Grand River Regional Cancer Centre,

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Colorectal Screening

Source: the Cancer System Quality Index www.cancercare.on.ca/qualityindex2006

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The percentage of Ontario and Waterloo Wellington men and women of screen-eligible age (50-74), who have had one or more FOBT tests in the last year, for the years 2001-2004.

Colorectal cancer is one of the four most common cancers diagnosed in Ontario, and, among non-smokers, colorectal cancer is the most common cause of cancer death.
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is the recommended screening test for those who have average risk for colorectal cancer.
Studies show that the colorectal cancer death rate would be reduced by 15%-33% if screen-eligible adults (ages 50-74) had an FOBT once every 1 or 2 years. At the same time, the number of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer would be reduced by 18%.The probability of curing this cancer is 90% when it is detected early.
Cancer Care Ontario's goal is that by the year 2020 90% of screen-eligible Ontarians will be screened in an organized colorectal cancer screening program.
Organized cancer screening programs have been shown to be more effective and efficient than ad hoc screening.

Across Ontario, FOBT rates are extremely low
In Waterloo Wellington the results are lower than Ontario for the first three years of the report but are slightly higher than Ontario in 2004