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For Health Professionals

Colon Check® is a new program for population-based colorectal cancer screening being piloted in BC in Penticton, Powell River and Vancouver's downtown core for residents with the following postal code prefixes: V6B, V6C, V6E, V6G, V6Z, V7X or V7Y. 

  • Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in BC.
  • If diagnosed early the five-year survival rate is 90%1.
  • Screening has been proven to decrease colorectal cancer mortality and incidence2,3

Currently in BC, some opportunistic colorectal cancer screening occurs through usual patient care and diagnostic environments. However, use is generally low and there is considerable variation in patient management. It can be difficult for Health Professionals to access follow-up testing for their patients.

The current situation places significant pressures on Health Professionals to ensure their patients are adequately screened.

Colon Check® was started by the provincial government to provide an organized population-based approach to screening for colorectal cancer.

The New Approach

The Colon Check ®pilot will establish the infrastructure needed to support a population-based screening program. The program will guide participants through the entire screening process, including:

  • recruitment;
  • Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT);
  • colonoscopy (if required); and
  • on-going surveillance or re-screening.

Population-based screening has been proven to decrease colorectal cancer mortality and incidence more effectively than a usual patient care model2&3.


Your support

You can contribute to the success of the Colon Check® pilot and help to influence the establishment of a province-wide colorectal cancer screening program by:

  • Discussing colorectal cancer screening with your patients
  • Encouraging eligible patients to participate in Colon Check®
  • Providing eligible patients Colon Check® information and materials

Further information and resources for Health Professionals are located to the left.

1 Hewitson P, Glasziou P, Watson E, Towler B, Irwig L, Cochrane systematic review of colorectal cancer screening using the fecal occult blood test (Hemoccult): an update. Am J Gastroenterol 2008; 103(6): 1541-1549.

2 Mandel JS, Church TR, Bond JH, Ederer F, Geisser MS, Mongin SJ, et al. The effect of fecal occult-blood screening on the incidence of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med (2000) 343: 1602-7.

3 Mandel JS, Bond JH, Church TR, Snover DC, Bradley GM, Schuman LM et al. Reducing mortality from colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood. N Engl J Med 1993; 328:1365-1371.