Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer in Sweden and in Scania, one person dies a day from the disease.

By examining the presence of invisible blood in the stool, cancer of the colon and rectum can be detected earlier.

- By introducing colon and rectal screening for all residents between 60 and 74 years, we will eventually save 40-45 lives in Skåne every year, says Pia Lundbom, health and medical care director in Region Skåne.

The sample comes with the mail

The offer is sent in a letter containing an instruction, a test tube and a reply envelope.

Sampling is free and is done at home and then sent back by post.

The test shows if there is invisible blood in the stool.

- Blood in the stool does not have to be caused by cancer but must always be investigated.

About two percent of those who submit tests have traces of blood in the stool, says Jan Lillienau, associate professor and responsible for introducing screening for colorectal cancer in Region Skåne.

Cancer is removed in time

If the sample shows traces of blood, you are offered a so-called colonoscopy, a kind of camera examination of the colon.

It takes place at a reception in Helsingborg, Kristianstad or Malmö.

- The examination of the colon also removes precursors to cancer, which means that cancer never arises, says Jan Lillienau and continues:

- If the cancer is detected in time, it can be operated on at an early stage when it has not yet spread.

Therefore, it is important to submit the sample.

More will be tried in the long run

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of death in cancer in Sweden.

According to Jan Lillienau, it is therefore both important and profitable to have a screening program for this particular cancer group.

Only those who turn 60 this year will be offered sampling, but over the next five years, more age groups will be included.

- Now it will be the same process throughout the country, which means that there will be equal care everywhere.

I think that is very gratifying, says Jan Lillienau, to SVT Nyheter Skåne.