Frequently Asked Questions
Participating In Colon Check
Q: Who can participate in Colon Check?
Q: How are you inviting participants?
Q: If I’ve had other colorectal cancer screening tests can I participate?
Q: I don’t have any stomach/bowel problems. Should I be tested?
Q: If I don’t have a health care provider can I still enroll in Colon Check?
Q: Do you have pamphlets in other languages?
Q: If I’m not eligible for Colon Check can I still get screened?
About the Screening Test
Q: How do I get a test kit?
Q: What kind of test will be used? What does FIT mean?
Q: Why was this test chosen?
Q: I’ve had an FIT before. Is this different?
Q: Does the test cost anything?
Q: Where do I drop off my completed samples?
Q: Can the test be mailed back by Canada Post?
Q: Where will the tests be processed?
Q: Will an unused test kit expire?
Q: Are there any risks in taking an FIT test?
Using the Screening Test
Q: How do I use the test?
Q: What should I do if the stool sample touches urine or the water in the toilet bowl?
Q: How can I keep the stool sample from touching the water?
Q: What if my next bowel movement occurs during the same day that a sample has already been taken? Do I need to take the samples on different days?
Q: Are there times when I should not use the test kit?
Q: Can I collect the sample from very loose stools?
Q: Can I collect the sample from very hard stools?
Q: How should I store the sample prior to drop off?
Q: How soon after collection should the sample be dropped off?
Results
Q: How long do test results take?
Q: What will happen with my results?
Q: What does it mean if my results are abnormal?
Q: How reliable is the test result?
Q: Who else will get the test results?
Personal Information and Protection
Q: What authorizes you to collect my data?
Q: Is the information I provided you protected?
Q: Does Colon Check track and monitor my results?
Q: Who else will get the test results?
About the Pilot
Q: When did the pilot start?
Q: What communities were chosen for the pilot?
Q: Why were the pilot locations chosen?
Q: Can people outside of the target community participate in Colon Check?
Q: Why is the program only in a pilot phase at this time?
Q: When do you anticipate the pilot will be finished and a population-based program will begin?
Participating in Colon Check
Q: Who can participate in Colon Check?
A: Men and Women ages 50-74, who do not currently have symptoms and are living in the BC communities of Penticton, Summerlnad, the South Okanagan, Powell River (including: Lund, Blubber Bay, Gillies Bay, Savary Island, Van Anda and Toba) and Vancouver residents with the following postal code prefixes: V6B, V6C, V6E, V6G, V6Z, V7X, V7Y and V5K, V5M, V5R are eligible. If you live within the regions specified and are in the target age range please call Colon Check to register: 1-877-702-6566.
Q: How is Colon Check inviting participants?
A: Health care providers will be encouraging participation from people within the community in the target age range. Participants can also self identify - there will be advertising in the community encouraging participation. Invitations will also be mailed to eligible residents of the participating communities.
Potential participants will then call the program or speak with their health care provider to see if they are eligible.
Q: If I’ve had other colorectal cancer screening tests can I participate?
A: If you have had colonoscopy in the last five years you are likely up to date with your screening and do not need to participate in Colon Check. If you have had other tests for colorectal cancer, please call Colon Check: 1-877-702-6566 to see if you should participate.
Q: I don’t have any stomach/bowel problems. Should I be tested?
A: Yes. Screening is for women and men with no symptoms. You can have colorectal cancer and not even know it. In its early stages there may be no symptoms. That’s why screening is so important. If detected early, colorectal cancer is highly treatable.
Q: If I don’t have a health care provider can I still enroll in Colon Check?
A: You do not need a health care provider to participate. Call Colon Check to register: 1-877-702-6566.
Q: Do you have pamphlets in other languages?
A: We have three core information pamphlets translated into eight languages, they are: Colon Check pamphlet, FIT Test & Instructions, and Colonoscopy pamphlet. The languages are: English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Q: If I’m not eligible for Colon Check can I still get screened?
