CCO wants men and women in Ontario to get screened for colorectal cancer

It's time to make the first move against cancer

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) wants men and women to start thinking about getting screened.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ontario. It is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men after lung cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women after lung and breast cancers.

But screening can effectively reduce the risk of dying from colorectal cancer by allowing for the early detection of the disease.

WHEN TO GET SCREENED

People aged 50 to 74 years with no symptoms and without a family history of colorectal cancer should get screened every two years with a fecal occult blood test (FOBT). They are considered to be at average risk for developing colorectal cancer.

People who have a first-degree relative (i.e., parent, sibling or child) with a history of colorectal cancer are at increased risk for the disease. For these people, colonoscopy is recommended beginning at age 50, or 10 years earlier than the age at which their relative was diagnosed, whichever occurs first.

QUICK FACTS:

• Colorectal cancer affects both men and women.
• Someone with colorectal cancer has a 90 per cent chance of being cured if the cancer is caught early.
• Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Ontario.

QUOTES:

"You can't see inside your body to find out how your choices are affecting your health. But we do have screening tools that can detect the signs of colorectal cancer before you feel anything physically. All Ontarians who are eligible for screening should have a conversation about it with their healthcare provider."

• Dr. Catherine Dubé, Clinical Lead, ColonCancerCheck, Cancer Care Ontario