TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The nation’s Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said Tuesday (Nov. 19) that colorectal cancer screening can detect the disease at an early stage and before symptoms appear.
HPA Director-General Wu Chao-Chun (吳昭軍) said colorectal cancer was the third most prevalent cancer in Taiwanese, in 2023. Approximately 90% of colorectal cancer cases occur in individuals aged 50 and above, per CNA.
Wu said screening measures such as a fecal occult blood test every two years helps timely detection, resulting in a near 30% reduction in the number of new cases and a 35% decrease in deaths. Nearly 90% people with stage 0 or 1 colorectal cancer survive for five years after they are diagnosed, while fewer than 20% of those diagnosed at stage 4 will survive that long, per Caner Research UK.
According to HPA, a colonoscopy, which is a medical examination of the colon, should be scheduled within six months if the fecal blood test is positive. If polyps are detected during the examination, they can be removed right away without the need for additional surgery.
Wu added bloody stools, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and a frequent urge to defecate are potential symptoms of colorectal cancer.
HPA stated that individuals aged 50 to 74 can get free colorectal cancer screenings every two years. Go to the National Health Insurance Action Express app, or visit the website to check screening-related information.
