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Message from Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health
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Men's Cancer Health Awareness Month
September 2011
There is no better time to learn about men's cancers than September, which is Men's Cancer Health Awareness Month.
As Minister of Health, I'm encouraging Canadians to learn about men's cancers and the importance of screening to help protect your health and the health of family and friends.
Screening helps find cancers at an early stage before symptoms appear. Cancers that are detected early may be easier to treat and the chances of successful treatment improve. Forty-five percent of all Canadian men will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime, with lung, prostate and colorectal cancer being the most common types.
The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and controlling cancer. We recently renewed our investment in the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control with $250 million in funding over five years beginning in 2012. Through this partnership, stakeholders across Canada work together to ensure that the most reliable and current cancer knowledge is shared across the country. By sharing information about preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer, we can help control this disease.
This fall, the Government is collaborating with the Men's Health Initiative to bring together experts for the first ever Men's Health Summit. At this meeting, experts will review research that touches on obesity, mental health and barriers to preventative health care.
As Canada's Minister of Health, I encourage Canadians to become informed about men's cancers and to take action to decrease the risk of developing the disease. You can reduce your risk of cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and staying physically active. Many early detection screenings are non-invasive, and I encourage you to talk with your health care provider about the benefits of screening.
I would also like to acknowledge the 
Canadian Cancer Society and Prostate Cancer Canada and their many volunteers for supporting the fight against men's cancers.
Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada
