NEWS RELEASE

NEW S RELEA SE
For Immediate Release
2012HLTH0130-001698
Nov. 5, 2012
Ministry of Health
Provincial Health Services Authority
BC Cancer Agency
New colorectal cancer screening program to help save lives
(disponible en français en bas de page)
VICTORIA – British Columbia is launching a co-ordinated provincewide colorectal cancer
screening program to assist in early detection of the disease and help save lives, Health
Minister Margaret MacDiarmid announced today.
“In its earliest stages colorectal cancer can have absolutely no symptoms, but catching it early
greatly increases the survival rate,” said MacDiarmid. “This is why regular screening and
detection are so important. This new program recognizes that family physicians are key
influencers for patients in deciding to participate in cancer screening programs and physicians
are also well equipped to speak to their patients about risk factors and prevention.”
The provincewide colorectal program will launch on April 1, 2013, with the introduction of the
publicly-funded fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which is easier for patients to complete at
home and requires no changes to medication or diet. The complete provincial colorectal
screening program will be phased in, with all health authorities on board over the spring and
summer of 2013.
“B.C. has some of the most favourable treatment outcomes in North America and we have a
comprehensive set of screening programs to help us ensure that cancers are detected as early
as possible, “said president and CEO of the Provincial Health Services Authority Lynda Cranston.
“We are confident that a co-ordinated provincewide screening program for colorectal cancer
will help increase screening participation and support prevention and early detection of this
disease right across B.C.”
“As a province, we are known for excellence in cancer control,” said Dr. Max Coppes, president
of the BC Cancer Agency. “Early detection through screening saves lives. The announcement
today of a provincial colorectal cancer screening program is another important step forward for
cancer care in B.C. This new screening program will improve early detection of cancer and
precancerous lesions, and as a direct result decrease colorectal cancer mortality.”
The new program will build on the experiences of the pilot Colon Check colorectal cancer
screening program, which has been running in a number of B.C. communities since 2009.

It will be primary-care-based, with general practitioners referring patients between the ages of
50 and 74 without symptoms for a screening test once every two years. Patients with a
significant family history of colorectal cancer will be referred to their regional health authority
for a screening colonoscopy.
“Colorectal cancer screening is a proven methodology for reducing cancer deaths,” said
Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon, CEO, Barbara Kaminsky. “We are delighted with the
commitment that has now been made to a provincewide program. Our volunteers and staff
look forward to encouraging the public to utilize this important service.”
Patient co-ordinators will provide patients who are referred for a colonoscopy with support to
help make the experience easier and ensure colonoscopy resources are used most effectively.
Recognizing that early detection saves lives, the program will focus on increasing patient
participation in colorectal screening and will have a centralized system for data collection and
monitoring in order to assess patient uptake and outcomes.
The program will send reminders to patients and physicians to let them know when rescreening
is needed.
“There is no doubt that timely screening and detection of colorectal cancer can save lives. This
is a disease that is preventable, treatable and beatable. Coupled with healthy lifestyles,
screening will not only help prevent the disease, but will catch more people with early stage
disease and provide them with a better opportunity for a cure,” said Barry D. Stein, president
of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, who is also a survivor of late-stage colon
cancer.
“A provincewide screening program is something we have advocated for and we are pleased
that B.C. has made the commitment to move forward with this program,” said Stein.
In the coming months, the Provincial Health Services Authority and the BC Cancer Agency will
develop a governance structure and implementation plan for the new screening program. They
will also work together to enhance public awareness, develop a centralized participant registry
and patient recall system, create quality assurance standards for the program and implement a
system for data collection and outcome monitoring.
The Ministry of Health, through the Medical Services Plan, will support general practitioner and
specialist (colonoscopist) fees, and the laboratory fee for the FIT. The BC Cancer Agency will
provide overall leadership and provincial oversight of the new model.
“I just thought that I was having a recurrence of a hemorrhoids issue. I was only 43 years old,
seven years younger than the primary risk group, so I decided to speak to my doctor about
this,” said colorectal cancer survivor, Deb Imada. “Having this discussion with my doctor has
likely saved my life, which is why a provincewide screening program to support early detection
is of key importance for helping to save others from this silent killer type of cancer.

