Colon cancer demonstration by a doctor with a mask on

Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screening

CDHF

Written by: CDHF

Updated: December 1st, 2022

Canadians with family history of colorectal cancer need to be screened earlier, more often.  The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) has released a guideline for colorectal screening. 

There is evidence that people with first degree relatives (parents, brothers, sisters or children) with colorectal cancer are at an increased risk.

Checking for evidence of a disease in a group of people who do not show any symptoms is done through a screening program.  In Canada, each province has a program to screen a portion of the population for Colorectal Cancer.  Screening helps to identify cancer, often before any symptoms develop in an individual.  An individual’s prognosis, or chances of successful treatment, are much better when colorectal cancer is found and treated early.  In general, individuals who are between 50 and 74 years of age, or who have a higher risk for colorectal cancer, participate in a screening program. 

Read more about your provincial colorectal cancer screening program.

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