News Release
New Colorectal Cancer Screening Program underway in Niagara – Welland patient part of provincial launch today
- Date of Issue: Friday, March 14, 2008
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Jump directly to: A Patient's Story | Fact Sheet
Niagara, ON - Welland patient Joe Hrechanyk got up close and personal today, when he was selected to be part of the launch of ColonCancerCheck, a provincial awareness campaign to increase participation in colorectal cancer screening programs. The program was officially launched by Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman this morning in Toronto. Hrechanyk's colorectal cancer screening and treatment at the Niagara Health System's (NHS) Welland Hospital Site and his story of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer [see A Patient's Story on pg. 2] illustrates the immense benefits to the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, underway in Ontario since 2007.
"The NHS is pleased to play a major role in improving the health of Niagara residents, particularly when it comes to preventing cancer," said Kathy Hume, Colorectal Cancer Screening Clinical Manager. "We strongly encourage our residents to take advantage of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program by discussing this with their family physician."
In the last seven months, there has been a marked increase in the number of patients receiving colonoscopies at three of the Niagara Health System's (NHS) hospitals. The NHS received $384,960 in new funding which has been put to good use, providing additional hospital Endoscopy hours for staff and general surgeons, gastroenterologists and internists to conduct an extra 25 colonoscopies per week or an additional 1,203 tests each year. This, combined with an annual caseload of 8,623 patients, brings the NHS's total colonoscopy volumes to almost 10,000 per year. The additional pre-screening colonoscopies are performed by 17 specialists who have extra Endoscopy time at Greater Niagara General Site (Niagara Falls), Ontario Street Site (St. Catharines) and Welland Hospital Site.
"We have been working closely with our specialists and Niagara's family doctors, who are referring their patients to our Colorectal Cancer Screening Program," said Anne Atkinson, Vice President Patient Services for the Surgical Program. "We are very pleased that our caseload has increased, because early detection means a 90 per cent cure rate for colorectal cancer."
Ontario has one of the highest rates of colorectal or bowel cancer in the world and the province is investing $193 million over five years to raise awareness of the availability of screening for all adults 50 years and older. The new ColonCancerCheck program is a public awareness campaign which offers free colorectal cancer testing (Fecal Occult Blood Test and follow-up Colonoscopy) to Ontario adults over 50.
"Joe Hrechanyk is a prime example of a person who was asymptomatic," said Hume. "If he hadn't been encouraged to have the tests, a few months or years could have gone by before any symptoms showed and his outcome could be much worse. Every day, we see patients who are concerned because their father, mother, brother or sister had bowel cancer and they need the reassurance that the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program can give."
As a medical oncologist in Niagara, Dr. Janice Giesbrecht sees patients who need cancer therapies.
"I would like to emphasize how important screening for colorectal cancer is for our population in order to reduce deaths from this common cancer," Dr. Giesbrecht said. "I primarily treat people who need surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation for more advanced cancers, when early detection could have made this unnecessary and ensured better outcomes. Colorectal screening including colonoscopy, in addition to early detection, can also prevent cancer by removing polyps at risk of developing cancer. As physicians who treat cancer, we strongly support this program."
A Patient's Story
One recent success story is the case of Welland patient Joe Hrechanyk, aged 68. When Hrechanyk went last fall to see his new family doctor for a physical, the last thing he expected was advice to have colorectal cancer screening. "I was hesitant because I felt fine," said the semi-retired tour bus operator and carpentry hobbyist. "For one thing, I didn't know what it would be like and for another I was afraid to admit I could have a health problem." It is important to note that Hrechanyk had no symptoms for colorectal cancer, such as blood in the stool (also a symptom for hemorrhoids).
A Fecal Occult Blood Test was done and microscopic amounts of blood were found. The next step was for Joe's family doctor to book him in for a colonoscopy at Welland Hospital Site (WHS). "It was the first time I've ever had a test like this," Hrechanyk said about his colonoscopy in late November, "but it wasn't too bad."
During the scope, two polyps were found and the smaller one was malignant. The cancerous polyp was removed during the colonoscopy, but surgery was required to fully remove the second polyp. By mid-January, Hrechanyk was back at WHS for bowel resection surgery, where six to eight inches of his colon was removed. "I was amazed – I was sitting up the same day as the surgery, standing up the next day and walking around and using the bathroom the day after that."
Today, Joe is nearing the end of his six- to eight-week recovery period and feels great. "I have had no (post-op) problems and I can't say enough good things about the staff at the hospital and about this program. In my case, we got it early and I consider that a wonderful success."
For more information on ColonCancerCheck please visit: www.coloncancercheck.ca.
Fact Sheet
Colon Cancer Check - Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
Fast Facts
- Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian men and women, yet it is one of the most preventable cancers.
- In 2007, an estimated 7,800 Ontarians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 3,250 will die from the disease. Ontario has one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer in the world.
- When caught early through regular screening, there is a 90% chance colorectal cancer can be cured. The chance of curing colorectal cancer is only 10% if it is detected at an advanced stage.
- In January 2007, the Ontario government, in collaboration with Cancer Care Ontario, introduced ColonCancerCheck – the first population-based provincial colorectal screening program in Canada. The goal of the ColonCancerCheck program is to decrease mortality from colorectal cancer through early detection and treatment.
- The program provides funding to screen all average-risk men and women 50 years and older for colorectal cancer using Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT) every two years. As well, colonoscopy is used to screen those at increased risk because of one or more first degree family members (parent, sibling or child) with colorectal cancer and for those with positive FOBT results. To accomplish this, the program provides funding for increased colonoscopy capacity.
- The Niagara Health System received $394,960 in 2007 to add more Endoscopy space, equipment and staffing to provide 1,203 more colonoscopies each year. By March 2008, total patient volumes for colonoscopies will be almost 10,000 per year.
Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer
There are two tests primarily used to check for colorectal cancer. The first test carried out is a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). If results are positive, a colonoscopy is performed by a general surgeon, gastroenterologist or internist in hospital as an outpatient test.
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) – The FOBT is a simple, self-administered test that can be done in the privacy of your own home. Small amounts of stool are applied to a cardboard slide. The FOBT detects trace amounts of blood in the stool – that cannot be seen with the naked eye – that may indicate the presence of a cancer. It is recommended that everyone 50 years and older should be screened with an FOBT every two years. FOBT is the only method of colorectal cancer screening that has been proven in randomized controlled trials to reduce deaths from colorectal cancer. According to the most current data, just 17% of Ontarians over age 50 have had a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).
Starting in April 2008, ColonCancerCheck FOBT kits will be available free-of-charge from family physicians. Kits will also be available at pharmacies or through Telehealth Ontario for patients who do not have a family physician. The easy-to-use kit includes an envelope to mail in the sample.
If the patient's test results are negative, a letter will be sent to the patient by ColonCancerCheck. If test results are positive, the patient's physician or health care provider will arrange for follow up care. For those residents without a health care provider, ColonCancerCheck will refer patients to a health care provider for follow-up care in their community.
Colonoscopy - Colonoscopies are typically performed by gastroenterologists, general surgeons, and internists. Colonoscopies involve examining the lining of the rectum and colon using a thin flexible fiberoptic instrument with a tiny camera on the end. The rectum and entire colon are examined, and if necessary, biopsies are taken and polyps are removed. Removing benign polyps can prevent cancer from developing.
Niagara Falls (Greater Niagara General Site), St. Catharines (Ontario Street Site) and Welland (Welland Hospital Site) hospitals all offer colonoscopies as part of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Colonscopies are booked through a physician's office.