Clarifications on self-tests for colon cancer, given by the Ministry of Health, on the occasion of publications containing, as it says, “incomplete or inaccurate information on self-tests for colon cancer”.

He emphasizes that the types of self tests used in the program are those recommended by the Public Health Expert Committee. He points out that self-tests detect the presence of bleeding in the stool, which is a key risk factor for the occurrence of colon cancer. “The self test does not detect whether a citizen has cancer or not,” says the Ministry of Health

“The implementation of the colon cancer prevention program is carried out in accordance with the scientific guidelines of the Committee of Public Health Experts (CEC), which was established by law 4675/2020 and is the official advisory body of the Ministry of Health on matters of Public Health Health, such as colon cancer screening and other preventive examination programs. Members of the Committee are renowned doctors, University Professors and experts in Public Health. Especially for colon cancer (as well as for any other preventive examination program) the Committee collaborated with a group of specialized Gastroenterologists, among them University Professors, as well as the President of the Hellenic Gastroenterological Society. In addition, the Commission and the Ministry of Health collaborated with the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association for the implementation of the program.

The Commission formulated the protocol according to which the program concerns all citizens aged 50-69 who have AMKA, whether they are insured or uninsured”.

According to the Commission’s instructions, the program includes the following steps:

1. Performing a Self-Test. “The types of self tests used in the program are those recommended by the Committee of experts, they have high reliability, they are approved by the EOF and precisely for this reason, the EOF dictates to the Ministry of Health which ones are included. In particular, the Ministry of Health has adopted the use of FIT and FOB tests, as recommended by all international organizations (CDC, WHO). In addition, regarding reports referring to the Mayer stool test, it is clarified that Mayer stool is not specific for the detection of human hemoglobin, while its use would lead to more false positive results. Even the laboratories have stopped using the old Mayer feces and are using corresponding tests with those of the program. The list of self tests used in the program can be found at the following link: https://colon.gov.gr/plirofories-gia-farmakopoioys/

Both the Ministry of Health and the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, as well as gastroenterologists, point out that self-tests detect the presence of bleeding in the stool, which is a key risk factor for colon cancer. The self test does not detect whether a citizen has cancer or not. The presence of bleeding in the stool can be due to different causes and for this reason, the Commission has given the instruction that when a citizen has a positive test, a clinical assessment by a gastroenterologist should be done. For citizens who have a positive test, an electronic referral to a gastroenterologist is automatically issued.

2. Visit to a gastroenterologist. The gastroenterologist makes a clinical assessment of the person taking into account the relevant symptoms, history and any other information to decide whether a colonoscopy is needed. If the doctor decides that the examination should be done, then the electronic referral for the examination is automatically issued, as well as the prescription for the supply of the laxatives required for the preparation before the colonoscopy.

3. Colonoscopy performed. The citizen does the colonoscopy examination and in case of findings, if possible, they are removed on the spot and sampling for biopsy proceeds.

It should be noted that all examinations (self test, visit to the gastroenterologist, supply of laxative, colonoscopy, biopsy) are free for all insured and uninsured beneficiaries, and no prescription is needed. Beneficiaries receive their referral letter ready and all they have to do is book their appointment, quickly and easily.

With the National Colon Cancer Screening Program, the goal is the early detection of pre-cancerous lesions or even the disease itself, with the aim of immediate intervention and treatment. If adenomatous polyps or possible neoplasia are diagnosed and managed at an early stage they have a 100% cure rate, making early detection extremely essential.

The Ministry of Health encourages all citizens to take advantage of these free tests that can save their lives. It is crucial that these services do not become the object of political or union exploitation, but that we all fight together, the State, health professionals, and citizens, so that we have high participation rates and do not mourn our fellow citizens from diseases that can be effectively prevented when detected early. “This is the inestimable value of Prevention: it gives us health to enjoy life with the people we love,” concludes the Ministry of Health.