The aim of the screening program is to reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer. This can be done by detecting the cancer so early that it is still possible to cure it.
When the program starts, screening involves looking for blood in the stool. The figure shows what happens to 1,000 screening participants who submit a stool sample for analysis.
What is the effect of colorectal screening?
We do not have reliable figures for the effect of colorectal screening. We assume that the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is reduced by at least 25% if you get screened.
This means:
3-4 out of 1000 55-year-olds will die from colorectal cancer in 10 years without participation in the screening program.
Statistically, one of these 1000 persons may avoid dying from colon cancer by participating in ColorectalScreen Norway.
Since more cases of cancer will be detected at an early stage, then the treatment becomes less extensive.
No guarantee
Not all tumors or polyps will be found by screening. Participating in the program is therefore no guarantee against getting colorectal cancer later in life.
