Ontario should lower colon cancer screening age even further, say patients and advocates | CBC News

"“I was told over and over, 'You're too young, you're not at risk. It's probably just hemorrhoids,'” she said. Walker ended up getting testing done through private health care. Her diagnosis was stage 3 colon cancer. She was only 37 years old at the time. “The fact that I had to go through everything I did to get that diagnosis is horrifying to me because the privilege I had to leverage is so inaccessible to most of the population,” she said."

"Starting July 1, Ontario is lowering the screening age for colon cancer to 45 years old from 50. Groups like the Canadian Cancer Society have been pushing for the change, citing evidence that shows people under 50 are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed than they were in previous generations. But while patients and advocates who have lost loved ones to the disease say this is a step in right direction, some hope to see the age lowered even further."

"“Forty-five is is a good start, but I don't think it's where we need to be,” Walker said. Carlito Parra, 20, holds a painting of his father Nickolas who died from colon cancer after more than 15 years of symptoms. His father advocated for the screening age to be lowered in his final months."

"Carlito Parra, 20, lost his father Nickolas to colon cancer last year. Parra said after his father was diagnosed, he brought a petition to Queen's Park with more than 30,000 signatures fighting for the screening age to be lowered. “They could have found it when he was in his early 30s, and he might have still been here today,” Parra said, adding his father complained of stomach issues for more than 15 years. “But because of the late screening, he sadly has passed away now.”"

Ontario will lower the colon cancer screening age to 45 from 50 starting July 1. Evidence cited by cancer groups indicates people under 50 are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed than earlier generations. Patients and advocates who experienced late diagnoses view the change as progress but want screening to begin even earlier. One patient described being repeatedly told she was too young and not at risk, with symptoms dismissed as hemorrhoids, before private testing revealed stage 3 colon cancer at age 37. Another advocate described a father with stomach issues for more than 15 years who died after late screening, and pushed for the change through a petition with more than 30,000 signatures.

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