Who should be screened?
- People aged 50 – 75 years old
- Family medical history of colorectal cancer
- History of colonic polyps
- Prolonged bowel inflammation
Screening tests
Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): (should be done every 1 – 2 years)
- FOBT is a stool test, which detects hidden blood in stool samples, even in tiny amount indicating bleeding somewhere in the bowel.
Colonoscopy: (Should be done every 10 years)
- Inspection of the entire colon with the help of a 1.6m scope.
- The procedure takes about 15 minutes to 1 hour.
- Bowel preparation and low residue diet is required.
- To reduce anxiety and pain, sedative drugs and pain killers are injected right before the examination.
- During the procedure, tissue samples are obtained and polyps can be removed.
Sigmoidoscopy: (Should be done every 5 years)
- Flexible tube to inspect the walls of the rectum and the lower colon.
- Procedure is similar to colonoscopy.
Colorectal cancer screening pilot programme
To join the Pilot Programme, you should:
- Aged between 50 and 75
- Have already registered in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (EHRSS)
- Have a Hong Kong Identity card or Certificate of exemption
Faecal immunochemical test (FIT): a new version of Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is used.
Complete list of primary care doctors with address
Key steps of Colorectal cancer screening pilot programme
Source of information: Department of Health
https://www.colonscreen.gov.hk/en/public/programme/background_of_programme.html