About the Indigenous Cancer Program

The Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program (TCRCP), through a collaborative partnership with Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), is developing a Toronto Central Indigenous Cancer Plan (ICP). This plan is designed to improve cancer services with and for First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) peoples in the Toronto Central region, and will be implemented in a way that reflects their unique and diverse needs, in a way that honours the Indigenous path of wellbeing.

Image of the FNIMUI Cancer Strategy document  

The Toronto Central ICP builds on the framework of the Ontario Cancer Plan 5 2019-2023; the First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous Cancer Strategy 2019-2023; and the vision, values and goals of the TCRCP. This provides the necessary foundation to develop a Toronto Central ICP with Indigenous peoples that is truly impactful, respectful and sustainable, and delivers on objectives and goals over the next few years.

For more information regarding the TCRCP Indigenous Cancer Plan and its seven Strategic Priorities please visit First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous Cancer Strategy (2019-2023).

Cancer in the FNIM Community

In Ontario, among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, cancer rates are increasing disproportionally compared with overall Canadian rates. Incidence rates increased significantly in First Nations people between 1968–2001 for all cancer and for the four major cancers; ranking of top cancers same for First Nations and Ontario.

These three account for less than 50% of cancer in both populations: 
male silhouette 

Males

  1. Prostate
  2. Lung
  3. Colorectal
female silhouette 

Females

  1. Breast
  2. Lung
  3. Colorectal

Marrett LD, Chaudhry M. 2003. Cancer incidence and mortality in Ontario First Nations, 1968-1991