Nikki Abela Mercieca
Colon cancer screening for all from the age of 50
180 new cases of colon cancer per year
A national programme is to be introduced to screen for colon and rectal cancer, which in Malta claims the lives of about 100 people a year, more than breast cancer.
Health Ministry sources said the programme will be included in the National Cancer Plan to be released within the next few weeks. However, there are no details yet on when it is expected to be in place.
Last summer it was reported that the ministry was studying the feasibility of introducing a colorectal screening programme following the success of the national breast screening programme.
“We will be going ahead with it,” a ministry spokesman told The Times yesterday.
The breast screening programme has, since its introduction in October last year, led to some 45 women being diagnosed with very early stages of cancer, giving them a better chance of survival.
Colorectal cancer actually kills more people than breast cancer. Every year, roughly 90-100 people die of the disease, with the latest figure being 112 in 2008, while breast cancer has led to between 60 and 70 deaths per year over the past few years.
The plan is to target men and women aged 50 to 74, who have no symptoms of cancer, and screen them for potential cancers in the colon and rectum, parts of the gut which may easily hide this killer disease.
The screening programme will seek to detect early stage cancers, sometimes even before lesions turn cancerous. Tracing a cancer early will make treatment more effective, less invasive and in some cases even cure patients.
Although sources remained mum on the exact details, previous statements by the ministry had indicated the programme would be in line with the 2003 EU Council Recommendation on Cancer Screening. This suggests that a “faecal occult blood” test is done to screen for colorectal cancer in men and women aged 50 to 74. This test, known in the medical world simply by its initials, FOB, looks for blood in the stools by placing a small sample on card, pad, or cloth wipe. This is then tested to determine whether blood is present.
Blood in the stools may be the only symptom of colorectal cancer but not all such cases are caused by cancer, as other conditions like Crohn’s disease and haemorrhoids may also cause blood to be present. These other conditions will then need to be excluded for the test to be positive.
In Malta, approximately 180 new cases of colon cancer are detected per year. An estimated 1.58 million new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) occurred in the EU in 1998 – of these 14 per cent were colorectal cancers.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
12 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
C Cassar
Dec 31st 2010, 02:46
As usual the Maltese are never interested in prevention of disease. They're only interested in cure. Typical short sighted and lazy attitude expecting the state to come to the rescue when in fact they could do so much to stop this disease by having a healthy diet.
When will the Maltese have the basic education in life?
Wilfred Camilleri
Dec 30th 2010, 22:15
Great news. These screening procedures have been in effect in Canada for years. They are easy to perform in the privacy of one's home and a cost effective way to detect this deadly form of cancer early. If caught early enough the chances of survival are quite good. Doing the screening once a year should be part of everyone's annual checkup. This screening combined with a colonoscopy every four years for high risk people (those with a paternal history of the cancer) will go a long way to reduce death from this disease.
R Axisa
Dec 30th 2010, 20:51
This is very good, especially to those who have family history of colon cancer.
John Portelli
Dec 30th 2010, 17:02
Great news and hope that many will take it up.
why not extend the offer it to those individuals that come from families with a history colon cancer?
Rita Marlow
Dec 30th 2010, 15:54
Great news indeed. I have been hoping for this since I came aware of this disease through my late dad ..
Dr. John Zammit
Dec 30th 2010, 15:39
What about a campaign for men now: about prostate cancer?! There are too much adverts about breast cancer! And the women say that we do not have equality!!!!
Josephine Bugeja
Dec 30th 2010, 15:13
This is very good news. I hope the tests will be available as soon as possible and I wish all those organizing the screening success in their endeavours while thanking them for their work. Yes, as some have pointed out, prevention is recommended but this does not rule out the advisability of screening if this may save lives.
A.Sacco
Dec 30th 2010, 14:00
"Colorectal cancer actually kills more people than breast cancer..." And yet, priority was given to breast cancer screening, notwithstanding the fact that besides having numbers in its favour, colorectal cancer is also partly due to congenital causes. Maybe aesthetics had something to do with it? In any case, from the beginning it was obvious that in launching a screening programme against one type of cancer there would ensue a call for this and that type of cancer to be screened. And - having a direct interest in this subject - I felt aggrieved at first that colorectal cancer screening was not included in the central government's plan. I know that Government's finances are not infinite, but why launch such a praiseworthy scheme in what appeared to be a trifle discriminatory manner. I must laud the government for launching cancer screening, but please be careful about priorities. In any case, better late than never, and thank God we are - as a nation - so health conscious.
c.cefai
Dec 30th 2010, 13:54
Can anyone inform me why the screening only covers people up to 74 years and not
over; does it mean that people over the age of 74 are immune?
Victor Ceci
Dec 30th 2010, 12:28
This is indeed a worthy initiative. There is certainly widespread international agreement that colon cancer screening is effective at detecting cancer at an early stage and that this reduces mortality from this illness. In countries with well developed primary health care systems the success of population-based screening for this type of cancer (and, indeed, other types of cancers too) has been significantly affected by the attitudes of family doctors towards it. One hopes that family doctors in Malta will not be left out of the loop and will at the very least be informed of test results, unlike what has, and still is, happening in the case of breast cancer screening locally.
C Cassar
Dec 30th 2010, 12:21
One of the best ways to avoid this disease is to avoid eating any processed meats such as ham, bacon, sausages, burgers etc.
There shoudl be much more information on the likely causes of this (and other diseases) rather than relying on screening. Better to stop the occurenec in the first place. The problem with the Maltese diet is that it now contains a huge amount of processed meats. Of course generally obesity and lack of excercise is also a major cause for a variety of cancers including this one.
Paul Barrett
Dec 30th 2010, 10:09
Are the more private "Home Screening Test" kits available?