Get Screened

In general, everyone between the ages of 50-74 should get screened regularly for colon cancer. There are two screening tests for colon cancer – the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and colonoscopy. 

 

FIT is recommended every two years for people who do not have a personal history of precancerous lesions or a significant family history of colon cancer.‎

 

 

If you are younger than 74 (inclusive) with a personal history of precancerous lesions:

Findings from prior coloscopies and your family history will determine the timing of future colonoscopies or whether you return to screening with fecal immunochemical test (FIT).

If you are younger than 74 (inclusive) with a significant family history of colon cancer:
Colonoscopy is recommended every five years.

Significant family history means that you have:

  • One first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) with colon cancer diagnosed under the age of 60; or,
  •  Two or more first-degree relatives with colon cancer diagnosed at any age.

Colonoscopy screening can start at whichever age is youngest between the following:

  • Age 40; or,
  • 10 years younger than the age of diagnosis of your youngest affected relative that was diagnosed with colon cancer.
    • ​The youngest affected relative does not have to be a first-degree relative (i.e., can be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, half-sibling, niece, nephew) ​but should be on the same side of the family as the first-degree relative with colorectal cancer.​

How to get screened for colon cancer

Your primary care provider can refer you for FIT or colonoscopy. A primary care provider is required to participate in screening. Primary care providers can advise you about the benefits and limitations of screening, order tests, and follow-up on test results.

If you don’t have a primary care provider, the following options are available to support screening:

Virtual clinics supporting screening participants

The clinics listed have volunteered to support screening participants who do not currently have a primary care provider. Being listed on this webpage should not be considered an endorsement by BC Cancer. Please contact these clinics directly for more information. If you are a clinic that is accepting patients for cancer screening referrals and follow-up, please contact us at promotions@bccancer.bc.ca

Primary Care Resources 

  • Register for the Health Connect Registry to be contacted when a provider in your area becomes available.  
  • Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and speak with a Health Service Navigator. They will review options with you, including how to find a family doctor accepting new patients, access walk-in clinics, or find a nurse practitioner in your community.
  • Search for a primary care provider using the Pathways Medical Care Directory.

Your questions


 
Screening is only recommended for people who are not experiencing symptoms. Talk to your health care provider about a referral for diagnostic testing if you are experiencing any of the symptoms below:​
  • Blood in your stool
  • Abdominal pain
  • Change in bowel habits
  • Unexplained weight loss 
If you have a personal history of colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease, you should continue to obtain care through your specialist or your health care provider as you have individual needs that cannot be met with a population approach to screening.
 

 

Screening may lead to additional tests to determine the reason for an abnormal screening result. This does not mean a cancer was found. The majority of people called back for additional tests will not have cancer.

  • Colon screening has been shown to decrease the chance of dying from colon cancer. However, there is no perfect screening test and some people will die from colon cancer even if they receive screening. A FIT may be abnormal when there is nothing wrong. A FIT may also be normal when there is a cancer or polyp in the colon. Some polyps and cancers do not bleed or may not be bleeding at the time the test was done. 
  • Certain cancers may never cause any symptoms or affect life expectancy or quality of life. However, research shows that most colon cancers are harmful and that colon cancer should be detected and treated as early as possible.
  • There can be risks with colonoscopy such as bleeding and bowel perforation, and in rare cases, death.
For more information about colon screening, please see this brochure (also available in Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese).

 

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