Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in Canada for men and women. And colon cancer rates in Island women are higher than the national average. You probably won’t see or feel anything wrong in its early stages because there’s lots of room for a tumour to grow and expand in your lower abdomen. Screening can find colon cancer before you have symptoms. Found early, it can usually be treated successfully.

Screening for Colon Cancer

If you’re over 50, have a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) at least every 2 years. This test checks your stool for blood that you may not know is there. If your FOBT shows traces of blood, your doctor will perform follow up tests that may include:

• A colonoscopy: A test that lets your doctor look at the lining of your colon using a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end.
• A sigmoidoscopy: Like a colonoscopy, but your doctor looks at your rectum and the lower part of your colon.

For colon cancer screening program details call:

PEI Colorectal Cancer Screening Program: 1-888-561-2233

For general cancer screening information call:

Cancer Information Service: 1-888-939-3333

Visit cancer.ca for more information about colon cancer.