Greece's national colon cancer screening program aims to curb rising cases

Colon and rectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death in Europe. Recent European data show a concerning increase in cases among people under 50, especially ages 40‑49 and 20‑29.

EU statistics for 2018‑2022 indicate a slight drop in new cases (from 370,000 to 362,000) and deaths (from 170,000 to 161,000), attributed to national prevention programmes covering over 120 million EU citizens. In contrast, Greece saw its incidence rise from 7,319 to 7,859 cases and deaths from 3,430 to 3,764 in the same period.

In response, Greece launched the "Prolambano" prevention programme in 2024 for adults aged 50‑69. The scheme uses a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to detect hidden blood; a positive result triggers a colonoscopy. Within two years, more than 1 million tests and over 38,000 colonoscopies have been performed. Early‑stage detection offers a 90 % five‑year survival rate. Experts stress that lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, red and processed meats, low fiber intake, inactivity and obesity increase risk, while symptoms—blood in stool, altered bowel habits and abdominal pain—should prompt medical evaluation.