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Cancer Prevention and Screening |
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What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Ontario.
Colorectal Cancer is:
- Preventable
- Detectable
- Treatable
- and often Cure-able
Colorectal cancer screening
Regular colorectal screening can prevent cancer of the colon and rectum, or find it early. When detected early, there is a 90% chance of curing colorectal cancer.
Ontario's Colorectal Screening Program
The ColonCancerCheck program recommends that:
- Men and women 50 years and over with no family history of colorectal cancer be screened every two years using the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
- Men and women at increased risk due to family history (parent, sibling, or child with colorectal cancer) have a colonoscopy
Talk to your doctor
Individuals with a personal history of benign polyps or inflammatory bowel disease should talk to their health care provider about what type of screening test is right for them. They may need to begin screening earlier than age 50.
What puts you at risk?
- Age - being 50 years or older
- Family History - having a parent, sibling or child with colorectal cancer
- Personal medical history - having polyps in the colon or rectum or long-standing, extensive inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease)
- Lifestyle habits - eating a diet that is low in fibre and high in animal fats, being physically inactive, smoking, being obese, and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
Lowering your risk
Related links:
Take the time.
Get checked for colorectal cancer.
For more information call
Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600.
Last updated August 2010
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