Colonoscopy: why is it crucial in the prevention of colon cancer?

Colonoscopy is so important because, on the one hand, it allows you to find small tumors, i.e. polyps, in the intestine. In addition, the doctor may remove these polyps during the examination. This may end the patient's entire epic period related to oncological treatment, if it is caught at an early stage of cancer development - emphasizes Prof. in an interview with an RMF FM journalist. Lucjan Wyrwicz from the National Institute of Oncology - National Research Institute in Warsaw. Colonoscopy takes 15 to 40 minutes.

What is colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is an examination during which the doctor can carefully examine the intestine from the inside. It allows you to detect changes and initiate treatment quickly. Depending on medical indications, the examination may be performed under local or general anesthesia.

Who can benefit from screening tests?

In recent weeks, many doubts have arisen regarding the possibility of using the colorectal cancer screening program. Since April, the National Health Fund has been paying facilities only 60% of the rate for colonoscopies performed beyond plan as part of diagnostic tests. This restriction does not apply to, among others, children, first-time patients, transplant patients and people who have a DiLO card, i.e. Diagnostics and Oncological Treatment.

According to the documents of the Ministry of Health, the screening program for early detection of changes in the large intestine, financed by the National Health Fund, is open to people who meet the following conditions: they do not have symptoms suggesting colorectal cancer, they have not had a colonoscopy performed in the last 10 years and they meet the age criteria. The program covers people who are aged 50-65, or already 40-49 years old, if a first-degree relative of such a person has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. A first-degree relative is a parent or child.

Can another test replace colonoscopy?

For many months, information has been regularly published about modern capsules that can be swallowed and thus, using special cameras, image what is happening in the intestine. Some people wonder whether this type of test has a chance to replace colonoscopy. This new study does not allow samples to be taken. It only gives the patient apparent happiness that he does not have to undergo a colonoscopy. If someone really wants to avoid colonoscopy at all costs, I advise them to perform the fecal occult blood test more often. Then, if the result of this test is positive, a colonoscopy will have to be performed - emphasizes Prof. Lucjan Wyrwicz.

The fecal occult blood test is the so-called FIT test, which is included in the catalog of tests under the Moje Zdrowie program. This is a package of free preventive tests that people aged 20+ can take advantage of once every five years, and people aged 50+ once every three years.

A colonoscopy will confirm that our intestine is clean and nothing is happening, or we will detect a small, medium or larger polyp that cannot be removed during the colonoscopy. Then we are sent to hospital for a procedure that takes a short time but must be performed using a different method. Thanks to this test, we prevent the development of colon cancer. This test gives us confidence that we will not get this cancer given our current health condition. When women undergo cytology or mammography, we detect the early stages of development of these diseases. These tests do not prevent, they only diagnose an early condition. In the case of colonoscopy, we see that everything is fine or we may get sick and we should be under the care of a general practitioner - emphasizes Iga Rawicka from the Europacolon Polska Foundation.

Colon cancer - what is worth knowing about it?

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in both women and men. More than 18,000 people in Poland suffer from it every year. It is the second most common cancer in the Polish population after lung cancer. It develops for a long time, even for several years, and may not cause any symptoms. That is why early detection of the disease is so important.