Screening for colorectal cancer saves lives in Alberta

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If you’re 50 to 74 years of age, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is reminding you to get screened for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Alberta. Most cases of colorectal cancer are in people aged 50 and older with no family history.

Getting screened is easy with the Fecal Immunochemical Test, or FIT, that you can perform at home. It enables the lab to identify blood in your stool (poop) that you can’t see on your own. If blood is found, you will need a colonoscopy to make sure the blood isn’t caused by cancer.

There are two easy ways to get your free FIT kit

in Alberta. Choose what works best for you.

• Option 1: Talk to your doctor or regular healthcare provider who will give you a form that you take to the lab to pick up your FIT kit.

• Option 2: Order your FIT kit online at screeningforlife.ca or call AHS Screening Programs toll-free at 1-866-727-3926. Your FIT kit will be mailed to you.

Once you complete your FIT, drop it off at the lab closest to you for testing. You’ll receive your results in the mail within a few weeks or your healthcare provider will contact you if your results are abnormal. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about your results or any next steps.

If you do not have a healthcare provider, such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner:

• Visit Alberta Find a Doctor.

• Call Health Link at 811.

Having regular colorectal cancer screening can prevent and detect cancer at its early stages when treatment is more effective. Ninety per cent of cases can be treated successfully when the cancer is found early.

Screening is for people who do not have symptoms. You should get screened, even if you feel healthy. Risk factors, such as personal or family history, may mean you should start screening before age 50. If you have symptoms of colorectal cancer, whatever your age, talk to your healthcare provider right away. Visit screeningforlife.ca for more information

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.