“The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) acknowledges colorectal cancer as the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of death from a cancer among men and women in Canada, second only to lung cancer. If, however, the cancer is detected early through screening, it may be highly treatable and need not be deadly. In a majority of cases, colorectal cancer is preventable and yet each year in Canada, thousands of people are diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer.”
The Colorectal Cancer Association of Cancer has put together an in-depth page listing the different types of screening for colorectal cancer including:
- Guaiac Fecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT)
- Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT or iFOBT)
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy)
- Stool DNA Test (sDNA) or Fecal DNA Testing
Each one is described in detail on their “Screening & Diagnostics: A guide to screening tests” page. Check it out!
Photo of Colorectal Cancer Association Transit Advertising from 2011.