Screening for colorectal cancer
Early screening saves lives!
Colorectal cancer screening means checking for colorectal cancer as part of routine medical care when there are no symptoms present.
Colorectal cancer responds best to treatment when it is found and treated as early as possible. Treatment is most effective before the disease spreads outside of the colon.
Average risk individuals
The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that men and women age 50 and over have a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) at least every 2 years. FOBT blood testing helps identify polyps early before they become cancerous.
Follow-up for a positive test could include a colonoscopy, double contrast barium enema (an x-ray of the large intestine) and sigmoidoscopy.
High risk individuals
Those who are at higher than average risk of developing colorectal cancer should discuss an individual plan of surveillance with their doctor. High risk individuals include those with:
a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer (such as a parent, sibling or child)
a personal history of colorectal cancer
inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative or Crohn's disease
some inherited syndromes such as FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) or HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer)
benign polyps of the colon or rectum
Screening programs
Colorectal cancer screening programs should ensure that:
people are given information about the risks and benefits of the screening
the impact of positive test results are explained
people whose fecal occult blood tests are positive and referred for definitive testing in a timely manner
a database is created to ensure that candidates for tests and their physicians notified when testing is recommended, and to enable the results of the colorectal cancer screening program to be analyzed and reported
the most effective technology should be used
The Canadian Cancer Society accepts convincing evidence that the death rate from colorectal cancer can be reduced significantly if this screening takes place widely among the Canadian population.
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