When it comes to cancer, the province isn’t taking any changes.
Today the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency announced an expansion to their colorectal screening program. Eligible residents in Heartland, Cypress and Prairie North health regions will now have access to the early detection program. This leaves only four health regions that aren’t offering the early detection procedure.
Residents between the ages of 50 and 74 will be mailed a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) they can do at home, and then mail back to a provincial lab. The test can detect pre-cancerous cells. The results will be mailed back to the patient’s family doctor for further follow-up.
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Colon cancer is easily treatable if it’s found early, but some people have concerns about the slightly uncomfortable procedure.
“Sometimes people say it’s not the most pleasant thing to do,” said Heath Minister Don McMorris. “It’s not bad. Compared to the results if it’s undetected, this is a minor minor inconvenience.”
A pilot program in 2009 caught 175 people with pre-cancerous growth, and found cancer in 13 individuals.
“The screening program isn’t to find cancer, it’s to find pre-cancerous growth,” explains Saskatchewan Cancer Agency CEO, Scott Livingstone. “It’s one of those cancers where we’re lucky enough to be able to find pre-cancerous types of lesions, so we can see which patients will most likely go on to have cancer if it’s not removed.”
The Ministry of Health is investing $4 million in the program. It’s a price McMorris says is minimal compared to the cost of cancer treatments.
“It’s a big investment for the province, but the cost savings on a financial basis is one thing, but on a quality of life for those that are prevented from colorectal cancer are huge.”
Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In 2011, approximately 690 people in Saskatchewan were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 270 died from the disease.
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