Fighting back Against

Colon Cancer

Presentations prepared by: Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Public Affairs, Prevention May 2012

How we’re fighting cancer

• doing everything we can to prevent cancer

• funding research to outsmart cancer

• empowering, informing and supporting Canadians living with cancer

• advocating for public policies to improve the health of Canadians

• rallying Canadians to get involved in the fight against cancer

Overview

• What is cancer?• What is colon cancer?• How common is it?• What are the risk factors?• How to reduce your risk• Early Detection and Screening

Colon Cancer

• starts in the cells of the colon and rectum

• slow and predictable growth

• often treatable when diagnosed at an early stage

Colon cancer is the number two cancer killer.

Yet, it is 90% treatable when caught early.

How common is colon cancer in Ontario?

The most frequently diagnosed cancers for men are:

1. prostate cancer

2. colon cancer

3. lung cancer

The most frequently diagnosed cancers for women are:

4. breast cancer

5. lung cancer

6. colon cancer

Risk Factors We Can’t Control

• age – particularly after 50

• family history of colon cancer

• having polyps

• having genetic predisposition

• inflammatory bowel disease

• ethnic background – people of Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) descent

Risk Factors We Can Control

• diet (red meat, processed meat)

• alcohol consumption

• smoking

• physical inactivity

• obesity

Early Detection & Screening

• Signs & symptoms

Early Detection & Screening

• Colon cancer is 90% treatable when caught early.

• Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about colon cancer screening.

Who should be screened?

Average riskmen and women 50 and older

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) at least every two years

High riskmen and women (first-degree relative with colon cancer)

Colonoscopies starting at age 50 or 10 years before age of diagnosed relative

Other high riskmen and women

Talk to your doctor about screening

ColonCancerCheck

ColonCancerCheck.ca. 2010

• free province-wide colon cancer screening program

• screens with FOBT (average risk), colonoscopy (higher risk)

• FOBT kits available from your doctor or nurse practitioner. Call Telehealth to talk to a nurse about getting the kit.

• follow-up included

Colon cancer

How to complete an FOBT (Canada)

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) Kit

• Be aware of risk factors

• Know the signs & symptoms

• Go for screening – when you don’t have symptoms!

Fighting Colon Cancer

For the most up-to-date information:

• visit www.cancer.ca

• call the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333

Thank you!

Presentation prepared by:Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Public Affairs, Prevention

June 2010