March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March is the global Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with the aim to raise awareness of the symptoms of colorectal cancer and to highlight the importance of early diagnose.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer of the colon (large intestine) or rectum¹. It is the third most common cancer worldwide with around 1.9 million cases diagnosed annually. In addition, it is the second most common cancer-related cause of death leading to over 900,000 deaths per year.² However, colorectal cancer could be preventable with screenings and treatable when detected at an early stage.

In its early stages, colorectal cancer often has no symptoms. However, the blood vessels of colorectal polyps or cancers are often fragile and easily bleed into the colon or rectum. In healthy individuals, small quantities of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is normal, but it may also be a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder. This bleeding is rarely visible by the naked eye in the stool, but the haemoglobin of the faecal occult blood can be detected by a faecal immunochemical test (FIT).

The importance of early detection in colorectal cancer

Early detection of colorectal cancer or its precursors significantly improves the chance of survival, requires less invasive treatment, and reduces treatment costs.

Regular colorectal cancer screenings are crucial for early detection. Screenings have been shown to reduce both the incidence and mortality.¹ Screening using feacal immunochemical tests (FIT) is currently recommended by the Council of Europe and by the American College of Physicians for individuals between 50-74 years old.^3,4

Feacal immunochemical tests (FIT), such as QuikRead go iFOBT, provide quantitative information on excessive bleeding and aid in triaging patients for further gastrointestinal tract investigations, such as colonoscopy. FIT result levels also correlate with the cancer severity.^5,6

QuikRead go iFOBT is an efficient and objective feacal immunochemical (FIT) test

QuikRead go iFOBT is a point of care FIT test for the detection and quantitation of faecal haemoglobin (f-Hb) in stool samples. The test process requires only a few manual steps and minimal hands-on time. Instrument-read results are ready in just minutes.

Learn more about QuikRead go iFOBT and contact us for more details.

References:

1. World Health Organization. Colorectal cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/colorectal-cancer Accessed 27.2.2025.
2. World Health Organization. Global Cancer Observatory database. https://gco.iarc.fr/ Accessed 27.2.2025.
3. European commission. European guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis – First Edition. Segnan N, Patrick J, von Karsa L (eds.), 2010, Luxembourg.
4. Rex D et al. Colorectal Cancer Screening: Recommendations for Physicians and Patients from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer.Am J Gastroenterol 2017; 112:1016-1030.
5. Navarro M et al. Fecal hemoglobin concentration, a good predictor of risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia in symptomatic and asymptomatic Patients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:31.
6. Mclean W et al. Diagnostic accuracy of point of care faecal immunochemical testing using a portable high-speed quantitative analyser for diagnosis in 2-week wait patients. Colorectal Disease 2021; 00:1–11.