University of Calgary

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some answers to common questions about colon cancer and colon cancer testing.  

What is the Forzani & MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre?

Who runs the Centre?

What services does the Centre provide?

Is there a fee for services provided at the Centre?

How do you decide what patients to see first?

How many patients does the Centre see?

How long is the wait for an appointment?

How do I know if I should be screened for colon cancer?

Can I be screened for colon cancer or do I have to meet the screening guidelines?

How can I arrange to be screened?

Where is the Centre located?

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What is the Forzani & MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre? 
The Centre, which opened in January 2008, is the largest non-hospital colon cancer screening facility in Canada. It is a collaborative project involving the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine, the Calgary Health Region, and the community.

The Centre was created to increase capacity in the Calgary Health Region for the screening, detection and treatment of colon cancer. This reflects what we now know about a disease which results in the death of approximately 9000 Canadians each year - colon cancer can be prevented and treated effectively when it is detected early through screening. The Centre will initially see 10,000 patients a year, with a plan to increase this to 20,000 patients a year by 2010.

The Centre, which is operated by the Faculty of Medicine in partnership with the Calgary Health Region, offers state of the art technology using colonoscopy, the most effective means of detecting colon cancer, as the primary screening procedure. The Centre will occupy 23,000 square feet and features six endoscopy rooms, three reprocessing rooms, 24 recovery beds, six nurse-clinician pre-assessment rooms and a theatre for public and professional educational activities. Beyond providing clinical screening and treatment, the Centre is actively engaged in research including population health studies and the evaluation of all current and potential techniques for colon cancer screening, including virtual colonography. A large biorepository will allow for translational research in the area.

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Who runs the Centre?  
The Centre is a formal partnership between the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine and the Calgary Health Region. It is run by the Division of Gastroenterology and the Faculty of Medicine. The idea for the Centre was conceived in 2003 when the Calgary Health Region recognized a need for increased capacity for endoscopic procedures. Through a competitive process, the U of C's Faculty of Medicine was chosen to run the facility The Centre is part of the health care provided to citizens as part of our publicly funded health system.

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What services does the Centre provide?  
The primary purpose of the Centre is to provide colon cancer screening. When you come to the Centre for preventative screening the medical staff will determine what, if any, tests or procedures are required The Centre is fully equipped with state of the art equipment to perform colonoscopies, the most effective way to screen for detect colon cancer in its earliest stages. Alternative screening techniques including Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT) and Air Contrast Barium Enema (ACBE) are also available. Research protocols will be used to assess other screening techniques including virtual colonography and fecal genetic testing. However, the latter tests will not be a part of the general care provided at the Centre. Please click here to learn more about these procedures.

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Is there a fee for services provided at the Centre?  
People do not pay a fee for their visit to the Centre. The Centre is part of the publicly-funded Alberta Health system.

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How do you decide what patients to see first?  
Each individual who comes into the Centre is assessed in terms of risk. People are triaged or assigned a priority level based on this assessment. So, for example, if an individual has had colon cancer or polyps in the past or has a significant family history of colon cancer, they would need to be seen sooner than an individual with no such history who is interested in preventative screening. The goal is to ensure that people who need to be seen right away can been seen quickly. People at lower risk may be offered alternative screening tests, such as the fecal occult blood test, which are appropriate for their level of risk while waiting for colonoscopy.  For more information on risk factors, click here.   

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How many patients does the Centre see?  
The Centre will initially see at least 10,000 people annually. This will eventually increase to 20,000 people annually over the next two to three years.

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How long is the wait for an appointment?  
The Centre was developed due to increasing demand for endoscopic procedures and colon cancer screening. During the course of the past three years a waiting list has developed. The people currently on the list will be seen on a priority basis with the new capacity available at the Centre. People currently on the list do not have to be referred again. All people - whether they are currently on the waiting list or not - are assigned appointments according to priority or how urgently they need to be seen. Therefore, your wait time depends upon your risk factors for colon cancer. Click here for more information about risk factors.

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How do I know if I should be screened for colon cancer?  
If you have symptoms that concern you, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible. If you have a family doctor, they will want to see you as part of your overall health management plan so we encourage you to please contact them immediately. Your family doctor can refer you to the Centre if that is deemed the appropriate course of action. If you do not have a family doctor, or if you are concerned about the wait to get in to see him or her, please call the Calgary Health Region at 943-LINK(5465).

If you have no symptoms but meet the screening guidelines established by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and wish to arrange for screening, you should also see your family doctor.  They can refer you to the Centre as appropriate.

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Can I be screened for colon cancer  or do I have to meet the screening guidelines?  
The Centre has been established to provide extra capacity for colon cancer screening in the Calgary Health Region to make sure that people who are at an increased risk for colon cancer can be screened in a timely fashion. To fulfill this mandate and to provide safe and cost-effective screening, people must meet the screening guidelines to undergo screening at the Centre.

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How can I arrange to be screened?
Your family physician should be involved in your overall health management plan and so your first step is to make an appointment with your doctor. If you do not have a family doctor, please call 943-LINK(5465).

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Where is the Centre located?  
The Centre is located on the 6th Floor of the University of Calgary's Teaching, Research and Wellness Building, adjacent to the Foothills Hospital.   The address is:

3280 Hospital Drive,NW
Calgary, AB   T2N 4N1

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

Canadian Cancer Society/National Cancer Institute of Canada: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2007, Toronto, Canada, 2007. 

______________________________________________________________________________________ 2008 Forzani & MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre. All rights reserved.
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