My Symptoms Matter
Rates of colorectal cancer are rising sharply among young and middle-aged individuals, while rates continue to decline in adults aged 55 and over. Since 2003, across Canada excluding Quebec, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing at 2.84% and 2.26% annually for men and women under 50 years of age respectively.
Dismissal of symptoms and delayed diagnoses is witnessed across colorectal cancer patients of all ages with a slightly higher prevalence in early age onset adults. Although a multitude of factors can be responsible for the rise in early age onset colorectal cancer, leniency in diagnosis and care owing to their age is felt by many patients. Delayed diagnoses could lead to advancing of the cancer that eventually requires complex long-term therapies and yet may have poor prognoses.
Therefore, it is important to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time. Patients’ family practitioners are generally the first point of contact with the health care system to seek treatment for their symptoms. Sensitizing the family practitioners and primary health care providers to the red flag symptoms of colorectal cancer can help prevent dismissal of potential diagnoses. It is also as essential to have patients educated about these signs and symptoms to avoid late diagnoses.
To address the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in young individuals, Colorectal Cancer Canada has launched the “My Symptoms Matter Program” that aims to sensitize family practitioners and primary health care providers on early detection and evaluation of colorectal cancer signs and symptoms. The program is also directed to raise awareness among the public and educate them about self-identification of colorectal cancer symptoms and self- advocacy for care.
