Program eligibility update

Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario is connecting more people to publicly funded colorectal cancer screening by lowering the eligibility age from 50 to:

• age 45 for all individuals
• age 40 for those at increased risk

This expansion will help over 1 million additional people connect to important screening services to detect and treat colorectal cancer sooner.

Read more about the update to the screening program.

What is Colon Cancer?

(from Colon cancer testing and prevention | ontario.ca)

Colon cancer is cancer of the large bowel (colon), which is the final part of your digestive tract. Rectal cancer is cancer of the last six inches of the colon. Together, they are called "colorectal cancer," or commonly called "colon cancer" or "bowel cancer."

Most cases of colon cancer begin as polyps. Polyps are growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time.

Colon cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer diagnosed in Ontario. It is also the second most common cause of cancer death among Ontario men and the third most common cause of cancer death for women. But if colon cancer is caught early, 9 out of 10 people with the disease can be successfully treated and cured.

To learn more about colon cancer, visit Colorectal Cancer | Canadian Cancer Society.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

(From Breast cancer screening and prevention | ontario.ca)

Cancer screening is testing done on people who are at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine.

Colorectal cancer screening increases the chance of finding cancer early when it is more likely to be cured. When colorectal cancer is caught early, 9 out of 10 people can be cured. If you have colorectal cancer and do not get screened, you may miss the chance for early and more effective treatment.

The kind of screening test you get depends on whether you are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer or at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Screening Program (ColonCancerCheck)

ColonCancerCheck is Ontario’s province-wide, organized screening program designed to encourage people to get screened and reduce deaths from colorectal cancer. The program has many important benefits:

• Invites people to get screened
• Reminds program participants when it is time for their next screening test
• Lets participants know of their screening results
• Tells participants to talk to their family doctor or nurse practitioner if they have an abnormal test result
• Tracks program participants as they get screened
• Tracks program quality and performance

Screening: Average Risk (At-home test)

People can be checked for colon cancer if they are:

• Average risk: people ages 45 to 74 who have no parents, siblings or children (first-degree relatives) who have been diagnosed with colon cancer.

• Increased risk: people with a family history of colon cancer (1 or more parents, siblings, or children with the disease). See below for details

Review your risk of colon cancer here

People at average risk should get checked for colon cancer with an at-home test called the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every 2 years starting at age 45. The FIT checks your stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer or some types of polyps.

The FIT:

• is safe and painless
• can be done at home and only takes a few minutes to do
• only needs 1 stool sample
• allows you to eat and take medications as usual
• is free for eligible people through the ColonCancerCheck program
• can be mailed to an Ontario address of your choice

Screening: Increased Risk (Colonoscopy)

People at increased risk should get screened with a colonoscopy starting at age 40. You are at increased risk of getting colon cancer, if you have a family history of colon cancer that includes:

• 1 first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) diagnosed with colon cancer before age 60, or
• 2 or more first-degree relatives diagnosed with colon cancer at any age

If this is the case:

• Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner. You have a higher chance of getting colon cancer and should get checked with a colonoscopy every 5 years.
• You should start getting a colonoscopy at age 40, or 10 years earlier than the youngest age your first-degree relative was diagnosed with colon cancer, whichever comes first.

• Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is a test done by a specialist at a hospital or clinic. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will send you for the test. If you think you may be at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer, be sure to speak with your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Learn more about colonoscopies.

Get more information from Colon cancer testing and prevention | ontario.ca

How to get a FIT (for average risk)

Step 1: Talk to a doctor or nurse practitioner about getting a test

A doctor or nurse practitioner must order an at-home test for you. To get an at-home test, you can:

• Book an appointment with your primary care provider:

  • Bathurst Site - Book with your primary care provider

  • Garrison Creek Site - Book your with primary care provider

Step 2: Get a test mailed to you

Once a FIT has been ordered for you by your primary care provider, LifeLabs will mail a FIT package to your Ontario mailing address of choice. For more information on how to do your FIT, see the FIT Instructions page.

If you have any problems with your FIT package, call LifeLabs at 1-833-676-1426.

Step 3: Complete the test

The test is simple and only takes a few minutes to collect a sample of stool (poop). You only need 1 sample, and you don’t have to change your diet or stop taking medication before taking the test.

For a full details, and how to return your FIT visit Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Instructions | Cancer Care Ontario.

What happens next?

(From Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Instructions | Cancer Care Ontario)

After you mail or drop-off your test, you can expect to get your result by mail in the next few weeks.

If your test result is abnormal: 

• It does not necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer or polyps that could become cancer, but it does mean that additional testing is needed. ColonCancerCheck recommends that people with an abnormal result have a colonoscopy within 8 weeks. For more information on abnormal test results and colonoscopy see the Abnormal FIT Result Frequently Asked Questions page.

If your test result is normal:

• You should get screened in 2 years using FIT. It is important to keep getting screened with FIT every 2 years until age 74.

If LifeLabs cannot get a result from your test, you will need to repeat it. 

Online Resources

Colon cancer testing and prevention (Ontario Ministry of Health)

Screening for Colorectal Cancer | Cancer Care Ontario

Colorectal cancer | Canadian Cancer Society

Abnormal Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Result Frequently Asked Questions | Cancer Care Ontario

myCANCERiQ

Edited June 26, 2026