P.E.I. lowers age of colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45

P.E.I. becomes the first province to offer colorectal screening at 45, aiming to catch cancer earlier. Maria Sarrouh looks at what prompted the change.

Prince Edward Island is lowing the age of colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45.

In an announcement on Monday, the government said Islanders aged 45 to 74 who are at average risk for Colorectal cancer will now be eligible for a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years. The FIT test is an at-home screening test which can catch early signs of colorectal cancer before symptoms appear.

Prince Edward Island is the first province to lower the screening age for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45.

“Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger adults, and we cannot afford to wait,” said Health and Wellness Minister Cory Deagle in an announcement Monday.

“Lowering the screening age to 45 is a decisive, evidence-based step that will save lives. It means finding cancer earlier, reducing the need for aggressive treatment, and in some cases, preventing it entirely.”

Health PEI says they are preparing for the increase in service, and say they are ready for an influx of testing including endoscopy services, hospital capacity, and laboratory support.

P.E.I.’s government says colorectal is one of the most diagnosed cancer among Islanders with about 140 new cases and 39 related deaths each year, but the current health system has a 60-day benchmark for colonoscopy wait times.

“Too many families have felt the impact of cancer, and we know the difference early detection can make,” said Premier Rob Lantz.

“By acting now, our province is leading the country and giving Islanders a better chance, not just at treatment, but at survival.”

The government says for every 100 colonoscopies, an estimated 2.8 cancer deaths can be prevented.

“Colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger Canadians, and Prince Edward Island’s decision to lower the starting age for screening to 45—the first province in Canada to do so—will help detect more cancers earlier, when treatment is most effective,” said Dr. Stuart Edmonds, executive vice president of the Canadian Cancer Society.

“To save more lives, we urge all provinces and territories to follow PEI’s lead. Everyone in Canada deserves timely access to screening that reflects today’s cancer trends, and jurisdictions that act quickly can help change the trajectory of colorectal cancer.”

Islanders can order FIT tests online or through a request with their health

With files from CTV National News’ Maria Sarrouh.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.