Mass colon cancer screening reveals 10% irregular results

The results of a mass colon cancer screening in Flanders shows that slightly more than 10% of  participants, who were aged 66 to 74, had irregular results. They were referred to specialists for further tests. The results of the population screening were announced by the region’s public health minister, Jo Vandeurzen.

Last year, about 250,000 residents received an invitation to participate in the screening. About half of them obliged with stool samples. Trace amounts of blood was detected in nearly 12,000 samples. Cancer was ultimately diagnosed in 10% of those cases, or in 1,200 people.

In six out of 10, polyps were found, which can precede cancer. “The percentage of irregular samples was a little higher than expected, but that’s probably because we examined people older than 65,” said doctor Patrick Martens, director of the Centre for Cancer Detection. “The risk of colon cancer increases as you get older.”

Minister Vandeurzen said he was happy about the considerable response to his ministry’s screening campaign. He also said he will examine expanding the target group in a second screening.

www.bevolkingsonderzoek.be

image by Terese Winslow, courtesy US government