Colorectal cancer screening

The most common risk factor for colorectal cancer is age, with the risk  increasing from the age of 50 onwards, when everyone is at “average risk” of developing the disease. In Quebec, colorectal cancer screening is  recommended every two years for average-risk individuals with no  symptoms and no other risk factors.

Screening is carried out using an immunochemical stool occult blood test  (iFOBT). It cannot tell whether a person has colorectal cancer, but it can detect the presence of blood in the stool, which may be a sign of cancer. When the iFOBT yields a positive result, another test— the long colonoscopy —is recommended to establish the diagnosis. 

People with a higher risk of colorectal cancer are given priority and eligibility.  The type of screening method depends on a person's particular situation.

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