Half of Valencians at risk age “pass” the test to detect colon cancer

Only half of Valencians at risk age to develop colon cancer participate in the colorectal cancer screening program promoted by the Ministry of Health, and which seeks to detect this type of tumor early, the second deadliest in the Valencian Community. This was announced this morning by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) in Valencia on the occasion of the World Day Against Colon Cancer: 681,000 Valencians of risk age do not participate in the screening program, that is, 50% of the population between 50 and 69 years of age in the Valencian Community that could suffer from this type of cancer, the second deadliest in the region.

“In order for the colorectal cancer screening program to be effective in the population at risk, adherence must be greater than 65%. Aware of this situation, the association wants to refocus on performing the Occult Blood Test in Feces, a test that significantly increases the chances of survival: colon cancer could be cured in 90% of cases if it is detected in time,” explains Dr. Antonio Llombart, vice president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer Valencia.

In the Valencian Community, women and men between the ages of 50 and 69 who do not present symptoms receive an invitation by post to participate in the screening program and the kit to collect a stool sample, similar to the invitation they receive women aged 45 and over to have a mammogram in the breast cancer screening programme. Once the sample has been collected, it is delivered to the Primary Care center and analyzed.

The second deadliest

Every year, in C. Valenciana, 4,361 new cases of colon cancer are detected, with the most common tumor, above breast cancer or prostate cancer. In 2021, 1,627 people have died from this type of cancer, the deadliest behind lung cancer in autonomy.

Colorectal cancer begins in the majority of cases in the form of small benign polypous proliferations, single or multiple, that can be detected and removed by colonoscopy preventing its malignant transformation. Therefore, early detection of these injuries is essential. In addition, in established colorectal cancer, we observed very important differences in mean survival at 5 years depending on the stage of diagnosis, going from 90% in stage A (initial) to less than 8% in stage D (advanced with metastases). )”, adds Dr. Llombart.

More economic costs

Another type of impact associated with early diagnosis of the disease must be added to survival. As explained in the Association’s Report ‘The economic and social impact of cancer in Spain’, the early detection of cancers such as colon and breast cancer would mean a saving of 1,000 million euros on the costs of cancer.

In fact, as tumors progress to more advanced stages, costs increase for both families and the health system. In the case of colon cancer, according to the Association Report, the cost in a localized phase is 48,200 euros per patient, but when the tumor is in a more metastatic stage, the cost is multiplied by three (146,340 euros).

“This cost may be unaffordable for households in a situation of extreme vulnerability, a situation that is increasingly common among Valencians with cancer due to the socioeconomic crisis we are experiencing. Let’s remember that families with cancer assume almost half of the costs of the disease, ”says the vice president of the AECC.

“The Other Test” that can save your life

To remember the importance of adhering to the program and taking the test, the association has launched an awareness campaign under the name ‘The Other Test’. “These two years of the pandemic have made us acquire knowledge about different tests and how to use them to detect covid-19. Now we want to talk about the other test, the Fecal Occult Blood Test, a non-invasive test that identifies blood in the feces using an immunological method to detect lesions in the colon that could lead to a malignant tumor”, explains Dr. Antonio Llombart.

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