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ICO starts the third phase of the pilot programme of
premature diagnosis of colon and rectum cancer in Hospitalet de Llobregat |
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The programme offers a cost-free test every two
years |
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Nearly 18,500 persones between 50 and 69 years old have already participated
in it |
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It was started in 2000 and it is to be spread all over Catalonia
by 2010 |
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The colon and rectum cancer screening has proven its efficiency in
the reduction of mortality and the incidence of this cancer |
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The Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO) is
carrying out a Pilot Programme of Premature Diagnosis of Colon and
Rectum Cancer in the town of Hospitalet de Llobregat. This programme,
which was started in 2000 and is addressed to men and women between
50 and 69, is to be spread to all Catalan population from 2010 onwards.
Last
March, the third phase of this pilot programme was started in Hospitalet.
This is now completed with the incorporation of the
Collblanc-Torrassa, Florida, Pubilla Casas and Bellvitge districts.
How does the Pilot Programme work?
This programme is addressed to
men and women between 50 and 69 years old and the screening test
is very simple. ICO sends a letter to
all the citizens of Hospitalet in this age range to invite them to
participate. The test consists of the collection of faeces samples,
which can be easily done at home, following the instructions leaflet
enclosed with the letter. The sample is then sent to ICO in a pre-paid
envelope. Once it is analized, the result is sent to the person’s
home by post.This must be done every two years.
If it is positive
(blood is detected in the faeces) a visit is programmed so that the
person has a colonoscopy done, which is the diagnostic
test to determine whether there is any type of injury. The premature
diagnostic of this type of cancer improves considerably its prognosis:
hence the importance of the screening programme.
Results obtained
Until now 18,405 people have participated, some of
them in both phases. |
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Participation in the programme has been greater among women. |
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The test was more frequently positive among men. |
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94% obtained a normal result, and they do not have to do anything
else until the following test, in two years’ time. |
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The test turned out positive for 495 people, who then underwent a
colonoscopy study. 36 new cancer diagnostics were confirmed (60% at
an initial stage), and 150 adenomes (80% high-risk ones); these are
injuries that may have evolved into cancer eventually, had not they
been diagnosed and extirpated. |
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Why in Hospitalet?
Until now, only the town of Hospitalet,
which has already taken part in the three phases, has been beneficiary
of this premature
diagnosis programme.
ICO, a public company of the Health Department,
is responsible for designing the screening programmes in Catalonia:
breast cancer was
the first one and it is now nation-wide spread, and now the colon
and rectum ones.
ICO has three centres (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat,
Girona and Badalona), and it is the only monografic cancer institute
in the
State. It is dedicated to the study and treatment of this illness
in all its aspects (prevention, diagnostic, therapy and Palliative Cares) and it does so with an integral approach which combines research,
teaching and the assistance to patients. It is, therefore, a centre
of research and training for specialized professionals, in more than
one oncology hospital.
Colon and rectum cancer, and the importance of premature
diagnostic
Colon
and rectum cancer is a frequent illness for those older than 50.
It is the second most frequent cancer among women and the third
among men; it is estimated that 4,000 new cases are diagnosed in
Catalonia every year. It is the second cause of deaths by cancer
in our country (2,000 every year), and a vast majority occur in people
older than 54.
If it is detected at an initial phase, it is easier
to treat and there are more probabilities of healing. The problem
is that colon
and rectum cancer can develop for months without causing any pain.
This
is possibly one of the best examples in which premature diagnostic,
which allows the treatment at initial stages, modifies more significantly
the prognosis of the illness and reduces therapeutic aggressiveness.
18
de gener de 2007 |
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