The Health Bureau (SSM) announced yesterday the lowering of the minimum age for its free Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme from 55 to 50.
The bureau made the announcement during a press conference on its premises adjacent to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
According to SSM Gastroenterology Consultant Ng Ka Kei, statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), show that colorectal cancer ranks as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.
Dr Ng said that in Macau it has consistently held the second position in cancer incidence rates over the past decade. With an ageing population and risk factors such as unbalanced diets, the number of cases is projected to rise steadily, he said.
According to Dr Ng, since 2016, the programme has screened 31,000 residents aged 55–69. Of these, 2,999 underwent colonoscopy, with 312 polyp cases and 168 colorectal cancer cases detected. He pointed out that the fatality rate showed a 12.6 percent decline between 2018–2022 compared to 2013–2017.
Dr Ng said that from today the age range of the free programme will be widened from 55-69 to 50-69, while in future it would further be extended to 50-75.
SSM Family Medicine Physician Lei Sao Kuan said that Macau permanent and non-permanent residents aged 50-69 with no colonoscopy in five years, no faecal occult blood test in two years, and no colorectal cancer history can register for free screening via the One Account app or health centres; positive results trigger follow-up calls, while negative results receive no notification, Lei said.
SSM Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Public Health Physician Wu Ya Wing said that colorectal cancer is not invincible, when detected early, pointing out that patients with carcinoma in situ or Stage One achieve a 90 percent five-year survival rate after proper treatment.
“We urge all citizens to get screened early to prevent cancer progression,” Dr Wu said.
Health Bureau (SSM) Gastroenterology Consultant Ng Ka Kei (centre), SSM Family Medicine Physician Lei Sao Kuan (left) and SSM Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Public Health Physician Wu Ya Wing look on during yesterday’s press conference on its premises adjacent to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
Image courtesy of WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
