Caught in time, colorectal cancer is curable in 9 out of 10 cases. This is the theme of the “Blue March” campaign which promotes the importance of screening.
“It is the second deadliest cancer and it affects both men and women,” insists Dr. Elsa Vignon. The doctor at the cancer screening coordination center for Aude and Ariège evokes prevention at two levels. The first is an action at the level of lifestyle, with a diet rich in fiber, low in red meat, by reducing or even eliminating alcohol and tobacco and by practicing physical activity. The second level of prevention is screening: “Every two years from the age of 50 and up to the age of 74. We receive a letter, we go to see our general practitioner and following a few questions, if you are eligible, he gives you a screening kit. It contains everything to perform the test in 5 minutes, at home, and everything to send the stool sample back to the laboratory, by post. If it is positive, that does not mean that “there must be cancer but you will have to have a colonoscopy to find out where the blood it contains comes from. Most of the time, these are polyps, some of which can evolve”, explains the doctor who insists on not not perform the test on the eve of weekends or public holidays. “The sample must, in fact, be sent within 24 hours”. Still, the department of Aude has a very low participation rate, 29.1%, much less than the regional rate – 32.6%. “The national objective is 65%, which would prevent 3,500 deaths. They are 2,600 with 30%”.
Prevention with the AVA association
Dates to remember: March 17, from 3:30 p.m. with a conference, organized by the AVA association, at the Pierre-Espève residence, in the presence of Drs Elsa Vignon and Jaqueline Besset. On Saturday March 26, guided walk to fight once morest cancer. Departure at 9 a.m. from the Halle de Verdun, towards the Présidial with culinary and health prevention workshops. Then head for the Paul-Sibra gallery with a snack on registration on 04 68 23 05 73. price €3.
Two practitioners intervene each week at the Chaurien hospital centre: Dr STROCK, gastroenterologist and hepatologist and VOICAN, oncologist and radiotherapist, practitioners from the Carcassonne hospital centre. Screening is mainly provided by the screening center during regular campaigns. But Drs Strock and Voican are also called upon by attending physicians when faced with the symptoms or very specific family history of certain patients. In the follow-up of patients for other pathologies, it may happen that examinations sporadically lead to the diagnosis of a colorectal tumour. This will be explored by Dr. Strock and his team before discussion of the therapeutic strategy in a multidisciplinary consultation meeting at the Ouest-Audois cancerology coordination center (3C).
