More and more people are suffering from colon cancer. Free tests can save lives

According to data provided by the National Health Fund, colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in our country. It ranks second in terms of incidence in Poland, right after lung cancer. This disease affects increasingly younger people. However, its development can be prevented thanks to systematic tests, which in our country some people can perform for free.

Colorectal cancer is an insidious disease

Currently, the number of young people suffering from colon cancer is increasing. The average age of onset of the disease is 67 years, but around the world this disease is increasingly diagnosed in people under 50 years of age. It is one of the most common cancers in both women and men. In Poland, approximately 18,000 people suffer from it every year.

This disease can be very insidious – it sometimes develops for a long time and even for several years does not produce any symptoms that could worry the patient. The first symptoms of this cancer often escape the patient’s attention because they are not specific and may be perceived as common ailments of the digestive system. However, there are free tests that will help detect this cancer early, which significantly increases the chances of cure. That is why it is so important to take care of prevention.

Free examination is a chance to detect cancer

Specialists emphasize that early detection of colorectal cancer significantly increases the effectiveness of treatment. There is a colorectal cancer screening program in Poland. Thanks to this, you can perform free tests under the National Health Fund. People who can benefit from these free tests:

• from 50 to 65 years old,

• or from 40 to 49 years if the patient’s closest relatives have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The program includes colonoscopy, including:

• taking samples from tumor infiltration or lesions suspected of being cancerous;

• removal of polyps up to 15 mm in size;

• submitting all sections and removed polyps to histopathological examination;

• indication of specific treatment recommendations for people who have undergone screening colonoscopy.

To take part in the program, the patient does not need to have a referral. You should contact the facility that implements the program. The current list of facilities that have joined the preventive program can be found on the National Health Fund website.

Should you be afraid of colonoscopy?

Some people are afraid of this test – but it turns out that it is completely unnecessary. As the National Health Fund emphasizes, colonoscopy can be performed under local or general anesthesia (depending on medical indications), so the patient will not feel any discomfort. The whole thing lasts from 15 to 40 minutes. After the examination, the patient will receive the result and recommendations regarding possible treatment and another preventive examination.

The patient should properly prepare for colonoscopy in advance. Detailed information on this subject can be obtained from the person referring you for the examination or at the registration desk of the laboratory where the colonoscopy will be performed. You should also remember that you should not eat products containing seeds and seeds a few days before the test, and you should not eat any meals on the day of the colonoscopy.