Screening
Cancer is the leading cause of early death in Canada. Because early detection of cancer can be the key to surviving it, the Partnership is spearheading screening efforts to diagnose certain cancers — such as colorectal and cervical — earlier, because there is known benefit. For colorectal and cervical cancers, these efforts focus on population-based screening programs, representing organized delivery of high-quality screening tests to everyone in a target population.
At the same time, through a related initiative in anticipatory science, Partnership-sponsored panels of experts are addressing new evidence in cancer screening as it emerges.
Initiatives
The following four key areas of work encompass multi-faceted projects that are boosting population-based screening when it is known to reduce cancer and helping to determine how emerging evidence can work to optimize cancer screening.
- Through the Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative the Partnership is working to improve the number of Canadians taking advantage of potentially life-saving colorectal cancer screening.
- Toward improvements in cervical cancer control, two groups — the Pan-Canadian Cervical Screening Initiative and the HPV/Cervical Screening Senior Partnership Group — were newly formed by the Partnership to coordinate and drive efforts to reduce the incidence and mortality rates for the disease.
- The Partnership has convened expert panels to review new evidence related to screening for prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and ovarian cancer, exemplifying the value of this ongoing work in anticipatory science.
In a collaborative, pan-Canadian approach, the Screening portfolio of the Partnership is building partnerships across the country – among provincial and territorial program and government staff, as well as professional and non-government organizations. Through these efforts, gaps will continue to be addressed as we work to accelerate screening program activity, the sharing of knowledge and quality improvements in cancer control.
