It is estimated that every day 67 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Canada. To put the odds on your side in the face of this treatable and curable disease, preventive screening remains the key, say the experts.
In a press release issued on the occasion of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Colorectal Cancer Canada put forward the slogan “Cancer does not wait, why should you?”.
This message aims to invite as many people as possible to get tested. In general, it is recommended to repeat the exercise every two years from the age of 50. In some cases, depending on family history in particular, it may be suggested by a doctor to start earlier.
In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted medical activities in the public network, many people have neglected preventive tests in recent years. We therefore insist on the importance of acting quickly.
As is the case with most cancers, the earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chances of recovery. It is estimated that in 2022 alone, 5,200 men and 4,200 women died from colorectal cancer in Canada, according to data from the Canadian Cancer Society. It is the fourth most common form of cancer in the country.
Among the main symptoms to observe, we speak of the presence of blood in the stool or a change in the caliber of the stool, a long period of sudden constipation or even a loss of appetite or weight loss.
In most Canadian provinces, all you need to do is request a kit to collect a stool sample at home. Then, we deposit everything in an analysis center in order to know if there is presence of blood. In Quebec, you must first obtain a prescription from a doctor to have access to the immunochemical test for fecal occult blood (iFOBT).
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Ugo Giguere, The Canadian Press
