Appointment & Booking Information

Appointment & Booking Information

Eligibility Criteria

When your physician refers you for colon cancer screening, you will be assigned a priority based on the information your doctor has provided with regards to your health. If you have completed a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), the highest priority will be given to those with a positive result.

Incomplete referrals, referrals for patients that do not meet current screening guidelines, and referrals that do not meet eligibility criteria will not be accepted and will be returned to the referring physician.

Who Can Be Seen at the Centre?

The criteria for being referred for colon cancer screening is as follows:

1. Under age 75 with valid AHCIP coverage and eligible reason for referral (see below)
2. No concerning symptoms—including no gastrointestinal signs or symptoms requiring specialist consultation (i.e. rectal bleeding, anemia, new gastrointestinal symptoms)
3. No medical conditions that would increase the risk of sedation or colonoscopy. If you are taking Coumadin, you need to inform your doctor as there is an increased risk of bleeding during the procedure and you are not eligible at CCSC.

Booking Your Test

Being tested regularly is the first step to beating colon cancer. Everyone is at risk for this type of cancer.

For those without risk factors for colon cancer, the best way to lower your risk is to be tested regularly with the FIT beginning at age 50. If you have a personal or family history of polyps or cancer, talk to your doctor about a screening plan that is right for you.

If you don't have a family doctor, you can find a physician by:

• dialling 811 for Health Link
• using the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons' Find a Physician website , or
• visiting the Alberta Health site

To Book a FIT

Make an appointment to see your family doctor. At your appointment you can ask for a lab requisition that you will take to any Alberta Precision Laboratories location and pick up the FIT test.

To Book a Colonoscopy

You need to get a referral from your family doctor to the CCSC, and then an appointment will be booked for you. If you don’t have a family doctor, please see the resources above to find one.