The Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at the Catalan Institute of Oncology celebrates 20 years

On February 14, 2000, the Catalan Institute of Oncology launched a Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in the city of Hospitalet de Llobregat, being the first screening initiative for colorectal cancer implemented both in Catalonia and Spain.

Although participation has been increasing over the last twenty years, there are still areas that have not reached 45%, which is considered the acceptable participation rate at European level.

Participation has increased from 17.2% at the first round to 43.0%, currently.

Throughout these years, more than 170,000 stool blood tests have been performed to detect 3,199 adenomas, of which 1,023 have been high-risk, and to diagnose 291 cancers (64.6% men and 35.4% women), most detected at early stages.