HEALTH CARE
Participation rates provincially appear low (approximately
32 percent). This rate includes only those patients screened
through the SPCRC. Others screened opportunistically
through their PCP can now be included as results of all FITs
performed in Saskatchewan in the 50 to 74 age range are
now reported to the SPCRC. By including these, the participation rate is 37.6 percent. This rate is better than that
reported from other Canadian Provinces.
SPCRC believes that the PCP is the best source of health information for their patients. Please encourage your patients
to participate in screening by completing the kit sent to
their home or to call toll free 1-855-292-2202 to receive a kit.
mortality from colorectal cancer should be reduced. (N Eng
J Med 1993;329;1977-1981, N Eng J Med 2012;368;687-696)
The three percent incidence of colorectal cancer is expected, as the SPCRC is not designed to diagnose cancer but to
detect precancerous lesions. As the program evolves, this
cancer rate is expected to fall even lower.
Figure 3:
Historic data from the Saskatchewan Cancer Registry shows
that 53 percent of patients are already Stage 3-4 on pre-
The positivity rate of 7.9 percent is well within the expected
range published nationally and internationally.
Figure 2: Pathology on Colonoscopies on FIT+ Patients from
April 2012 – March 2014 (N=3021)
sentation. Figure 3 shows that in the first screening cycle in
Five Hills Health Region (2009-2010), 5 of 15 of the cancers
detected were Stage 3 and 4, whereas in the second cycle
(2011-2012) 11 of the 12 cancers detected were Stage 0 to
Stage 2. It is too early to make definite statement on this
but it is indeed very promising, and if fact what we expect.
This staging shift has been reported from the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program where the FIT is also
used for screening (Med.J.Aust. 2013.198(6)327-330).
Figure 2 is a summary of results of colonoscopies performed
on more than 3000 FIT positive patients. The adenoma detection rate (ADR) of 52 percent is good. Studies done on
screening asymptomatic patients by colonoscopy have
shown an ADR of 15-25 percent, however in FIT positive patients this should be >50 percent. This is confirmed in this
data, suggesting that the quality of colonoscopies provincially is adequate but could improve.
You can help Saskatchewan continue to lead the nation in
participation in colorectal screening by encouraging your
patients to be screened. For more information, visit www.
saskcancer.ca.
By removing adenomatous polyps, especially large polyps,
multiple polyps or dysplastic polyps, the incidence and the
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