Project 467209

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. According to the Canadian Cancer Statistics 2021 report 43% of Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, one-quarter of which will die from the disease. These numbers are expected to continue to rise given our aging population with a recent study projecting cancer cases to be 79% higher in 2028-2032 than they were in 2003-2007. With increasing numbers, we as health care professionals have become aware of gaps in the care we provide. Optimal cancer care addresses the needs, values, and preferences of each patient through their cancer journey. These principles, known as patient-centred care, improve patient experience and outcomes. However, individualizing cancer care and complex decisions is extremely challenging. Advances in our ability to measure tumor and patient factors have given us a wealth of information but created the challenge of determining how to interpret it. Personalized prediction tools have become increasingly useful in healthcare. Unfortunately, current cancer prediction tools do not include many of the outcomes important to patients. To be able to make informed decisions, patients need information that meets their needs, values, and preferences. I will be using Canadian data and advanced statistical techniques, drawing on artificial intelligence, to develop prediction algorithms for patient centered outcomes in gastro-intestinal cancers. These algorithms will be used to develop a web-based tool that will empower all patients to receive personalized information to help inform the challenging decisions they face in their cancer journey. By enabling patients as active members in their care we hope to reduce unnecessary costs, while improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.