The program is aimed at men and women aged 50 and 69 with a health card, and consists of doing, every two years, a simple and comfortable test at home to detect if the stools contain small amounts of blood that are not seen. at first glance.
- When the Program arrives in your municipality or area, according to the established calendar, the entire target population receives a letter at their home, along with an information leaflet and a list of pharmacies in their area.
- They must take this letter to one of the pharmacies on the list to be given the test and instructions for doing so.
- Once the test is done, it must be returned to the pharmacy. The results of the test will be communicated to you by letter or telephone.
- It is important to participate in the Program within the deadlines established for each municipality or area, and which are indicated in the letter.
Important aspects of the test
- Do not perform the test if you have bleeding hemorrhoids or menstruation until 3 days have passed without blood loss.
- Avoid contamination of feces with urine.
- It is not necessary to be fasting or follow any diet before performing the test.
- Taking medication does not interfere with performing the test.
- Do not ingest the liquid from the tube. If the liquid comes in contact with the eyes, mouth or skin, rinse with plenty of water and, if necessary, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
- Communicate the loss of the test or any obstacle that has arisen during the performance of the same to the pharmacist, who will tell you how to act, or call directly to the Technical Office of Cancer Screening.
Before going to the pharmacy, it is important to contact the Cancer Screening Technical Office if you have:
- Colon or rectal disease (large intestine) already diagnosed, treated or followed up, more specifically colorectal cancer, colorectal adenoma or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Total colectomy (removal of the colon).
- Colonoscopy performed in the last 5 years.
- Digestive symptoms (blood in stools, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain ...) not studied. The study of symptoms should be done by a doctor who should visit the patient and determine the most appropriate diagnostic tests in each situation.
- Some relatives diagnosed with:
- Family history of familial adenomatous polyposis or other polyposis syndromes;
- History of hereditary colorectal cancer not associated with polyposis (Lynch syndrome);
- Two or more first-degree relatives (parents, children and siblings) with colorectal cancer or a first-degree relative (parents, children and siblings) with colorectal cancer diagnosed before the age of 60.