For those over 50 who have been receiving notices from Cancer Care Ontario that it’s time for a colonoscopy, this will come as good news.
There is now a way to test for colon cancer from the comfort of your home. And the test is easy, non-invasive, and often works better than the old tests.
Dr. Jonathan Love, regional colorectal screening lead with the Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program, said since colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and the third in women, “this is not a marginal problem,” he said. “The good news is it’s curable for most people if treated early. And this test can detect it earlier than previous tests.” The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is 10 times more sensitive than the previous chemical tests, Love said, and there are no dietary restrictions required prior to taking the test.
The previous test required three stool samples and wasn’t able to detect traces of blood or polyps until they were a certain size, meaning cancer was further along and harder to treat.
The FIT test is sent from a central lab; people have one week to do the test and then mail it back to the lab.
“If the test is positive, patients will be notified and they’ll need a colonoscopy to really assess their condition,” Love said.
The FIT test can detect colon cancer at the Stage 1 or 2 level, “and these are curable. Then we can offer people something,” Love said.
The FIT test is available to people over 50 of average risk through their family doctor or Telehealth Ontario. If there’s a family history or other underlying health conditions, those folks will need a colonoscopy, Love said.
More information can be found at www.grhospon.ca/WWRCP.
