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Ontario Lowers Colorectal Cancer Screening Age to 45
Confirmed
In Short: Ontario has joined Prince Edward Island in lowering the eligibility age for routine colorectal cancer screenings to 45, reflecting a growing trend to detect the disease early among younger adults.
Colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults in Canada, according to Barry Stein, president of Colorectal Cancer Canada. Stein, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 41, emphasizes the importance of early detection to prevent the disease.
Stein advocates for uniform screening standards across Canada, stating, 'We should all be able to have the same advantages to prevent the disease, regardless of the province or territory that you live in.
Cancer Care Ontario reports that nine out of ten people can be cured when colorectal cancer is detected early. The Canadian Cancer Society believes that regular stool tests for colorectal cancer outweigh the limitations.
Trish Riley, a survivor of stage 3 colorectal cancer, expressed her support for the change, saying she was 'super proud' of P.E.I. and 'thrilled' that Ontario is following suit, while feeling sad for those in other provinces who may not have their cancers detected early enough.
Background
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the second-largest country by total area, with the longest coastline of any country.
What's confirmed
- Colorectal Cancer Canada president Barry Stein says colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults and can be prevented if polyps in the colon or rectum are detected early and removed.
- "We should all be able to have the same advantages to prevent the disease, regardless of the province or territory that you live in," said Stein, who endured multiple surgeries after being diagnosed with colorectal…
- Canada urged to lower colorectal cancer screening to 45 According to Cancer Care Ontario, nine out of every 10 people can be cured when colorectal cancer is detected early.
- Stein said all the provinces are at various stages of looking at the numbers and considering the change for people with an average risk of colorectal cancer.
- Trish Riley was shocked when a colonoscopy triggered by unexplained blood loss revealed she had stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 51.
- "When you think about how important it is to find cancer early, the Canadian Cancer Society believes the benefits of having regular stool tests for colorectal cancer outweigh the limitations," said Elizabeth Holmes,…
- Riley, whose CT scans over the last few years have shown no cancer, said she was "super proud" of P.E.I. when it announced it was lowering the age for FIT screening to age 45 and was "thrilled" that Ontario is doing…
- She said she feels sad for people in other provinces who may not have their cancers detected early enough.
What's still developing
- Further details were still being reported.