Today marks the World Day against Colon Cancer, a day in which the Ministry of Health shows its commitment to continue progress in a comprehensive approach to this type of cancer, through middle care and ensuring continuity of care.
From 2021, the Ministry of Health will distribute a total of 7.5 million dollars from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan to all autonomous communities and states for financial activities to improve the coverage of screening people for colorectal cancer.
On the occasion of the commemoration of the World Day against Colon Cancer, the Ministry of Health shows its commitment to continue progress in a comprehensive approach to this type of cancer, through middle care and continuity of care.
In this sense, it is expected that screening data will continue to improve through 2023, after the recovery of coverage and participation levels, reaching figures similar to those before the beginning of the pandemic by COVID-19.
In Spain, population coverage for colorectal cancer was incorporated into the common portfolio of services of the National Health System (SNS) in 2014, establishing a period of five years for autonomous communities to implement and ten years to complete the next coverage. 100%
Now all independent communities have begun the implementation of this screening program, with occult blood men and women between the ages of 500 and 684, completing each year.
The current data available in 2022 shows that the invitation coverage of the target population is 74.15% and the participation is 40.61%.
A major health problem
Colorectal cancer is a serious and still growing health problem in Spain. The increase in incidence and survivability, as well as the high prevalence of the main risk factors and the possibility of effective early diagnosis, show the great need to implement early detection programs to cover 100% of the population up to 50. 69 years of age.
In the state of colorectal cancer, it bears according to the frequency of men and women, and first, if the cases in both sexes are considered.
The incidence in Spain has maintained a growing trend basically due to the influence of risk factors (it is estimated that 70% of colorectal cancers can be prevented only through cleanliness and nutritional measures) and the progressive introduction of early detection strategies.
NHS Cancer Strategy
The Cancer Strategy of the National Health System (SNS), whose latest update was approved in 2021, gives advocates a comprehensive approach to any cancer patient and specifies three goals to improve the early detection of colorectal cancer.
On the other hand, they are always detected early and are based within the framework of established human development.
Second, promote the implementation of these programs with the aim of achieving full invitation coverage before 2014.
And, in addition, they get a minimum of 75% participation in colorectal cancer screening programs. To this end, people’s activities will be promoted to raise awareness and improve the accessibility of people, with the aim of increasing the rate of participation.
Regarding the care model, the Strategy promotes the establishment of rapid diagnosis channels between Primary Care and Hospital Care in the event of signs or symptoms of suspected oncological pathology of the most common types of tumors, especially colorectal.
long live
As for long-term survival, one of the most recent innovations is included in the Strategy.
The improvements in cancer survival that have been observed in our country over the last three decades are the result of a combination of improvements in diagnosis, with earlier diagnosis, and improvements in cancer treatment.
In this sense, the Strategy prioritizes two objectives: once the treatment and the initial follow-up have been completed, an individualized follow-up plan is established and given to each written patient; and establish patients without a present illness who have received primary care, between Primary Care and Hospital, in a mutually agreed, structured and protocolized environment.
