Monaco gets involved in MARS BLEU colon cancer prevention and screening campaign

Copyright - DR

The Prince’s Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and Princess Grace Hospital, is once again taking part in the Mars Bleu campaign. The month of March has been selected to promote the fight against colon cancer, just as October (Octobre Rose) is breast cancer month. 

Colorectal cancer causes 17,400 deaths a year in France. 

It is a very common cancer, second only to lung cancer for men and to breast cancer for women, yet all patients can be screened for colon cancer, even in the absence of symptoms. 

This prevention and screening awareness campaign therefore aims to encourage anyone who has concerns to ask for a colonoscopy: if they have a family history of the disease, if their bowel movements have become irregular, if they experience new intestinal pain or if blood appears in their stools. 

Colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure which requires a very light general anaesthetic and enables a precise diagnosis to be made through the potential identification of polyps (which can be removed) or cancer. 

An ongoing screening campaign, supported by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, began in 2007. It is aimed at everyone between the ages of 50 and 80. 

Of the 30,000 people who have received a letter inviting them to undergo screening, 12,000 have benefitted from the Hemoccult test, which checks for the presence of blood in stools. Of these, 130 tests came back positive.

Just recently, in November 2015, the Hemoccult test was replaced by a new immunology test which is easier to use and offers better results. 

The Biology Laboratory at Princess Grace Hospital has been equipped with an automated system (OC SENSOR) specially designed to interpret immunology tests sent in by those who have undertaken them. The test results will be returned to patients by the Monaco Screening Centre, with a copy also sent to their preferred doctor. In the event of a negative result, the screening will be repeated every two years. 

Colon cancer can be treated very effectively if it is detected in the early stages, as it can be removed with surgery. This is often supplemented by a course of chemotherapy. 

Colonoscopy and screening lead to a considerable decrease in the mortality rates of this cancer (by 25–30%). A healthy diet and lifestyle (limiting consumption of tobacco, alcohol and red meat) and regular exercise make an important contribution to reducing the impact of this scourge of Western civilisation. 

As it does every year, the MARS BLEU 2016 campaign will provide an opportunity to send out a strong message highlighting the fight against colon cancer and the need and ability to combat the disease through screening and preventive measures.