New Colorectal Cancer Screening program in Quebec

"On behalf of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, I would like to thank Minister Bolduc and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux for taking the first steps to implement the Colorectal Cancer Screening program in Quebec.

This program could not be launched without the work of many dedicated individuals several of whom are here today and I would like to thank them for their dedicated efforts over the past several years ensuring steady progress so that this program can finally be launched.

With the establishment of the first "sites de demonstration" Quebecers will begin to realize on the benefits of screening in order to prevent the second biggest cancer killer for Men and Women in Quebec. Colorectal Cancer is a preventable disease and is 90% curable if caught in its early stages.

Men and women of Average Risk between the ages of 50 -74 in the selected jurisdictions (and ultimately the entire province) will have the opportunity to be screened with a non invasive test that that will determine if they should have a colonoscopy.

Often individuals think that they only have to be screened if they have symptoms of the disease. It is therefore very important to underscore the fact that screening is for Average Risk individuals who have no symptoms and who do not have a family history of the disease. Individuals with a high risk of colorectal cancer or who display symptoms will have access to screening that corresponds to their risk.

We are very pleased that the specific sites selected by the Ministry will ensure that the clinical, quality and performance standards are adhered to and that there will be timely access to a colonoscopy for those who require it.

Screening will not only help to reduce the incidence of the disease by finding and removing polyps before they become cancerous, but will also increase survival by affording individuals with early stage disease the ability to obtain treatment when the disease is most curable.

We believe that  an integrated approach including, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, a healthy diet and regular exercise will help prevent the disease and its recurrence and that as the screening program is ultimately rolled out throughout the province we will see a gradual reduction in the mortality rate from this deadly disease.

On a personal level as a survivor of advanced colorectal cancer I am pleased to see the introduction of this program so that other Quebecers will not have to face the same challenges I have had to face over the past 15 years.

Thank you for encouragement over the years and for working together to ensure the introduction of this important program."

Source: COLORECTAL CANCER ASSOCIATION OF CANADA