30 Oct Colorectal cancer: “Colonoscopy is extraordinarily safe and effective, so there should be no fear of doing the test,” Ricardo Rio-Tinto, gastroenterologist

Colorectal cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer in Portugal and the second most prevalent in the world.

in www.foreveryoung.sapo.pt – 11 October, 2024

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO), 10,575 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year, which corresponds to 15.2% of cancer diagnoses in Portugal.

Most cases of colorectal cancer develop from polyps in the colon or rectum. If these polyps are detected and removed, a cure is possible in 90% of cases.

In order to detect colorectal cancer, it is necessary to undergo screening tests, which are also diagnostic tests for the disease. If the reason for the examination is not the manifestation of symptoms, according to the current recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), it is recommended to first carry out a fecal occult blood test. If the result is positive, colonoscopy follows.

We talked about all this with Ricardo Rio-Tinto, gastroenterologist and researcher at the Champalimaud Foundation.

Watch the interview here:

https://rd.videos.sapo.pt/ZyeuRzZ6g40UcU8kmFZm/mov/39?countView=false