Colon Cancer Prevention Program Now Available in Cumberland County Health Authority

Nova Scotians living in Cumberland County will now have access to a home screening kit for early detection of colon cancer.

MLA Brian Skabar, on behalf of Health Minister Maureen MacDonald, officially launched the Colon Cancer Prevention Program today, Dec. 10, at Cumberland Health Care Centre in Amherst.

"The program expansion is part of government's efforts to provide better health care for families in every region," said Mr. Skabar. "There is a 90 per cent chance of curing colon cancer when it is diagnosed and treated early, so please take advantage of this program and get tested."

Thirty-five new cases of colon cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Cumberland County this year. Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Nova Scotia.

People between the ages of 50 and 74 who live in the Cumberland area will begin receiving information on the Colon Cancer Prevention Program next week, followed by a home screening kit with directions in English and French.

"More of us need to take better care of ourselves," said Bruce Saunders, chair of the Cumberland Health Authority Board. "Our research shows that only a small percentage of people in this region have cancer screening tests, such as pap tests and mammograms. This new colon cancer test is a simple way for us to be proactive about our health."

The home screening test is easy to use. It tests for small amounts of blood in the stool, which may be a sign of growths in the colon.

"Colon cancer is a preventable cancer," said Dr. Bernard Badley, medical director, Colon Cancer Prevention Program. "I cannot stress enough the importance of people being regularly screened before there are any signs of disease."

Although the program is in its early stages, it is making a difference.

"The screening program has identified several people with early cancers and pre-cancers," Dr. Badley said. "Without screening, these likely would not be found until a much later stage when treatment is far less effective."

More often than not, there are no warning signs of colon cancer in the early stages when it is most treatable. Moreover, most people who get the disease have no family history of it.

The greatest risk factor for colon cancer is being older than 50. Nova Scotians, age 50 to 74, are encouraged to be tested regularly.

The program will be province wide by spring and is underway in South Shore Health, Cape Breton District Health Authority, Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority, South West Health, Colchester East Hants Health Authority, Pictou County Health Authority and Annapolis Valley Health.

For more details on colon cancer or the kits, go to www.cancercare.ns.ca/coloncancerprevention.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a provincial program of the Department of Health, which facilitates quality cancer prevention and care for Nova Scotians.