Bc colon cancer screening program

Guidelines by Topic. Addictions and Substance Use. Diagnostic Imaging. High Ferritin and Iron Overload. Endocrine System. Gastrointestinal System. Geriatric Medicine. Head and Neck. Mental Health. Palliative Care. Preventative Health. Respiratory System. Rheumatological and Musculoskeletal Systems.

Urological System. Follow-up of Colorectal Polyps or Cancer. Individuals with colorectal adenomas or carcinoma are at high risk for recurrence. Colonoscopy is the key follow-up test to detect new primary cancers or adenomas. Patients followed by colonoscopy do not require fecal occult blood testing FOBT.

Early detection and treatment of CRC metastases may prolong survival. TOP Epidemiology By definition all adenomatous polyps have dysplasia. Patients with sessile adenomas where complete removal is uncertain Follow-up colonoscopy within 6 months to verify complete removal.

Post-Cancer Resection The goal of follow-up after resection is to identify recurrent disease or metastases and to detect subsequent adenomas. Follow-up Visits with Family Physician Focused history and physical examination are recommended every 3 to 6 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for a total of 5 years.

Physical examination with particular attention to the abdomen, liver and rectal evaluation or perineal inspection and palpation in those patients who have had an abdominal perineal resection.

Routine laboratory investigations, such as liver chemistry, in the absence of symptoms are not useful. Imaging and X-rays Liver imaging, by ultrasound or CT scan CT preferable , 10 , 11 is recommended every 6 months for the first 3 years, then once per year for 2 more years.

Follow-up strategies for patients treated for non-metastatic colorectal cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , Issue 1. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The FIT test will be used once every two years by people who take part in the colon screening program. If you do not have a family doctor you can still take part in the colon screening program. It is simple and easy to get a home screening kit for colon cancer. There are three main ways to take part:.

What happens after the test? Your samples are mailed directly to a laboratory within Eastern Health to be analyzed and the results are sent to the colon screening program. The screening program will then forward the results to you and your health-care provider. What does a normal negative test mean? A normal negative test means that blood was not found in your stool. However, as a member of the colon screening program, you will receive another letter and test kit in two years.

What does an abnormal positive test mean? An abnormal positive test means that blood may have been found in your stool. Do not panic, there are many reasons for blood being found in your stool. A positive FIT result does not necessarily mean that you have colon cancer; however, more testing is normally required to see where the blood is coming from. The colon screening program will contact you about follow-up care.

The usual follow-up test that is arranged is a colonoscopy. What is a colonoscopy? Colonoscopy involves passing a thin flexible tube into the rectum and gently guiding it along the colon. This tube has a tiny camera on the end, and allows the doctor to examine the bowel for polyps.

Most patients will be referred for a FIT once every two years. Individuals who have a significant family history of colorectal cancer will be referred to their regional health authority for a screening colonoscopy. This program will save many lives in B. Family physicians will provide patients with a test requisition, which they can take to their local community or private laboratory. The laboratory will provide the patient with the FIT and detailed instructions for use.

Patients will need to return the test to the laboratory for processing and results will be provided to the family physician. The colon cancer screening program will include a number of unique features, including health authority patient co-ordinators to provide support to patients who are referred for colonoscopy. Colon cancer is preventable and easily treated if detected early and this new program is good news for our patients.

Many aspects of the successful colon check pilot program will carry over into the new program, including the FIT, health authority patient co-ordinators, quality and performance standards and patient reminders. The new model builds on the experiences of the pilot program and ensures that family physicians have a strong role in the screening patient pathway. Stein, president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. Consequently, it is essential that men and women between the ages of 50 to 74 be screened before they have any signs or symptoms.

We are very pleased that British Columbians will have access to a province wide FIT screening program that will ultimately result is the saving of many lives. The BC Cancer Agency will provide overall leadership and provincial oversight of the new program.

That conversation literally saved my life. The program includes fees for practitioners, specialists and laboratory medicine services that will be paid through B. These costs will depend on how many patients participate in the program.