“People don’t think about these cancers developing, and a lot of times there are no symptoms,”
added Imada. “But one simple test can literally save your life. It’s a win, win situation and I am
excited that our province has recognized the great importance and need for screening. Thanks
to my early diagnosis and treatments that followed, I am now able to look forward to a future
with my young son."
“I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2006, which was within the first year of my
retirement,” said colorectal cancer survivor, Doug Shirlaw. “I have now been out of treatment
for almost six years and am doing well, but I am one of the fortunate few. I saw a number of
members of my colon cancer support group die because their diagnosis came too late.”
“An early screening program will save lives and certainly turn this serious disease into one that
is both treatable and beatable. I am extremely pleased and supportive of this early screening
program,” added Shirlaw.
For more information on colorectal cancer and screening, please visit:
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/TypesofCancer/Colorectal/default.htm
A backgrounder follows.
Contacts:
Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)
Patrick Blennerhassett
Communications Officer
Provincial Health Services Authority
Patrick.Blennerhasset[email protected]
604 675-7416
604 871-5699 (media pager)
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

BAC KG RO UNDER
For Immediate Release
2012HLTH0130-001698
Nov. 5, 2012
Ministry of Health
Provincial Health Services Authority
BC Cancer Agency
Quick facts about colorectal cancer
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Colorectal cancer is the third most common
cancer in Canada and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. It is the
third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women.
In British Columbia, an estimated 1,600 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in
2012 and an estimated 630 men will die of the disease.
In British Columbia, an estimated 1,250 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer
in 2012 and an estimated 520 women will die of the disease.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer and if detected at its
earliest stage, it is 90 per cent curable.
Colorectal cancer often does not cause symptoms until after it has begun to spread.
Contacts:
Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)
Patrick Blennerhassett
Communications Officer
Provincial Health Services Authority
Patrick.Blennerhasset[email protected]
604 675-7416
604 871-5699 (media pager)
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

COMMUNIQUÉ
Pour diffusion immédiate ministère de la Santé
2012HLTH0130-001698 Provincial Health Services Authority
5 novembre 2012 BC Cancer Agency
Un nouveau programme de dépistage du cancer colorectal qui aidera à sauver des vies
VICTORIA – La Colombie-Britannique lance un programme de dépistage du cancer colorectal
coordonné à l’échelle de toute la province. Ce programme vise à favoriser le dépistage précoce
de la maladie et à sauver des vies, annonçait aujourd’hui la ministre de la Santé, Margaret
MacDiarmid.
« Lorsqu’il en est à ses premiers stades, le cancer colorectal ne présente pratiquement aucun
symptôme, mais le détecter rapidement accroît grandement le taux de survie à la maladie,
précise madame MacDiarmid. Voilà pourquoi les tests de dépistage et de détection sont si
importants. Ce nouveau programme tient compte du fait que les médecins de famille ont une
grande influence sur leurs patients pour les inciter à participer à des programmes de dépistage
du cancer. Les médecins sont aussi bien outillés pour discuter avec leurs patients des facteurs
de risque et de la prévention. »
Le programme provincial pour le cancer colorectal s’amorcera le 1er avril 2013 avec la mise en
place d’un test immunochimique fécal (test FIT) à l’échelle provinciale et à financement public,
facile à faire à la maison par les patients eux-mêmes et qui n’exige aucun changement au
régime alimentaire ou aux médicaments qu’ils prennent. Le programme provincial complet de
dépistage du cancer colorectal sera déployé au cours du printemps et de l’été 2013, avec la
participation de l’ensemble des autorités de la santé de la province.
« La Colombie-Britannique jouit des résultats les plus favorables en matière de traitement en
Amérique du Nord et nous disposons d’un ensemble de programmes de dépistage qui nous
assure que les cancers sont détectés dès que possible », mentionne la présidente et chef de la
direction de la Provincial Health Services Authority (régie provinciale des services de santé de la
Colombie-Britannique), Lynda Cranston. « Nous sommes convaincus qu’un programme de
dépistage du cancer colorectal coordonné à l’échelle provinciale accroîtra la participation au
dépistage et contribuera à la prévention et à la détection précoce de cette maladie dans toute
la Colombie-Britannique. »
« Notre province est reconnue pour l’excellence de ses mécanismes de contrôle du cancer,
affirme le Dr Max Coppes, président de la BC Cancer Agency. Une détection précoce grâce au
dépistage permet de sauver des vies. L’annonce, aujourd’hui, d’un programme de dépistage du
cancer colorectal constitue un autre grand pas en avant pour les soins du cancer en Colombie-
Britannique. Ce nouveau programme de dépistage améliorera la détection précoce de lésions
précancéreuses et cela aura directement comme effet de réduire la mortalité due au cancer
colorectal. »