Colorectal cancer screening can help find cancer early, before you have symptoms. It can also help find changes that may lead to cancer. If you are at average risk and between the ages of 45 and 74, talk with your family doctor or nurse practitioner about getting screened with the fecal immunochemical test, also called FIT, every two years.
You may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer based on your family history. People at increased risk may need screening with a colonoscopy instead of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
If you are at increased risk, screening with colonoscopy may begin at age 40, or 10 years earlier than the age your youngest relative was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, whichever comes first.
Talk with your family doctor or nurse practitioner about your family history and the screening that is right for you.
If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can get a free ColonCancerCheck FIT kit by calling Health811 at 811 or TTY 1-866-797-0007.
Some people with a family history of colorectal cancer may need colonoscopy instead of FIT. Speak with your family doctor or nurse practitioner about the screening test that is right for you.
For more information about colorectal cancer screening, visit the Screening for Colorectal Cancer page on the Cancer Care Ontario website.