A: Colorectal cancer screening is already available through family doctors in BC. Those ineligible for Colon Check are encouraged to speak to their health care provider about colorectal cancer screening.
About the Screening Test
Q: How do I get a test kit?
A: Call Colon Check: 1-877-702-6566. Health Care Providers do not have kits to give you directly. They will give you a referral sheet with a phone number for you to call the program.
Q: What kind of test will be used?
A: Most people in our program will use the FIT or fecal immunochemical test provided free of charge through the program. The iFOBT can detect blood hidden in your stool, a sign of non-cancerous polyps and early stage cancer. The test does not require taking a blood sample. The test is completed at home.
Q: Why was this test chosen?
A: The FIT is simple and easy to do at home. The FIT has been shown to detect more colorectal cancers and pre-cancerous polyps compared to traditional fecal occult blood tests previously available in BC.
Q: I’ve had an FIT before. Is this different?
A: If you have had one of these tests before in BC it was probably a guaiac based test kit. The kit we are sending you is the newer immunochemical test that looks for a different component of hemoglobin. The FIT has been shown to detect more colorectal cancers and pre-cancerous polyps compared to traditional fecal occult blood tests previously available in BC.
Q: Does the test cost anything?
A: The test is free for eligible participants.
Q: Where do I drop off my completed samples?
A: At any of the designated drop-off locations.
Q: Can the test be mailed back by Canada Post?
A: No. The kit has to be brought back to one of the specified drop-off locations. It is important that these specimens do not freeze and our courier will handle the specimens correctly.
Q: Where will the tests be processed?
A: The FIT will be processed at PHSA’s (Provincial Health Services Authority) Central Processing and Receiving Laboratory. Colonoscopies will be done locally in the community.
Q: Will an unused test kit expire?
A: Yes, an unused test kit will expire after 6 months
Q: Are there any risks in taking an FIT?
A: There are no risks in taking an FIT. The test is easy, safe and non-invasive. Kit Instructions
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Using the Screening Test
Q: How do I use the test kit?
A: The FIT test kit is very easy to use. Here are the Kit Instructions for using it.
Q: What should I do if the stool sample touches urine or the water in the toilet bowl?
A: If the stool sample touches urine or the water in the toilet bowl it becomes contaminated. Please phone Colon Check at 1-877-702-6566 to have a new kit sent to you.
To prevent urine from contaminating the test, urinate first, flush the toilet and then put the tissue paper on top of the water in the toilet bowl.
Q: How can I keep the stool sample from touching the water?
Place the tissue paper provided in the kit on top of the water in the toilet bowl. If you would like additional tissue paper, please call Colon Check (1-877-702-6566) and more can be sent to you.
You can also place several layers of toilet paper on the water in the toilet bowel to support the stool. You can use the toilet paper in addition to the tissue paper provided, or on its own. You can also collect your stool on a clean, disposable container, for example, a paper plate.
Q: What if my next bowel movement occurs during the same day that a sample has already been taken? Do I need to take the samples on different days?
A: You can take the second sample on the same day, provided it is from a different bowel movement.
Q: Are there times when I should not use the test kit?
A: If you have blood in your stool you should not use the test kit. See your health care provider to discuss your symptoms.
If you are bleeding from hemorrhoids, are currently menstruating or have blood in your urine, you should wait to do the test until you have stopped bleeding for three days.
Q: Can I collect the sample from very loose stools?
A: It is okay to collect the sample from very loose stools.
If the loose stools are related to a virus, like food poisoning, wait to take the test until you feel better.
Q: Can I collect the sample from very hard stools?
A: It is okay to collect the sample from very hard stool. You may want to use a clean, disposable container to collect your stool if this makes it easier for you to take a sample.
Q: How should I store the sample prior to drop off?
A: Samples should be stored in the refrigerator, not the freezer. Packaging your completed sample(s) in the absorbent paper and zip-loc bag will ensure that nothing in your fridge will be contaminated.
Q: How soon after collection should the sample be dropped off?
A: Results will be invalid if they are not analyzed within 15 days after the first sample was collected. To ensure that there is sufficient time to transport and test, samples should ideally be dropped off within a day or two after collections.
