Sievering Clinic

Competence Centre for Minimally Invasive Medical Services

Diagnosis

Cancer Screening

Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of these testing schedules:

Tests for polyps and cancer
Tests that primarily find cancer
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or
  • 
Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
  • Double-Contrast Barium Enema every 5 years, or

  • CT Colonography (virtual Colonoscopy) every 5 years.
  • Yearly faecal occult blood test (gFOBT), or
  • 
yearly faecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year, or

  • Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain.

The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred if these tests are available to you and you are willing to have one of these more invasive tests. Talk to your doctor about which test is best for you.

The American Cancer Society recommends that some people be screened using a different schedule because of their personal history or family history. Talk with your doctor about your history and what colorectal cancer-screening schedule is best for you.

Cancer-related check-up

For people aged 20 or older having periodic health exams, a cancer-related check-up should include health counselling and, depending on a person’s age and gender, exams for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes, and ovaries, as well as for some non-malignant (non-cancerous) diseases.

Take control of your health and reduce your cancer risk.

Stay away from tobacco
Stay at a healthy weight
Get moving with regular physical activity
Know yourself, your family history, and your risks
Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables
Limit how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all)
Protect your skin
Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests