SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 31 March (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spain ranks second in the number of cases of colorectal cancer in both men and women, and first if considering cases in both sexes. According to data from the Cancer Observatory, 40,203 individuals were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Spain during 2023. Specifically, in the Canary Islands, there were 1,803 new reported cases last year.
In observance of World Colon Cancer Day, celebrated on March 31, the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC) has initiated the ‘Play your role in the detection of colon cancer’ campaign with the goal of boosting participation in colorectal cancer screening programmes for individuals aged between 50 and 69.
As part of this campaign and on this special day, the Association Against Cancer in Las Palmas has placed stickers in restrooms in shopping centres, bus stations, pharmacies, and private companies to raise awareness among the population about colon cancer screening.
According to statistics from the Cancer Observatory, the Canary Islands are one of the regions with the lowest awareness levels, with only 77.6% of the target population being informed about the TSOH test, and 37.4% stating they have personally received the TSOH.
The campaign’s messages are crafted to address the reasons why the target population refrains from participating in screening tests as highlighted in the ‘Study on colorectal cancer screening programmes’ (2023) conducted by the Cancer Observatory, aiming to increase participation to reach 65% of the target population.
The main barriers identified among individuals who have not undergone the test include lack of symptoms (39.6%), not receiving official invitations to participate (39.9%), forgetfulness or negligence (28.6%), reluctance to visit medical facilities due to the pandemic (24.9%), or perceived healthcare system overload (22.1%).
Faced with this situation, the Spanish Association against Cancer will raise awareness among individuals aged 50 to 69 in various locations such as pharmacies or shopping centres, emphasising a clear message: screening saves lives. “A few minutes could alter your life. Perform a simple faecal occult blood test, because early detection of this cancer can save 9 out of 10 lives,” the initiative asserts.
This screening method involves conducting a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FSBT), a painless, non-invasive examination that can be carried out at home to detect the presence of non-visible blood in stool. It is designed to identify bleeding lesions, which could indicate polyps or pre-cancerous lesions, and even malignant lesions that might remain undetected until the disease progresses further, reducing the chances of successful treatment and cure.
PROGRAMME FOR EARLY DETECTION OF COLON CANCER
The Programme for the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer was established by the Spanish Association against Cancer. In 2007, the Association supported a research project led by Dr. Antoni Castells, confirming the validity of the Fecal Occult Blood Test (TSOH) for early detection programmes for colon cancer.
In 2013, with public backing, nearly 600,000 signatures were submitted urging the Ministry of Health to incorporate colon cancer screening into the range of basic services of the National Health System. Subsequently, in 2014, the Spanish Association against Cancer introduced this test for population-based colorectal cancer screening programmes. The incorporation of colorectal cancer screening into the National Health System’s service offerings mandated Autonomous Communities to commence implementation within a 5-year timeframe, aiming for nearly 100% coverage in a decade. Throughout this period, the Association collaborated with the Autonomous Communities to expedite the implementation process and educate society about the importance of participating in life-saving screening programmes.
By 2024, it will be a decade since the initiation of efforts to achieve close to 100% coverage across the Autonomous Communities. Nevertheless, lack of updated, verified, and harmonised public data hinders obtaining an accurate assessment of the status of colon screening programmes in Spain, ensuring equitable population access to these screenings.
The most recent public data on the status of colon screening programmes in Spain is from 2019 through the Network of Cancer Cried Programmes. The report ‘Evaluation of colorectal cancer screening programmes-2019’ highlights the disparity among Autonomous Communities in programme implementation, with an average estimated coverage rate of 50%, indicating that many fall short of the established objective.
PARTICIPATION: ANOTHER UNMET GOAL
Besides striving for complete coverage of colorectal cancer screening programmes, encouraging participation among the target population is crucial. The latest update of the National Health System’s Cancer Strategy from February 2021 sets a target of achieving a minimum 65% participation rate in colorectal cancer screening programmes in line with European guidelines (European Guidelines For Quality Assurance on Colorectal Screening Programmes).
In this context, the Spanish Association against Cancer stresses the necessity for promoting transparency and maintaining up-to-date, validated, and unified public data on coverage and participation levels to ensure the equitable provision of colorectal cancer screening programmes, as well as other existing population screenings (breast, cervix).
