research to find new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat brain cancer. Through these investments, we are progressing towards new treatment strategies for patients with brain tumours and improving the outcomes and management of people living with and beyond this disease.
Collaborations with organizations like the Brain Canada Foundation (BC) and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada help to maximize the impact of research investments. For example, with brain cancer research funding, Dr. Gelareh Zadeh, a neurosurgeon-scientist at the University Health Network and the University of Toronto, was able to transform the way patients with brain tumors are clinically managed and find new therapies to prevent high-risk surgical procedures. Her impactful work coupled with her international leadership roles and partnerships has advanced clinical care for patients with brain tumors. Dr. Zadeh, was recognized with a 2023 Canada Gairdner Award for her research on the classification and treatment of brain tumours.
Another recent partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society united ten research teams to make life-saving breakthroughs in brain cancer and other low-survival cancers. Through these investments, we are building research capacity and engaging people with lived and living experience every step of the way to ensure the change we are effecting will meet the unique needs of those living with the disease.
Our government will continue to invest in cancer research and work with other health research partners to tackle key and emerging issues in brain cancer. By doing so, we will continue to make progress in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment to improve the health and well-being of everyone affected by brain cancer in Canada and around the world.
Please take a moment today to think about the more than 50,000 people in Canada who are currently living with brain cancer.
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
