In general, everyone aged 50 to 74 should get screened regularly for colon cancer. There are two screening tests for colon cancer: the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and colonoscopy.
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
FIT is recommended every two years for people who do not have a personal history of precancerous lesions or a significant family history of colon cancer.
Colonoscopy
The results of your previous coloscopies and your family history will help determine when you should have future colonoscopies or whether you can return to screening with FIT.
Colonoscopy is recommended every five years.
A significant family history means you have:
- One first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) diagnosed with colon cancer before age 60, or
- Two or more first-degree relatives diagnosed with colon cancer at any age
You can start colonoscopy screening at whichever of the following ages comes first:
- Age 40
- 10 years younger than the age at which your youngest affected relative was diagnosed with colon cancer
Your youngest affected relative does not need to be a first-degree relative. This person may be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, half-sibling, niece or nephew. However, they should be on the same side of the family as the first-degree relative with colorectal cancer.
If you are younger than 74 (inclusive) with a personal history of precancerous lesions:
Findings from prior coloscopies and your family history will determine the timing of future colonoscopies or whether you return to screening with fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
If you are younger than 74 (inclusive) with a significant family history of colon cancer:
Colonoscopy is recommended every five years.
Significant family history means that you have:
- One first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) with colon cancer diagnosed under the age of 60, or
- Two or more first-degree relatives with colon cancer diagnosed at any age
Colonoscopy screening can start at whichever age is youngest between the following:
- Age 40
- 10 years younger than the age of diagnosis of your youngest affected relative that was diagnosed with colon cancer
- The youngest affected relative does not have to be a first-degree relative (i.e. can be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, half-sibling, niece, nephew) but should be on the same side of the family as the first-degree relative with colorectal cancer
Your primary care provider can refer you for FIT or colonoscopy. A primary care provider is required to participate in screening. They can explain the benefits and limitations of screening, order tests, and follow up on your results.
Sign up for Health Gateway before screening so you can access your results online. Health Gateway can email and/or text (SMS) notifications when:
- New screening letters are available that require follow-up, or
- It is time for your next screening test
The following virtual clinics support people who need screening:
These clinics have volunteered to support people who do not currently have a primary care provider. Inclusion on this page does not mean BC Cancer endorses these clinics. Contact the clinics directly for more information.
If your clinic accepts patients for cancer screening referrals and follow-up, contact us at
promotions@bccancer.bc.ca.
- Register with the
Health Connect Registry to be contacted when a provider becomes available in your area
- Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and speak with a health service navigator. They can review your options, including finding a family doctor accepting new patients, accessing walk-in clinics, or finding a nurse practitioner in your community
- Search for a primary care provider through the Pathways Medical Care Directory
Symptoms and colon cancer screening
Colon cancer screening is recommended only for people who do not have symptoms. If you have symptoms, talk to a health care provider about a referral for diagnostic testing.
Symptoms may include:
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Blood in your stool
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Abdominal pain
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Changes in bowel habits
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Unexplained weight loss
If you have a personal history of colon cancer, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, continue to receive care through your specialist or your health care provider. Your care needs are individual and cannot be met through population-based screening programs.
Things to consider before screening
An abnormal screening result may lead to
additional testing. This does not mean you have cancer. Most people who undergo additional testing do not have cancer.
Colon cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer. However, no screening test is perfect. Some people will still develop or die from colon cancer even if they participate in screening.
A FIT result may be abnormal even when nothing is wrong. It may also be normal when cancer or a polyp is present in the colon. Some polyps and cancers do not bleed, or they may not be bleeding when the test was done.
Some cancers may never cause symptoms or affect life expectancy or quality of life. However, research shows that most colon cancers are harmful and should be detected and treated as early as possible.
Colonoscopy also carries
risks, including bleeding and bowel perforation. In rare cases, it can lead to death.
Learn more about colon screening. Information is also available in: