Terviseportaal
Early detection saves lives: March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
In March, a nationwide colorectal cancer prevention campaign will begin, inviting Estonians aged 58–68 to participate in screenings to raise awareness of the possibilities of early detection of the disease. People without health insurance can also take part in the survey. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours in Estonia, but if detected in time, it can be successfully treated.
‘Colorectal cancer is a disease where early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes and quality of life. With the help of screening, we can identify benign changes early and prevent the development of cancer, as well as detect cancer at an early stage when it is still radically removable,’ explains Dr Peeter Kõiva, a gastroenterologist at East Tallinn Central Hospital.
Kõiva adds that in the early stages colorectal cancer usually does not cause any symptoms. Therefore, screening is the most effective way to detect and prevent disease at an early stage. The first stage of the study is a faecal occult blood test, which can be done conveniently at home through your family physician and then sent to the laboratory for analysis. If abnormalities are detected in the test, the patient is invited for further testing. A positive faecal occult blood test does not automatically indicate disease, but does indicate the need for further testing.
Colorectal cancer screening is free of charge in Estonia and is organised by the Health Insurance Fund in cooperation with hospitals and family physicians. People in the target group are invited to the screening on the basis of their year of birth, and the invitation is sent via e-mail, phone message, or the patient portal. When receiving an invitation, you must contact your family doctor or nurse either by phone or via the Perearst24 portal.
In 2025, men and women born in 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, and 1967 are invited to be screened for colorectal cancer.
If you belong to the target group for screening, but have not received an invitation, you can also contact your family doctor or nurse and express your wish to participate in the screening.
East Tallinn Central Hospital invites all men and women aged 58–68 to participate in further studies in their hospital. You can register for the study on the hospital’s website www.itk.ee or by calling 620 7077. The same number also provides instructions for intestinal preparation before the examination