“Blue March” is Colorectal Cancer awareness month | Funchal News | Madeira News – Information for everyone for everyone!

“Blue March” is the month to raise public awareness about the prevention and early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. In this sense, the Regional Health Service reminds us of the importance of adhering to the free screenings available in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Population-based screening is available at Health Centers in the Region and is aimed at asymptomatic people (men and women) aged between 50 and 74 years. It is carried out every 2 years, with a test for occult blood in feces.

Carrying out this screening involves general surgery, clinical pathology, gastroenterology, general and family medicine services, including nursing professionals. In this regard, it should be noted that in RAM, contrary to what happens nationally, the delivery of screening kits is carried out at the Health Center by nursing teams, which have played a fundamental role in informing and raising awareness among the population. to the importance of screening. Nationally, kits are sent by mail.

Yesterday, March 15th, two lectures were held under the theme “Today, have you thought about your intestine?”, an initiative integrated within the scope of the “Blue March” Colorectal Cancer Prevention Campaign, with the participation of medical specialists from the Health Service. Saúde da RAM, SESARAM, EPERAM, Maria Olim (surgeon, dedicated to the area of ​​colorectal surgery) and Joana Carvão (gastroenterologist).

The first lecture took place at 3pm, at Espaço Multiusos in Porto Moniz and the second, at 6pm, at the Centro Social do Estreito da Calheta.

Remember that in total there will be five lectures dedicated to this topic. They started on March 7th, in Porto Santo, and will end on March 22nd, at 3 pm, in Machico, with the participation of doctors Maria Olim, Joana Carvão and surgeon Jorge Fernandes, coordinator of the colorectal sector at SESARAM , WAIT.

The lectures on colorectal cancer take place in partnership with the Madeira Regional Center of the Portuguese League Against Cancer.

The actions are open to the general community.