Canadian cancer cases predicted to spike by 41 per cent by 2030

Geemitha Ratnayake, a Grade 10 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate, has been doing research involving looking at the levels of a known carcinogenic chemical.

The Canadian Cancer Society predicts new cases will spike in the coming years, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk and research by a 15-year-old Winnipeg high school student could help.

"I read this article online that said that colas that I drink personally could lead to cancer and this concerned me so I decided to research this a bit further,” said Geemitha Ratnayake, in Grade 10 at Fort Richmond Collegiate.

His research involved looking at the levels of a known carcinogenic chemical called 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) in popular carbonated beverages including colas and beer.

The results of Ratnayake’s research surprised him.

"We found that in many beers and a certain number of colas, there were more 4-MEI than the recommended level,” he said.

A paper he authored on the research with help from a group of three researchers from the University of Manitoba was picked up by the Journal of Food Additives and Contaminants.

The research is timely because a new report from the Canadian Cancer Society predicts more of us will be diagnosed with cancer in the coming years.

According to the report, cases will spike by 41 per cent by 2030 when 277,000 new cases per year are expected.

"The systems we have in Canada need to be able to accommodate that sheer volume of people are going to be coming down the road,” said Robert Nuttall of the Canadian Cancer Society.

According to CancerCare Manitoba, nearly half of all cancers can be avoided simply by making better lifestyle choices.

"Yes, eat healthy. Eat fresh vegetables,” said CancerCare CEO Dr. Sri Navaratnam, “You know, you don't have to eat frozen foods."

To be clear, she’s not saying diet alone will keep cancer at bay.

Dr. Navaratnam says being smoke free, getting exercise and avoiding excessive sun exposure are all key as well, but she agrees consuming carcinogenic food additives won’t help.

Ratnayake hopes people will look at his research and think twice about the things they eat and drink.

"Definitely, I hope that is something that I can say that I was involved in,” said Ratnayake.

Not even old enough to buy beer, he already has his sights set on reducing cancer rates.