It is the second deadliest cancer nationwide, yet colorectal cancer is easily detectable. Very soon, the 130 pharmacies on the island will be able to deliver test kits for the detection of this cancer free of charge to people aged 50 to 74. In the past, only general practitioners, gynecologists and gastroenterologists could prescribe it. It was also possible to order it online. To facilitate access to this screening, an order of April 7, 2022 provides for sale in pharmacies subject to pharmacist training. In order to respond to this new mission, the Corsican Regional Cancer Screening Coordination Center (CRCDC-Corse), with the collaboration of the URPS Pharmacists of Corsica, has developed a free e-learning training course intended for pharmacists.
How does this kit work?
The kit includes a small receptacle to put the saddle in. A pipette with salt is provided in order to add it to the bottle. Then, just put it in the already stamped envelope, post it and the test results arrive ten days later. “Getting tested is important because cancer can remain silent for a long time and not cause symptoms. The goal is to detect blood in the stool early. explains Franck Le Duff, oncogeneticist.
In 90% of cases, affected patients recover when they are detected early. When this is not the case and the patient has had the cancer for more than 5 years, the chances of survival are 64%, a little more than a few years ago when they were 50%. Each year in France, 23,000 men and 20,000 women discover that they have colon cancer. In Corsica, 102 new cases are detected per year.
Even if compared to the island population, the figure seems high, Corsica is nevertheless the region where there is the least. However, there are approximately 38 deaths annually among men and 39 among women on the island. You should know that smoking, a diet high in fat and overeating in red meats are factors that can increase the risk of developing this disease.