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Health See other Health Articles Title: Simple cancer test could save lives A simple at-home cancer screening test could save thousands of lives but too many people aren't even aware of it, the Canadian Cancer Society says. An at-home stool test, available at doctors' offices and some pharmacies, can detect signs of colorectal cancer and is strongly encouraged for people over 50 or those considered at high risk of developing the disease. But only 32 per cent of Canadians in that age group have been screened --and that needs to change, experts say. In the latest annual report on cancer trends across the country released Wednesday, the Canadian Cancer Society puts a spotlight on colorectal cancer and the simple way it can be caught early, ensuring more successful treatment. If 80 per cent of Canadians aged 50 or older were screened for colorectal cancer over the next 10 years, it's estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 deaths could be prevented. "Early detection is key. Catch it early, deal with it, move on," said Judy Lund, manager of the cancer society's Essex County unit. Although local educational campaigns have raised awareness about the importance of screening, more needs to be done, she said. "It's so important to talk to your doctor and get this one checked because if you catch it early, it's one that has a really good success rate -and that's the message we have to get out to people," Lund said. The fecal occult blood test kit checks for trace amounts of blood in the stool, which can be a sign of colorectal cancer. If abnormalities are detected, a colonoscopy is scheduled. A key goal is to detect colorectal cancer in people who have no symptoms, Lund said. "We need to get people to understand that just because there doesn't seem to be anything wrong ... you should still get screened." Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada. An estimated 22,200 new cases are expected in Canada this year and 8,900 will die from the disease. Although colorectal cancer rates have been declining over the past two decades, the number of new cases has increased "substantially" due to an aging population, the cancer society says. The relative five-year survival rate is 63 per cent -better than some other types of cancer, including lung. Read more: www.windsorstar.com/healt.../story.html#ixzz1MryIWFoa
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