Grey and Bruce counties are seeing an alarming trend in colon cancer.
A public health forum was held last night to shed some light on the topic.
The Community Advisory Committee for the Southampton site of Grey Bruce Health Services wants residents to be well informed of colorectal cancer and the preventative steps.
The committee hosted an annual public forum at the Bruce County Museum in Southampton last night.
Chair of the committee Catherine Forsyth says this year’s topic of the screening procedure for colonoscopys is very timely.
Forsyth says Ontario has the highest incidence in the world for colon cancer.
She adds Grey and Bruce has a 15 percent higher average than the rest of the province, especially in women.
General Surgeon for Grey Bruce Health Services Dr. Jon Caulfield attended the forum and made a presentation on the different screening procedures, symptoms of colon cancer and treatments.
Dr. Caulfield says colon cancer is not a very well-known cancer – but is the second killer among Canadians.
He says awareness needs to be raised on the issue because it is one of the most preventable cancers with a proper screening process such as the scope.
Last May the Grey Bruce Health Services received an award for their “roaming scope initiative.”
Interim President and CEO Maureen Solecki say the program allows the general surgeons to travel with the equipment needed to each Hospital.
Solecki says they have been able to increase the volume of scopes in rural areas and cut down wait times.