Aragon extends its colorectal cancer early detection program to age 74

The acting Minister of Health, José Luis Bancalero Flores, encourages citizens to participate in this life-saving prevention measure.

The Department of Health of the Government of Aragon has extended to the 74 years the age of participation in the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Program, which will now be addressed to the entire population of 50 to 74 yearsThis measure will allow the screening test to be offered free of charge to a greater number of citizens, reinforcing a key strategy for detecting precancerous lesions or tumors in very early stages, when the chances of a cure exceed 90%.

Until now, screening was offered to those between 50 and 69 years old. With this expansion, people between 70 and 74 years old will also be included. The decision is based on scientific evidence and the favorable report from the National Public Health Commission, approved by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System on November 12, 2025. In that approval, the Ministry gave the Autonomous Communities five years to extend the program to a larger segment of the population. Aragon will be one of the first Autonomous Communities to implement it, beginning its rollout in April. The program is coordinated by the Screening Unit of the Directorate General of Public Health and the healthcare services of the Aragon Health Service (SALUD).

The acting Minister of Health, José Luis Bancalero Flores, highlighted the importance of this expansion: “We are dealing with a very common cancer and, unlike others, we have a highly effective early detection test that clearly reduces the mortality associated with this disease.”

An effective, simple and essential screening process to save lives

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. In 2022, more than 1,9 million new cases were registered, and it is estimated to have caused between 900.000 and 930.000 deaths, making it the second leading cause of cancer death globally and in Spain. In Aragon, between 1.200 and 1.300 cases are detected annually. Throughout 2024, 1.290 cases of colon cancer were detected in the Aragon region, representing 14.51% of all tumors. A total of 466 people residing in Aragon died from this disease that year. 

La Director General of Public Health, Nuria Gayán, has highlighted that the 70% of the colorectal cancers These cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes (healthy eating, weight management, regular exercise, eliminating toxic substances like tobacco, and limiting alcohol consumption). Gayán explained that these measures fall under the umbrella of primary prevention, which aims to prevent cancer by controlling risk factors.

The director general indicated that secondary prevention focuses on the early detection of initial lesions to prevent cancer from developing. Its main tool is the screening program. In the case of colon cancer screening, 246.000 people were invited last year to take the fecal occult blood test, and this year the invitation will be extended to an additional 44.000 people. 

It is important to note that colon and rectal cancer often develops without symptoms in its early stages, making screening essential for early detection.

The program is based on the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), a simple, non-invasive and painless test that can be performed at home.

• If the result is negative, it is repeated every two years.

• If it is positive, a colonoscopy is indicated, which allows confirmation or exclusion of pathology and removal of polyps in the same procedure.

• After a normal colonoscopy, it is not necessary to repeat the screening test until five years have passed.

How to participate in the program

Those who meet the criteria receive an invitation letter and a notification through the Salud Informa app. To participate, they must schedule an appointment at their local health center, where they will receive the kit and instructions for taking the test at home. The result is communicated by letter, phone, or through Salud Informa.

Some people may not receive the invitation for reasons such as personal or family history, recent colonoscopies, or outdated contact information.

Likewise, José Luis Bancalero Flores has emphasized the need to increase participationCurrently at 40%: “This is not a satisfactory figure. The system is doing everything possible to ensure adequate care; now it is essential that everyone, upon receiving the letter, goes to their health center and gets tested. Prevention can save lives.”

For more information, the program has the telephone number 976 765 786 and the email address prevencionccr@aragon.es.

Why might he not have received the letter?

If you have not received the invitation letter to take the screening test, it may be due to:

• Invitations are sent out gradually.

• He has a personal or family history of colorectal cancer and, therefore, his follow-up is done through a different circuit.

• He is being monitored for another disease of the colon or rectum.

• Have you had a colonoscopy in the last 5 years?

• The address details on file at your health center are incorrect or outdated.

El Dr. Ángel Lanas, head of service of Digestive of the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital The professor of medicine commented at the press conference that only 4,5% of people who underwent a fecal occult blood test had a positive result. In those cases, they are invited to have a colonoscopy, and only a small proportion (between 3,5% and 4,5%) actually have cancer. Almost half have polyps, which are precursors to cancer, but these are removed at the same time as the colonoscopy. 

The regional representative of the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Aragon, José Manuel Ramón y CajalHe lamented the current low participation in the program (barely 40%). Ramón y Cajal pledged to help, through the association he represents, to encourage citizens to participate and congratulated the Government of Aragon for its commitment to rigorous screening procedures.  

Source: Department of Health, Government of Aragon