Screening for colon cancer using a simple test for hidden blood in faeces can save thousands of lives. That is the conclusion of one of the largest studies carried out to date in Spain, which finds that this programme of early detection is associated with a 50% reduction in mortality from colorectal cancer among people aged 50 to 69.
The research, published this Wednesday in "JAMA Network Open (source in Spanish)", tracked how the disease evolved over 21 years in a population of almost 2.2 million people in the Basque Country. The findings show that the fall in deaths began just three years after the screening programme was introduced and has been sustained ever since.
As well as cutting mortality, the programme has made it possible to detect 70.8% of tumours at stages I and II, when the chances of cure are far higher and treatment is less aggressive.
The study, led by Dr Luis Bujanda, examined mortality data recorded between 2004 and 2024. Over that period there were 438,134 deaths from all causes, of which 16,298 were linked to colorectal cancer.
In the age group covered by the screening programme, 50 to 69 years, the mortality rate fell from 39.7 to 19.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, a decrease of 50.1%. In the population as a whole, mortality also dropped, from 32.8 to 23.1 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
The researchers identified a turning point in 2012, just three years after the programme began, strengthening the link between screening and the reduction in deaths from colorectal cancer. They also estimate that, without the introduction of this early detection system, mortality among people aged 50 to 69 would have been 46.2% higher.
A simple test that can detect cancer before symptoms appear
The screening programme is based on the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), a non-invasive test that detects small amounts of hidden blood in faeces, one of the earliest signs of a possible cancer or precancerous lesions. In the Basque Country, this test is offered every two years to men and women aged 50 to 69 who have no symptoms. If the result is positive, a colonoscopy is carried out to confirm the diagnosis.
Over the study period, the programme led to the detection of 4,892 cases of colorectal cancer. More than seven in ten were diagnosed at stages I or II, when treatment options are more effective and survival is significantly higher.
Support for early detection programmes
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common tumours and a leading cause of cancer death in Spain and worldwide. However, detecting it early greatly increases the chances of cure and even makes it possible to remove polyps before they turn into a malignant tumour.
For the authors, the results support the long-term benefits of organised screening programmes using the faecal immunochemical test as a public health strategy to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer.
They nevertheless stress that this is an observational study. This means the results show an association between the rollout of the programme and the fall in mortality, but do not allow a cause-and-effect relationship to be established with the same degree of certainty as a clinical trial.
Even so, the scale of the decline observed and its persistence for more than two decades reinforce the value of screening as one of the main tools for tackling this type of cancer.
This text was translated with the help of artificial intelligence. Report a problem : [feedback-articles-en@euronews.com].
