Colorectal Screening Initiative

April 2012 marks the beginning of the Partnership’s second five-year mandate and the next phase of implementing Canada’s national cancer strategy. The priorities and initiatives for the next five years are outlined in our 2012-2017 strategic plan, Sustaining Action Toward a Shared Vision. Our website will soon be updated to reflect the activities supporting the strategic plan. The information below reflects the priorities and accomplishments of our work between 2007 and 2012. 

Boosting screening to reduce incidence and mortality

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in Canada¹ but it is highly treatable if caught early. While the number of Canadians taking advantage of potentially life-saving colorectal cancer screening is increasing, a recent survey showed that over half of Canadians of screening age are still not being screened for colorectal cancer.² 

This initiative aims to increase population-based colorectal cancer screening by supporting provinces and territories as they work to boost screening within their jurisdictions. Central to this work is the Partnership-initiated National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network, which brings together provincial screening program staff, provincial and territorial government representatives, and representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Action Network, the Canadian Medical Association, the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. The Network’s objective is to develop a shared approach to planning and implementing colorectal cancer screening in jurisdictions across Canada.

 Progress to date

• When the Partnership established the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network in 2007, only three provinces had announced screening programs. Since that time all 10 provinces have announced screening programs.
• A commitment has been made to reporting colorectal screening outcomes across the country to ensure ongoing quality optimization. This has been identified as a priority for the Network.
• As a result of ongoing participation by the Northwest Territories in the Network, a pilot study highlighted the need for revision of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Clinical Practice Guidelines, Northwest Territories (2011).
• A pan-Canadian working group of pathologists is coming to a consensus on the classification of benign polyps, a need prioritized by the Network in the fall of 2010.
• Working together with the Network, the Partnership developed the Colonversation program to help Canadians of screening age engage in potentially life-saving conversations about colorectal cancer screening. Colonversation includes an online information resource, the award-winning The Colon Cancer Home Screening Kit video and Five Feet of Fabulous, a digital public service announcement. Colonversation builds on findings from a national survey, Colon Cancer Screening in Canada, which explored attitudes on and awareness of colon cancer screening. New social media programs are planned for 2011.

¹Canadian Cancer Society Steering Committee on Cancer Statistics. “General Cancer Statistics for 2011,” May 2011. www.cancer.ca.
²The Colon Cancer Screening in Canada survey, commissioned by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network. Conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion in partnership with the Applied Health Research Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, released January 2010.