Why Colon Check?
Currently, only 3
7% of eligible British Columbians get screened for colorectal cancer.
Screening is done “opportunistically”: where there is cause for concern, where a patient requests it, or if individual doctors recommend screening when they see eligible patients for other reasons.
Colon Check® is a population-based screening program.
Population-based screening is where a test is offered systematically to all individuals in a target group (for example, all men and women ages 50 to 74). In addition to the screening, there is a framework of agreed policy, protocols, quality management, monitoring and evaluation that improves consistency of follow-up and future screening.
In British Columbia there are already population-based screening programs for breast cancer (Mammograms) and cervical cancer (PAP tests).
Population-based screening programs can be particularly effective with diseases such as colorectal cancer where detection at it's earliest stage has a chance of survival that is over 90%.
The Colon Check
® program is currently being piloted in Penticton, Powell River and some areas of Vancouver's downtown core. In addition to screening eligible women and men in those areas, the program is establishing the systems needed to support a full population-based screening program for colorectal cancer should it expand to operate province-wide.
Why Get Screened?
Screening can detect the early warning signs of colorectal cancer and save your life.