Dana Tully, a registered nurse, using a colonoscopy scope. (Image Credit: Fraser Health)

By Alyssa Conti

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Chilliwack, Abby-Mission hospitals now offering enhanced colonoscopy testing

Mar 29, 2026 | 9:08 AM

CHILLIWACK — Patients across the Fraser Health region may now be able to access better gut testing with the latest upgrade to local hospitals.

The health agency has begun implementing GI Genius, an artificial intelligence-supported tool that helps endoscopy teams detect precancerous lesions and support early intervention.

“We’re using this technology to support better detection, more consistent quality, and smarter decision-making during colonoscopy,” said Dr. Scott Cowie, surgeon at Langley Memorial Hospital, who helped lead the regional implementation of the system.

The GI Genius system is now in place at 12 Fraser Health sites, including Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Mission Memorial Hospital and Chilliwack General Hospital. 

Colorectal Cancer Canada says colorectal cancer rates are declining in older Canadians, but are being seen more often in younger adults, with the average 45-year-old now having the same risk as a 50-year-old in 1979.

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Fraser Health urges patients to get regular screening to prevent colorectal cancer, adding that when detected at its earliest stage, survival rates are more than 90 per cent.

The agency is also exploring new software that may help doctors more accurately identify small polyps during a colonoscopy, potentially reducing unnecessary removal of benign polyps and lowering pathology costs.

“This is an encouraging development because it may help us avoid removing certain benign polyps that do not require excision, while still maintaining a strong focus on safety and quality,” added Dr. Cowie.

More information on colon cancer screening is available through the Fraser Health website.