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Results
Q: How long do test results take?
A: About two weeks.
Q: What will happen with my results?
A: If your results are normal they will be mailed to you, if they are abnormal Colon Check will arrange for a navigator affiliated with the program to discuss follow-up options with you. Your test results will also be mailed to your family doctor (if you specified one when you enrolled with Colon Check). If you did not indicate a family doctor at the time of registration Colon Check will refer you to a doctor in your community to help ensure you receive the follow-up testing that is needed.
Q: What does it mean if my results are abnormal?
A: An abnormal result means that blood was found in your stool. Don’t panic. There can be many reasons for blood being found in your stool. This does not mean you have cancer. Follow-up testing is needed to determine the reason for your result. A Colon Check Nurse Navigator will make recommendations for follow-up testing. Often a colonoscopy is recommended. This is a common procedure that allows a specialist to look inside the colon and rectum to make a diagnosis.
Q: How reliable are the test results?
A: The FIT is a good test, but no test is 100% accurate. There is a chance that a cancer can be missed if it was not bleeding when the screening test was taken. Regular screening offers the best chance of detecting the early signs of cancer. It is also important, even if you have had a normal result, to monitor your own health and see your health care provider immediately if you have: blood in your stool, changes in your bowel habits and abdominal pain.
Q: Who else will get the test results?
A: Your health care provider (if you specified one when you enrolled with Colon Check) will receive letters about your results.
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Personal Information and Protection
Q: What authorizes you to collect my data?
A: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) section 26(a).
Q: Is the information I provided you protected?
A: Colon Check and the BC Cancer Agency will not share your contact information with anyone. We will ensure the security of your personal information by adhering to Section 30 of the FIPP Act (which) requires that public bodies protect personal information by making reasonable security arrangements, physical and procedural, against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, or disposal. This section also requires the public body to ensure that access by users within the public body is governed by the principle of “need to know”. Information is shared with heatlh care providers who are relevant to your continuing care.
Q: Does Colon Check track and monitor my results?
A: Yes. For statistical purposes Colon Check will keep track of the results from your FITs, as well as any related follow-up procedures such as a colonoscopy.
Q: Who else will get the test results?
A: Your health care provider (if you specified one when you enrolled with Colon Check) will receive letters about your results. If you did not identify a health care provider and you need further tests, your results will be given to a health care provider to follow-up with you.
Q: When did the pilot start?
A: February 2009.
Q: What communities were chosen for the pilot?
A: British Columbia's Penticton,Powell River (Includes: Lund, Blubber Bay, Gillies Bay, Savary Island, Van Anda and Toba) and Vancouver Downtown Core, residents with the following postal code prefixes: V6B, V6C, V6E, V6G, V6Z, V7X, V7Y.
Q: Why were the pilot locations chosen?
A: These pilot locations were good choices based on the following criteria:
- Geographic boundaries and population size.
- The number of colonoscopies currently being performed in the community.
- The ability for the community to increase colonoscopy capacity.
- The ability of the facility and staff to comply with quality assurance practices related to colonoscopy and pathology.
- The support of local family doctors.
Q: Can people outside of the target community participate in Colon Check?
A: Colorectal cancer screening is already available through family doctors in BC. Those living outside of the target community are encouraged to obtain colorectal cancer screening through their health care provider.
Q: Why is the program only in a pilot phase at this time?
A: There are many important reasons:
It is important to set up, monitor, assess and document the systems required for screening in a community. This will enable the program to demonstrate an integrated program of invitation, testing, colonoscopy and pathology with good communication and quality control and allow us to:
- Assess options in the invitation process and delivery of kits
- Assess participation rates in each component of the process
- Measure detection rates of relevant pathology
- Assess costs of each component of the program
Q: When do you anticipate the pilot will be finished and a population-based program will begin?
A: The pilot is likely to be completed by Dec 2010. The time-frame for a provincial program roll-out will be dependent on the outcome of the pilot and will require further decisions from government.
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