Colorectal cancer screening available throughout the region

Colorectal cancer screening is now available everywhere on the North Shore through teleconsultations.

By scheduling an appointment at Clic Santé or calling 1 844 407-0967, you are given the choice of a teleconsultation by telephone or video call (Teams).

“During the consultation, the nurse will review whether the user is eligible for screening and, if so, what type of screening will be used: immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) for intermediate-risk cases or colonoscopy for higher-risk cases.” – explains CISSS de la Côte-Nord in a press release.

On the spot

The service is also offered locally in Baie-Comeau, at a local service point (Centre Laflèche). Eligible individuals must first make an appointment through Clic Santé or by calling 1 844 407-0967.

The service will also be offered in the coming weeks at a local service point located at Carrefour La Baie. Until then, residents of Sept-Îles can benefit from teleconsultation services.

Suitable people

Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for people aged 50 to 74 years without symptoms, and for asymptomatic people under 50 years of age with a family history of colorectal cancer.

The goal of screening is to detect and treat colorectal cancer before signs and symptoms appear. “As a rule, at the time of screening, the cancer is at an early stage, and the chances of a cure are better,” you can read on the Quebec government website.

Some numbers

Out of 1,000 people who take the iFOBT test, 36 will have an abnormal test result and then undergo a lengthy colonoscopy. Of these 36 people:

• 4 will have colorectal cancer;
• 17 will remove one or more polyps;
• 15 will not have cancer or polyps.

*Source: quebec.ca