(submitted photo/Sask. Cancer Agency)

By Brady Bateman

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Mar 8, 2019 | 2:39 PM

An uncomfortable topic, but a necessary one. That’s the idea behind March’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness month.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada and affects more than 26,000 Canadians a year. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends men and women aged 50 to 74 get screened regularly as part of routine medical care, even if no symptoms are present.

Dr. Bernard Lawlor, medical advisor for the screening program for colorectal cancer with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, said although it’s not something people like to think about, it’s important to spread awareness.

“It’s very important to have awareness, because our screening program and any screening program requires high participation rates in order to be successful. If you don’t have participation rates above 60 per cent than the screening programs will fail,” said Lawlor.

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“Our biggest problem in Saskatchewan is, because it’s a widespread and diverse population, we’re actually sitting around 50 per cent, and have actually dropped below 50 per cent in the last year in our participation rate. We’d like to see that increase, and by using the Colorectal Cancer Awareness month we’re hoping to bring this back to people’s attention.”

In Canada, according to Lawlor, colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women. In Saskatchewan if you add the number of colorectal cancers in men and women together, it becomes the most diagnosed cancer. The second most diagnosed is lung cancer.

“Around 880 people are diagnosed in Saskatchewan with colorectal cancer per year, around 500 men and 380 women. Number two would be lung cancer, which is about 300 men and 420 women. So it’s even more than lung cancer, more than prostate cancer, and more than breast cancer,” Lawlor said.

“The number of deaths from colorectal cancer per year in men is estimated at 150.”

Lawlor added early detection is key when it comes to colorectal cancer.

“The screening program is not to find cancer, the screening program is to try and find the pre-cancerous lesions. Once the patient develops symptoms, and then get tested, we find the tumors are much more advanced and the cancer has reached stage three or four,” Lawlor said.

“If we get the cancer when it’s in stage one or stage two then the prognosis is about 90 per cent cure. If it’s already spread to the lymph glands that drops to about 71 per cent and if it goes beyond that and spreads to the liver, then the mortality rate is over 90 per cent.”

Those who consume large quantities of alcohol, those who smoke, and those who are overweight are all at higher risk for colorectal cancer, according to Lawlor. Colorectal cancer also tends to run in families.

Lawlor noted that the screening program for colorectal cancer is extremely easy, with a medical kit being able to be delivered to an individual’s home. The individual then takes a small sample, and takes the test to the closest laboratory. Results are usually available within a week.

“The screening test is received in an envelope the mail, inside the envelope is a stick which you dip into your stool, all the instructions are there, and there are also videos available on the website which are in English, Cree and Dene,” Lawlor said. “You get to do it in the privacy of your own bathroom and the result will be sent to your family doctor within 24 to 48 hours, and you’ll usually receive the results within seven days. The positivity rate, the likelihood of the test being positive, in Saskatchewan, is just over seven per cent. Once you have a positive test than you’ll have to have a colonoscopy.”

Around seven out of 100 tests will be found positive in Saskatchewan. Around 50 per cent of the individuals who test positive on the screening test will be found to have polyps during their colonoscopy. Cancer is found in roughly three per cent of those tested.

“The screening test can detect growths lond before symptoms occur. Once symptoms do occur usually the cancer is already in stage three or stage four. Colorectal cancer, with early detection, is 90 per cent preventable,” Lawlor said.

“It’s very much about catching it early, and doing the test.”

Lawlor noted the participation rate from the northern parts of Saskatchewan in the screening test are low. Something they have tried to improve by increasing the number of distribution methods for the test.

“We also know that the positivity rate is much higher than in the rest of the province,” Lawlor said. “Whether that’s from people having symptoms and ignoring them, I can’t say, but it is one possibility.”

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brady.bateman@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @thedigitalbirdy