Colorectal Cancer Screening
The ColonCancerCheck (CCC) Program recommends that most people at average risk aged 50 to 74 who qualify for colorectal cancer screening get screened every 2 years through a fecal immunochemical test (FIT). For people at increased risk because of a family history of the disease (one or more
first-degree relatives with colorectal cancer), this program recommends colonoscopy beginning at age 50, or 10 years earlier than the age at which the relative was diagnosed, whichever occurs first.
Instead of FIT, people with personal history of certain polyps, hereditary syndromes or inflammatory bowel disease and those present with signs of rectal bleeding, unexplained abdominal pain or sudden change in bowel habits, should be screened with a colonoscopy.
What is a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)?
How Can I Understand My Personal Risk?
FIT is a safe, painless, and simple at-home screening test for people at average risk of colorectal cancer. It checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colorectal cancer or some pre-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time).
Colorectal cancer risk factors vary from person to person. To understand your personal risk, you can complete the My CancerIQ Cancer Risk Questionnaire. This online tool takes about 15 minutes to complete and is available in both English and French.
After completing the assessment, you’ll receive a personalized risk assessment and action plan with tips and resources based on your personal risk factors.
What are the Potential Benefits of Regular Colorectal Cancer Screening?
- Quick & Easy – The test takes just a few minutes to complete.
- One Sample Needed – You will only need to collect one stool (poop) sample.
- Normal Diet and Medications – You can eat and take your regular medications (including vitamin C and blood thinners) as usual while performing the test.
How Does FIT Work?
1. You will collect a small sample of stool at home using the tools provided in your FIT kit (watch an instructional video).
2. Mailing or Dropping Off Your Sample: Once you have collected your sample, you can
- Mail it to LifeLabs using the prepaid envelope included in your kit, or
- Drop it off at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre within 2 days
3. LifeLabs will process your sample and test it for tiny amounts of blood, which could be a sign of colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps.
How Can I Get Screened?
What Happens After the Test?
Normal Result
If your FIT test result is normal, the Ontario ColonCancerCheck Program will:
- Send you a letter with your result by mail.
- Notify your family doctor or nurse practitioner about the result.
This means no further tests are needed, and you should continue screening every 2 years using FIT until age 74.
Abnormal Result
If your FIT test shows abnormal result, the Ontario ColonCancerCheck Program will:
- Send you a letter with your result by mail.
- Notify your family doctor or nurse practitioner about the result.
- Coordinate with your family doctor or nurse practitioner to schedule a colonoscopy appointment within 8 weeks.
What Does an Abnormal FIT Result Mean?
An abnormal FIT result does NOT necessarily mean you have colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps. However, it does mean that additional testing is needed. Polyps are abnormal growths on the lining of the colon or rectum that can sometimes turn into cancer over time.
Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will usually recommend that you get a colonoscopy. Only a colonoscopy can tell you if you have colorectal cancer.
A colonoscopy is an exam that allows a doctor to look at the lining of your entire colon using a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. During colonoscopy, the doctor can also take biopsies (tissue samples) or remove polyps (small growths that form on the lining of the colon or rectum).checks the cervix more closely to see if anything does not look normal. This test help doctors get a clearer picture and make sure any issues are properly assessed.
What Happens after the Colonoscopy?
You will get your colonoscopy results before you leave the hospital or clinic from the doctor who did your colonoscopy. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will also get a copy of your results.
How Can I Prevent Colorectal Cancer?
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Be physically active
- Limit alcohol
- Live smoke-free
- Limit the amount of red and processed meats you eat
- Eat foods that are high in fibre
- Eat dairy products
- Follow cancer screening guidelines
