October is Women's Cancer Awareness month, and this year the focus is on bowel cancer. Dr. Vicky Holmes, ambassador for the month, says that this is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the province, and early detection is the best way to save lives.
Saskatchewan has an early detection program in place, Holmes says, using the FIT test. Mailed out to every resident between 50 and 75, people receive a kit for the test.
The test looks for blood in the stool, at levels long before people would be able to see it themselves. Holmes explains that the test works because bowel cancer is caused by polyps in the colon, which give off small amounts of blood.
"What they've found is that if you can catch this cancer in the early stages, you have a good chance of curing it."
She notes that if the cancer is caught at stage one, the five year survival rate is 93 per cent, but if it's in stage four, the rate is of survival rate decreases dramatically, with a five year survival rate of only eight per cent.
"Catching it early can really change your life."
The program has been a success among the people who have returned the test, with 200 cases being discovered that would not have been found otherwise, as well as many pre-cancerous polyps, with about 600 people having those discovered through the test. However, in order for the test to work people still need to actually take the test, and Holmes says that about half of the tests have not been returned. She says that people might think it's a bit gross or complex, but that it actually only takes a few seconds.
"People are throwing this in the garbage rather than doing the test. My point is now is the time to do it, when you don't have symptoms and this is a free program that just takes a few seconds to do and it can really change your life."
While it's connected to women in October, Holmes emphasizes that this is not a cancer that discriminates along gender lines. In fact, she notes that while it's the second most deadly cancer for women, men are at an even higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.
"People don't need to die from this disease if we catch it early enough."
Holmes says people can always get a new kit by calling 1-855-292-2202, and they will be sent a new kit and can take the test.
She says people are getting the message, with more people learning just how important the test is.
While colorectal cancer is the specific focus for 2014, Holmes notes that early screening is vital for all of the cancers women are most commonly diagnosed with, including breast, cervical and skin cancer. Holmes says that womenshealthforlife.ca allows women to sign up for an annual "Reminder for Life", which is a reminder of what screening they should do every year, and they can use it as a start to discuss with their doctor what they need to keep healthy into the future.
