Oncologists: many cancer patients are coming too late.
Since the Czech Republic has the world's highest colorectal cancer mortality, oncologists and health insurance companies have agreed to offer more options of cancer prevention.
Milana Sachlova, MD, gastroenterologist at the the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute in Brno, said: "Men and women over 50 will obtain a free faecal occult blood test (FOBT) from their GPs once a year; and those aged 55 and above are eligible for a free colonoscopy examination."
Colonoscopy is regarded as the most reliable method for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Over the last year, less than 7000 colonoscopy examinations were performed in 171 Czech screening centres. During these examinations, doctors removed about 2150 polyps and diagnosed colorectal carcinoma in 383 persons. Dr Sachlova commented: "Just about 20 per cent of the Czech population benefits from the colorectal screening, which is alarming. Colorectal carcinoma is one of a few cancer types which grow relatively slowly: this can take up to six years, which gives us plenty of time to detect and treat this disease early enough."
Prof. Jiri Vorlicek, Director of the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute and President of the Czech Society for Oncology, added: "There can be a turn for the better if the Czech population realizes how important this issue is and starts to cooperate with the doctors. Nowadays, most colorectal cancer patients come too late to see a doctor."
27. 3. 2009 Pravo
