Intro to colon cancer

You may be wondering why we’re focusing on colon cancer when there are so many other types of cancer to worry about. (We also focus on breast and cervical cancer for people at risk for these cancers.)

In Ontario, we focus on screening for these types of cancer for a few reasons.

First, these three cancers are relatively common, and so it makes sense to screen for them rather than screening for rarer cancers. Second, we have reliable and proven screening tests to check for each of these cancers at very early stages or even before they start, when treatment is easiest and most effective. We can more easily offer these tests to the populations at risk for these cancers. We don’t (yet) have similar screening tests for other types of cancer.

As well, these cancers can be caught early or even prevented with screening. If caught early, they are very easy to treat. If these cancers aren't detected until later stages, though, treatment is much longer and more painful — and may not be as successful.

Finally, we know that the screening tests for cervical, breast and colon cancer benefit large groups of people. For example, we know that all adults age 50 and over should be screened for colon cancer, and that anyone with a cervix who is sexually active should be screened for cervical cancer starting from the age of 21. Similarly, breast cancer screening is appropriate for any person over age 50 to 69 with breast tissue. But we don’t have the same evidence that population-wide screening would reduce the rates of other types of cancers.

So, that’s why we screen for breast, colon and cervical cancer. If you’re at risk for a different type of cancer, or if you have symptoms that you think may be cancer related, it’s important to get checked out by your doctor and create a personalized cancer screening plan that works for you.