2024-04-01 17:52:26
Previously, 3-5 percent. patients diagnosed with colon cancer were under the age of 50. It is predicted that in the next 10 years their share in the puzzle of sick people may increase to 30%.
“It’s sad because they don’t fall into the screening program,” observes surgeon Audrius Dulskas of the National Cancer Institute. “Often, those patients seek medical attention when symptoms such as bleeding, defecation problems, abdominal bloating, weight loss appear.”
Ideally, cancer should be diagnosed before symptoms are present. Especially since screening allows preventing the development of the disease.
A. Dulskas explained that the world is already responding to changing morbidity statistics.
“In some countries, where this disease is more common and there is a higher level of economic development, the colon cancer screening program has already been implemented from the age of 45. This is already being done by the United Kingdom, the United States and South Korea,” – lrytas.lt said A.Dulskas.
Colon cancer is a particularly common disease. In Lithuania alone, about 1.7 thousand are determined every year. new cases of it.
A painless examination allows us to suspect the disease
For those who feel well and do not suspect that the disease is already knocking on the door, the occult bleeding test, which detects traces of intestinal bleeding in the stool, is especially important.
“I recommend everyone over 40 to buy that test. It costs 5-6 euros in pharmacies. The test is simple, painless, everyone can check themselves at home”, explained A. Dulskas.
Residents of Lithuania from the age of 50 can be screened for colon cancer free of charge. Why doesn’t everyone take advantage of this opportunity?
“I suspect a lot of people imagine that screening starts right away with a colonoscopy. Most likely, residents who do not know honestly are frightened by this and do not check their health”, A. Dulskas thought.
If the test does not show traces of blood, then there is no reason to fear the disease, but after a couple of years it is good to be tested again.
Only if the test for occult bleeding is positive, it is necessary to consult a doctor for further tests. True, there is no need to panic – a positive test result is not a cancer diagnosis.
“This means that there is a slight bleeding that is not visible to the naked eye, or that you have done the test incorrectly. It is emphasized that red meat and some medications should be avoided before the test.
We find some changes in a very small percentage of patients. Sometimes, we find benign pathology – polyps – and we detect cancer in only 5-8%. cases where the secret bleeding test result is positive”, reassured A. Dulskas.
According to the surgeon general, the risk of developing colon cancer is increased by excessive consumption of red meat, obesity, smoking, low physical activity, as well as consumption of carbonated sweetened fruit juices, alcohol, fast, fatty food.
It is believed that these habits are responsible for the fact that cancer is becoming more common in younger people.
“Constant running and hurrying are not beneficial. Everything comes together and we have the result that cancer is getting younger”, said A. Dulskas.
Extends life
Doctor and surgeon of the Santara Clinics, prof. Tomas Poškus also claims that early diagnosis has an invaluable value.
“It reduces the risk of dying from colon cancer and prolongs overall survival.”
We have Lithuanian data: if a person takes a test for occult bleeding and it is negative, the risk of dying within 5 years is approximately 4 percent. Here we are talking about people aged 50-75. If the test is positive, but a polyp is found there, the risk practically does not increase.
However, if the test is positive and the person does not have a colonoscopy, the risk doubles. It becomes about 9, almost 10 percent.
So, we have a clear proof that after finding traces of blood and having a colonoscopy, we significantly reduce the risk of dying from any cause in the next 5 years”, T. Poškus told “Žinių radio”.
Changes in breast cancer diagnosis
The Ministry of Health (SAM) has not announced any possible changes in the colon cancer screening program.
However, changes are being made to the breast cancer early diagnosis program. From the beginning of next year, as promised, the age limits of program participants will be expanded, family doctor referrals will be abandoned, and a new test – breast tomosynthesis – will be added to the program. According to the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkis, the development of preventive programs will help both in protecting the health of the population, increasing public awareness, and saving funds for treatment.
“Changes in prevention programs will help to more accurately identify people who need treatment at an early stage, and manage the associated risks. The improvement of preventive programs is a continuous process, so after receiving the results of the pilot projects, other changes will be made in such an important area as the prevention of oncological diseases,” the minister is quoted as saying in the press release.
As indicated by the ministry, from January 1 of next year, women aged 45-74 will be able to participate in the breast cancer early diagnosis program throughout Lithuania. Patients will also undergo a new modern test – breast tomosynthesis, which allows for the examination of even extremely small (up to 2-3 mm) suspicious formations. Ten new mammograms, which were also purchased in 2020 with funds from the European Union (EU), will help improve the quality of the breast cancer prevention program. handed over to seven medical institutions by the Ministry. From the beginning of next year, the referral of a family doctor will no longer be necessary for prevention programs, and the information, invitation and organization of services for patients will be taken over by two coordination centers – Vilnius University Hospital Santaras Klinikos and Kaunas Klinikos Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.
The Ministry allocated 340 thousand to prepare the infrastructure of the coordination centers. of EU funds. The new service organization model will be tested in a pilot project involving both coordination centers and selected medical facilities.
2024-04-01 17:52:26