Health authorities are stepping up the colorectal cancer screening programme, as parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne revealed yesterday that the public response rate is currently just 50 per cent.

During an outreach programme in Valletta to mark National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Mr Fearne said the screening programme, which previously targeted people 60 to 64 years old, had been extended upwards to 66, and would eventually begin as early as 55.

He said the programme had been ongoing for two and a half years, but only 50 per cent of those invited to carry out home testing were responding, a figure the parliamentary secretary deemed unsatisfactory.

Earlier this month, Mr Fearne told this newspaper that 21,000 adults were invited last year. Of those who responded, 411 tested “positive” and 20 patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The majority had precancerous polyps (small growths on the lining of the large intestine), which were removed.

With a 60 per cent mortality rate, colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer in Malta.

The disease is responsible for approximately 300 new diagnoses and 100 deaths every year.

“We want to call on everyone who receives the invitation to take the test. Colorectal cancer is a deadly disease but if caught early, before symptoms emerge, it can be successfully cured,” said Mr Fearne.

Head of screening Prof. Joe Psaila said the only way to reduce the mortality rate was through increased screening.

Testing is being carried out through a technique known as fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), an inexpensive method which looks for hidden blood in a person’s stool.

“The test is modern, precise, and can be carried out within five minutes in the privacy of your home,” said Prof. Psaila, adding that his team had increased its work threefold and was now sending out some 300 screening invitations every day.

Those who test positive are informed by a dedicated team that also provides counselling services and advice about further testing, including a colonoscopy should it be needed.