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B.C. colon cancer awareness month, a reminder to screen

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness month.
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Screening can save lives by detecting non-cancerous polyps and cancer early. BC Cancer advises that if colon cancer is detected at its earliest stage, the chance of survival is more than 90 per cent. Image: bccancer.bc.ca

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness month.

BC Cancer advises that colon cancer is a disease that will affect one in six British Columbians and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada.

Eligible British Columbians can screen for colon cancer with an easy to use at-home test, known as a FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test). The FIT results can signal whether a person needs to receive further testing with a colonoscopy.

“Colon cancer was not on my radar. Breast, pancreatic and brain cancer, yes due to my family history, but not colorectal,” says 56-year-old Michelle. “I had some blood in my stool and went to see my family doctor who did a physical exam and didn’t find anything. I ended up going for a colonoscopy, and it saved my life.”

The colonoscopy resulted in a Stage 2 colorectal cancer diagnosis, Michelle adds.

“If you’re putting off your colon screening, whether it’s a FIT at home, if you are at average risk, or a colonoscopy like me, don’t wait any longer.”

Colon screening is recommended for people ages 50 - 74.

“Regular screening offers the best chance of detecting the early signs of cancer,” says Dr. Jennifer Telford, medical director, BC Cancer Colon Screening Program. “In its early stages, there are no symptoms for colorectal cancer, which is why screening is so important. Screening can detect the early warning signs of colon cancer and save your life.”

Colon cancer quick facts:

• Colon cancer risk increases with age: 80 per cent of colon cancer cases are diagnosed in people over 50.

• When detected at its earliest stage, the survival rate for colon cancer is over 90 per cent.

• In Canada, one in 18 women and one in 14 men will develop colon cancer in their lifetimes – approximately one in 35 people is expected to die from the disease

• In 2023, an estimated 3,355 people in B.C. will be newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The FIT test detects small amounts of blood in stool which can be a sign of cancer or precancerous growths.

FIT kits are available for free in labs in B.C. Primary care providers can provide a requisition to an eligible person to pick up a FIT kit from the lab. People complete the FIT at home and return the kit to the lab.

An abnormal FIT test would result in a referral to the person’s local regional health authority for colonoscopy. Colonoscopy can detect cancer and remove precancerous growths in the colon and rectum.

For more information about colon cancer, visit: ScreeningBC.ca/colon.

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Sheri Regnier

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