Colorectal screening service launched
A national Colorectal screening service was launched this morning, with the health authorities planning to invite up to 1,300 people per month to take the test.
The service was launched by Health Minister Joseph Cassar, who said that this was the second most common cancer in Malta.
The screening will initially involve men and women aged between 60 and 64. They will receive invitations asking them to take the test. Those who accept will then receive a self-testing kit. They will be required to use a special stick to test for traces of blood in their faeces, the stick will then be placed in a bottle and sent to the Health Department.
Dr Cassar stressed that a positive test outcome did not necessarily mean that cancer was present, but further testing would be required.
Dr Cassar and Nadine Delicata, head of the national health screening programme, explained that the new programme was based on the Breast Screening Programme and cost some €1 million to set up.
Dr Delicata said the response rate to such programme abroad was about 40%. The authorities in Malta intend to broaden the tests to other age groups.
In 2010 there were 232 cases of bowel cancer in Malta, with 119 patients having been men. 100 succumbed to the cancer.
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Ms C Bartolo
Nov 26th 2012, 16:41
And never a word about the medical lab. scientists who will be carrying out the tests. Oh well ...
Louis Craus
Nov 26th 2012, 16:05
Mela min ikun bejn l- eta ta' 60 u 64 biss jista jimrad ? L-ohrajn x'ser isir ghalihom ?
Din bhal tal- " breast cancer " gejja.
Imbaghad nibdew nisimghu li mn' Alla ghamilna t- tests ghax sibna tant kazi ta' cancers.
Imma l- ohrajn li ma jaqghux f'din il gap ta' bejn 60 u 64 ser jibqghu jsaffru ? X 'ser jaghmlu ?
Jew kulhadd jew hadd,ghax il cancer m'ghandu l-ebda eta'.
Chris Debono
Nov 26th 2012, 17:29
The 60-64 age group is most likely at risk of developing the cancer, it will not be economically viable to screen the whole Maltese population.
John Attard
Nov 26th 2012, 20:32
One can also make an appointment for a colonoscopy and even if seen four years later he can have a result of the status of bowel cancer...or more commonly known as polyps is coli. This could be hereditary so one would do well to go through this test at an early stage in life.....?my uncle died at 29 as a result of heretical polyposis coli!
Joseph Rapinett
Nov 26th 2012, 15:32
Well done Dr Delicata for the precious work you and your staff are doing.
Joseph Micallef
Nov 26th 2012, 15:07
All disease start from the colon. If you do not fully emty your bowels, what remains inside will start to encrust and the toxins will pass through the colon walls and poison the blood. For best evacuation, when sitting on the toilet but something under your feet about 16 to 19 cm high so that you are squatting and not sitting. That way it will be easier to empty your bowels.
Mr Albert Borg
Nov 26th 2012, 18:17
please stop misinforming the public.
C Calafato
Nov 26th 2012, 19:26
what is your qualification mr micalllef???
Charles Muscat
Nov 27th 2012, 11:15
The best way to exercise this is to eat plenty of fiber so when it is time to do our business the discharge will have to come out like a torpedo and almost needless to clean ourselves after. This way we know that our bowels are clean. I have a colonoscopy test almost every year. Some polyps are safe but still can turn into cancer, so it shouldn't be ignored.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Nov 26th 2012, 13:48
Several sites reported that scientists have trained dogs to sniff colorectal cancer and they say with 98% accuracy. Here is a link to just one report
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20030391-10391704.html
Joseph Camilleri
Nov 26th 2012, 13:27
Prosit Health Department
this is very good news
Well done.
Tony Stivala
Nov 26th 2012, 12:57
At the moment in UK they are having a huge drive about this
The TV advert encourages you to see your doctor if you see traces of blood
Prosit to the health department which is second to none
M Borg
Nov 26th 2012, 12:38
It is a very good that the Health Service is providing this service. We have a Health Service that makes us proud.
C Calafato
Nov 26th 2012, 12:22
prosit it would save lives and alot of misery to these people and their family. This is a real health service
twanny borg
Nov 26th 2012, 12:13
Prosit lid-dipartiment tas-sahha.
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