The one-day community health lecture entitled “At-home Colon Cancer Test Kits and Nutritious Diets to Prevent Colon Cancer” was held yesterday, aiming to promote “early detection, diagnosis, and treatment” prevention strategies for colon cancer, which ranks among Macau’s top three fatal cancers.
The community health lecture, organised by the Healthy Macau Association, was held at the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau’s (UGAMM aka Kai Fong) Southern District Activity Centre.
Allevia Lifesciences* Chief Executive Officer Emily Cheung Wai Yee from Hong Kong told the Post that despite government efforts to provide free colorectal cancer screenings for citizens aged 55 and above, the disease persistently ranks among Macau’s top three fatal cancers.
Cheung noted that given the prevalence of unhealthy dietary habits among young people nowadays, regular testing is extremely necessary, adding that everyone should undergo testing annually or biennially, and beyond regular screenings, daily attention to lifestyle habits and diet are essential for maintaining healthy intestinal management.
According to a statement issued by the Health Bureau (SSM) earlier this year, the free “Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme”, which was launched in 2016, aims to provide free colorectal cancer screenings for citizens aged between 55 and 69, due to colorectal cancer being one of the most common cancers in Macau, ranking second among the top ten cancers with the highest incidence and leading cause of cancer death.
The statement noted that 27,849 residents had completed the faecal occult blood test by the end of 2024, of which 3,079 were identified with a positive result in the test and subsequently referred for a publicly funded colonoscopy carried out by subsidised private medical institutions.
The statement pointed out that most cases of colorectal cancer can be prevented and cured, and the screening can identify colorectal cancer patients who do not have symptoms and high-risk people early, allowing them to receive treatment as early as possible, in order to increase the cure rate.
* Allevia HK Limited is a lifesciences company transforming personalised healthcare and bioanalytics through strategic collaborations and breakthrough technologies. – LinkedIn
Residents attend yesterday’s community health lecture about “At-home Colon Cancer Test Kits and Nutritious Diets to Prevent Colon Cancer” at the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau’s (UGAMM aka Kai Fong) Southern District Activity Centre. – Photo: Ida Cheong
