Colon Cancer Screening Eligibility is Changing in Ontario
ColonCancerCheck, Ontario’s population-based, organized colon cancer screening program, has made several program changes to support more cancer screening for eligible Ontarians (those who have no symptoms of colon cancer, have OHIP coverage and meet the average or increased risk criteria). More people can now get screened (or checked) for colon cancer earlier because Ontario has lowered the starting age from age 50 to 45 years old.
This change means more than one million additional Ontarians now qualify for the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Doing the FIT can help find colon cancer earlier when treatment has a better chance of working.
Eligible Ontarians who are at average risk between the ages of 45 to 49 are now eligible for screening. The invitations to screen people between ages 45 to 49 are being rolled out over a two-year period, so you may not have received your invitation in the mail yet. However, your family doctor or nurse practitioner can still order you a FIT.
Eligible Ontarians who are at increased risk due to family history can get screened with an exam called a colonoscopy starting at age 40, or 10 years earlier than the age their youngest relative was diagnosed with the disease (whichever comes first).
Colon cancer is increasing in younger adults. The move to lower the screening start age to 45 is an important advancement, giving more people access to the full benefits of the provincial program, including result and recall letters and appropriate follow-up.
Executive Vice-President Primary and Community Based Care, Ontario Health
Why Screening Matters
The age that people are getting colon cancer is changing in many countries around the world, including in Canada. More people younger than age 50 are getting the disease. Colon cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer diagnosed in Ontario.
Most people who get colon cancer do not have a family history of the disease. That is why regular screening is important, even if someone feels well and has no symptoms. Screening can find changes before symptoms appear when treatment can be most effective.
When colon cancer is found early, nine out of every 10 people with the disease can be cured. In its later stages, colon cancer can be treated, but beating it is less likely. If you do not get tested, you may miss out on the chance for early and more effective treatment.
Who Should Get Screened with FIT
Screening is the best way to find colon cancer early. The kind of screening test you get depends on whether you are at average risk or increased risk of getting colon cancer.
If you are at average risk
Most people ages 45 to 74 are at average risk of getting colon cancer, which means they have:
- no first-degree relatives (parents, siblings or children) diagnosed with colon cancer, or
- only one first-degree relative diagnosed with colon cancer at age 60 or older
It is recommended that people at average risk get screened with the FIT every two years. The FIT is a safe, and painless at-home test that checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer or some types of polyps (abnormal growths that form on the lining of the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time).
The test:
- takes only a few minutes to do
- only needs one stool sample
- does not need dietary or medication changes
- should be repeated every two years
If you are at increased risk
Someone is at increased risk if they have:
- one first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) diagnosed with colon cancer before age 60, or
- two or more first-degree relatives diagnosed with colon cancer at any age
It is recommended that people at increased risk get screened with an exam called a colonoscopy starting at the age of 40 or 10 years earlier than the age your relative was diagnosed, whichever occurs first. If you are at increased risk, speak to your family doctor or nurse practitioner to screen with a colonoscopy.
Screening is most effective when it becomes part of routine care. A stool test called the FIT every two years is quick and can detect early changes long before symptoms appear – when treatment is most likely to be successful.
Clinical Lead, ColonCancerCheck, Ontario Health
How to Get a FIT Kit
Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about getting checked. They will arrange for a FIT kit to be mailed to you if you qualify for one. If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, call 811 (TTY: 711) or visit Health811 to get your free ColonCancerCheck FIT kit.
If you live in a First Nation community, you can contact your health centre or nursing station for more information.
Last Updated: July 02, 2026
