By Rosalind Russell – The Ontario government is lowering the age you can access publicly funded colorectal cancer screening.
As of July 1, officials say the age will be lowered from 50 to 45, and to 40 for those at increased risk.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones says colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the country, with rates rising among younger people.
She says lowering the age will connect more than a million younger Ontarians to detection and treatment.
As of July, you’ll be able to have access to screening by calling your health care provider or health811, who will directly provide you with a test, without a referral.
Eligible people in the lowered age bracket will also begin to receive letters from the Colon-Cancer-Check program to help them connect to an initial screening test.
Photo: National Cancer Institute – unsplash.com
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