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Overview
The Ottawa Hospital is pleased to participate in Ontario’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. This program aims to save lives by improving access to colorectal cancer screening exams for those at increased risk.
Information for Patients
ColonCancerCheck is Ontario’s province-wide, organized screening program designed to encourage people to get screened and reduce deaths from colorectal cancer. The program has many important benefits:
- Invites people to get screened
- Reminds program participants when it is time for their next screening test
- Let’s participants know of their screening results
- Tells participants to talk to their family doctor or nurse practitioner if they have an abnormal test result
- Tracks program participants as they get screened
- Tracks program quality and performance
The program provides screening to men and women between the ages of 50 and 74. The kind of screening test you get depends on whether you are at average risk or at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer.
Average Risk Screening
Screening is the best way of finding colorectal cancer early. Most people ages 50 to 74 are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer, meaning they do not have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It is recommended that people at average risk get screened with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every 2 years.
A fecal immunochemical test (the recommended colorectal cancer screening test for most people, also called FIT) is a safe and painless at-home cancer screening test. FIT checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colorectal cancer or some pre-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time).
Increased Risk Screening
Someone is at increased risk if they have a family history of colorectal cancer that includes 1 or more first-degree relatives (parent, brother, sister or child) with the disease.
A colonoscopy is a test that allows a doctor to look at the entire colon using a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. During a colonoscopy, the doctor can also take biopsies (samples of tissue) or remove polyps that can become cancer over time (called pre-cancerous polyps).
A colonoscopy is not recommended to screen people who are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer. However, colonoscopy is recommended to screen people who are at increased risk of getting the disease. Colonoscopy can also be used to test people who have symptoms such as rectal bleeding or diarrhea.
How to get Screened
To get your free FIT kit, talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can get the kit by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-828-9213. Once a Fit kit has been ordered for you, LifeLabs will mail a FIT package to your Ontario Mailing address of choice. For more information on how to do your FIT, see the FIT instruction page: Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Instructions (opens in a new tab)
Colonoscopy is a test done by a specialist at a hospital or clinic. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will send you for the test if you are at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer.
Resources for the Public
ColonCancerCheck Ressources
- Colorectal Cancer Screening (opens in a new tab)
- Abnormal FIT Result Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab)
- FIT Instructions (opens in a new tab)
Helpful Websites
The Ottawa Hospital is pleased to participate in Ontario’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. This program aims to save lives by improving access to colorectal cancer screening exams for those at increased risk. Patients may qualify if they are:
- Between 50 and 74 years of age with a positive FIT (fecal immunochemical test),
OR;
- Have a family history of colorectal cancer – one or more first-degree relatives (father, mother, and/or sibling) diagnosed with colorectal cancer
Referring a patient for Colonoscopy
Fax: 613-761-4388
Guide for Referring Physicians
Regional Referral Form. You will find on the reverse side a list of FIT approved sites and corresponding fax numbers of facilities in our region.
Resources for Primary Care Providers
ColonCancerCheck Resources (opens in a new tab) (this is available only in English).
Our Team
Primary care providers, especially family physicians, play a vital role in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Research shows that a personal recommendation from a family physician or primary care provider dramatically increases participation in cancer screening.
Regional team leaders include:
Ellen Odai Alie
Manager, Integrated Cancer Screening and Prevention and Corporate Manager, Breast Imaging
Dr. Anna Wilkinson
Regional Primary Care Lead
Dr. Alaa Rostom
Regional Lead Colorectal Screening / Endoscopy
Last updated on: July 19th, 2021