Fort Chipewyan cancer rates normal: report.
AHS figures show community’s overall rates aren’t elevated
While the rates for most types of cancer are normal, biliary tract cancer, cervical cancer and lung cancer are occurring more frequently in Fort Chipewyan than the rest of the province, new data shows.
Figures released by Alberta Health Services on Monday concluded that overall rates were not elevated in the northern community downstream of the oilsands, however.
“While the report shows slightly higher rates of three specific types of cancer, overall cancer rates are what would be expected in the region,” Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s chief medical officer, told a news conference in Edmonton.
AHS was forced to release the data after the Alberta Liberals received the report Friday through a Freedom of Information Act request. AHS had promised to confer with native bands in the region before any public announcement, but then released the information without consulting them Monday.
“This appears to be nothing more than a PR exercise,” Liberal Leader Raj Sherman said. “I am quite concerned government released the information only reluctantly, and without community involvement.
“The report is narrowly focused and does not address why those incidences of cancer exist. When you find aberrances like this, you need independent corroboration that provides perspective. I am concerned as to the credibility.”
Using updated figures gleaned from the Alberta Cancer Registry, the report shows 81 cases of cancer were diagnosed in Fort Chipewyan from 1992 to 2011. Based on the community’s population of about 1,100 people, 79 cases were expected over that period.
The data confirms four cases of cervical cancer instead of the one that was expected, eight cases of lung cancer instead of four and three cases of a fatal biliary tract cancer that occurs only in one of every 200,000 people.
Those figures for cholangiocarcinoma also do not reflect the recent diagnosis of John Chadi, a municipal councillor in Fort Chipewyan and longtime businessman.
“One thing I will says is that Fort Chipewyan’s incidence of bile duct cancer is higher than we would expect for a community that size,” Talbot said.
Over the duration of the study, higher-than-expected rates were observed for most forms of cancer, but the numbers were so small that even one diagnosis could cause a significant statistical fluctuation.
“The perception in Fort Chipewyan is that there is more cancer and to some extent it’s true,” Talbot said. “But this is a discussion we are having everywhere in the province. We have more people, so we have more cancers being diagnosed. It’s not unique to this community.”
Leaders in Fort Chipewyan, a former trading post recognized as Alberta’s oldest settlement, complained that the announcement took them by surprise.
After a previous meeting in February was cancelled, AHS had agreed to schedule another and travel to the community to share the findings, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation communications co-ordinator Eriel Deranger said.
Members of the local Nunee Health Board were contacted Friday and asked for a meeting as early as 9 a.m. Monday, but no mention was made that the data was going to be disclosed, Deranger said.
A copy of the report was emailed to one member of the health board late Friday, but she did not see it until Monday, Deranger said.
“This is gross negligence,” Allan Adam, chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, said. “This information is about our people, our health and our concerns. If government is not willing to work with us as elected representatives of our communities, how can we serve them effectively?”
“Their tactics are questionable and I am feeling very angry at the moment,” said Steve Courtoreille, chief of the Mikisew Cree First Nation.
Talbot said he wants to work with members of the community to help reduce health risk factors related to disease. There is only “very weak evidence” to connect lung cancer, cervical cancer or bile duct cancer to environmental factors, Talbot said.
“My job is to monitor the health of Albertans,” he said. “I am taking this report for exactly what it says. We are looking at what we can do to reduce these three types of cancers.”
The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation and local Métis have asked for an independent study of potential links related to industrial development. Although promised by government, no such study has been undertaken.
Sherman said the Liberals will call for a credible international body, such as the World Health Organization, to do a comprehensive review. “
The government has a vested interest in the oilsands,” Sherman said. “They can’t be trusted.”