Colorectal screening appointments in Aragon are fewer than before covid

The objective of the colorectal screening program of the Department of Health of the Government of Aragon is to reach 100% of the population between 50 and 70 years of age in 2024; However, the Spanish Association Against Cancer has confirmed that the current situation is "worse than before the pandemic" because fewer people are being summoned. The association chaired by Patxi García Izuel in Aragon does not have specific data but they recognize that the first contact is through Primary Care, which is currently focused on vaccination and everything related to the pandemic, which causes more difficulties for access to the family doctor, and the delay in referral to oncologists, who "yes they say that more and more advanced cases of cancer are arriving" and that is because "it is costing more" to get to the consultations.

García Izuel recognizes the effort being made by the Government of Aragon for the program to be completed in 2024, although he assures that "if it is sooner, the better" because there will be Aragonese who until that date "will not be diagnosed" with breast cancer. colon or rectum in early stages, when symptoms have not yet begun. In this sense, he considers that screening has been shown to be "efficient" and "saves a lot of money in treatment and, above all, in lives." For this reason, he emphasizes that survival in colon cancer is between 50 and 60%, a figure that will exceed 90% when "the complete program is developed and people go to take the test," he asserts, before add that the difference is "abysmal", especially considering that this cancer is the one that "affects the greatest number of people." In fact, in 2020, 38.791 people were diagnosed in Spain, of which 1.200 were Aragonese (and 553 died).

The participation figure is worrying, which is 60%, despite the fact that it is "a non-invasive test", but, he says, there is more resistance "than we would like." Because? "We don't know," but perhaps it is due to not attending Primary Care if there is no discomfort and also, he adds, to the fact that "there are fears" and that is why they do not attend early diagnosis tests, "in case during the visit "They detect something."

Extend Radiotherapy to Teruel

In this sense, he affirms, although without data on the table, that women are more conscious at the time of the appointment because "they are more disciplined" while men have "more resistance to going to the doctor." In addition, the woman also participates in the breast cancer prevention mammography program. Here, the "normal rhythm" was resumed in May, although García Izuel affirms that it may be slowed down in rural areas because "specialists claim that there have been cases of breast cancer in more advanced stages."

For the association, it is a "big step" that, starting in 2023, the San Jorge hospital in Huesca will have a Radiotherapy service, which will mean that 250 people a year will not have to travel to another city. Now, they are demanding that it also be launched in Teruel, something that the ministry has assured them will be linked to the new hospital in Teruel, but "we would like it to happen sooner" because there is still a long way to go and some people "cannot afford it." health or age» spend six hours in the car for 30 days» to receive treatment.