“higher incidence and lower survival associated with certain cancer types require further research to look into the likely multi-faceted basis for these findings,” the report stated.
this further research will be conducted the dr. caron’s group, using $3 million from the fnha and ubc over the next five years. dr. caron, who is an oncology surgeon, will continue her medical work in northern b.c. while chairing the cancer and wellness study.
“that (2017) study i think was the tip of the iceberg in terms of the type of understanding we are hoping to get,” she said. “there were a lot of questions that came out of that study.
“my role is to provide perspectives and passion in an area that has been grossly under represented in post secondary institutions and research bodies for years.”
for example, dr. caron said no one has ever looked at the efficacy, quality, availability and access of cancer screening programs for first nations people in british columbia.
“my guess is the screening programs are one of many places to look,” she said, in trying to find an answer to the question of higher cancer rates.
dr. caron was raised in kamloops, but comes from a first nation in ontario. she went to simon fraser university after high school, then to medical school at ubc and completed a general surgical residency. dr. caron has also completed her masters in public health at harvard university.