Want to lower your risk of colorectal cancer? |

Cancer of the colorectal tract (see image below) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Ontario. But it doesn't have to be! According to Toronto Public Health, colorectal cancer is:

preventable
detectable
treatable
and often cure-able

Regular colorectal screening can prevent cancer of the colon and rectum. When detected early, there is a 90% chance of curing colorectal cancer.

Ontario's ColonCancerCheck program recommends that:

Men and women 50 years and over with no family history of colorectal cancer be screened every two years using the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
Men and women at increased risk due to family history (paren't, sibling, or child with colorectal cancer) have a colonoscopy

To find out more about lowering your risk of colorectal cancer, attend one of the upcoming health talks offered at TPL branches . You can also call 311 for information and directions to Toronto Public Libraries hosting the Colorectal Health presentations.

Here are also some books on the subject: