Participation in the screening program
According to data provided by the Ministry of Health, the screening program has managed to attract a total of 8,014 participants during its first two years of operation. This is 26.3% of the 30,477 invitations sent. Of the participants, 4,317 were women and 3,697 men.
Results of the Blood Tests
Of the 8,014 people who participated, 441 have obtained a positive result in the stool hidden blood test. Of these, 256 are men and 185 women. The data indicate that, of the people with positive results, 394 have been subjected to colonoscopy. The reason why 47 people did not receive this test is due to the fact that after an interview it was considered that it was not necessary in 43 cases, while in 4 cases the participants chose not to continue the process.
Detection of cancer
Among the colonoscopy made, cancer has been identified in 29 people, with a male majority: 19 men (65.5%) and 10 women (34.5%). The cancer detection rate is 3.62 per thousand participants who have performed the hidden blood test, with a rate of 5.14 cancers per thousand men and 2.32 per thousand women. These statistics are consistent with European detection standards.
Post-Colonoscopy Monitor
For people who did not have cancer, the follow -up is distributed as follows: 202 individuals have been derived to special monitoring, 152 have not submitted injuries and have been invited to repeat the test in ten years, and 11 people are still waiting to finish their studies.
Operation of the program
The Ministry of Health uses a personalized communication system to invite the population to participate in the program. Once the letter has been received, participants must go to their primary care center to collect the tube for the test. After making the sample, it must be returned to the head within a maximum period of three days, maintaining the refrigerated tube until its delivery.
Processing and results
After the analysis, if the result is negative, the person will be invited to repeat the test after two years. If the result is invalid, it will be necessary to repeat the test. In positive cases, the participant is contacted by telephone to coordinate the colonoscopy in the SAAS screening unit.
Information and contact
The results of the tests are registered in the medical history of each participant. For any queries, the program offers a direct attention telephone number and an email address for more information.