The Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) gives the Philippine National Police some 2,200 kits for screening and detecting colorectal cancer (CRC) or colon cancer and polyps. The kits are easy to use and self-administered. Photo from PSG
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –– At least 2,200 kits for screening and detecting colorectal cancer (CRC) or colon cancer and polyps have been given by the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) to the Philippine National Police.
PSG president Dr. Augusto Jose Galang handed the kits to Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, deputy chief for administration, days before National Heroes Day on Monday.
Galang said the Fecal Immunochemical Test kits, donated by Nagase Singapore, are easy to use and self-administer. These are intended to look for possible traces of blood in an individual’s stool specimen.
The kits are used by patients 50 years old and above, by younger ones with a family history of CRC in their first degree relatives or those with other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.
According to Galang, CRC is among the top three causes of cancer worldwide for both men and women. The symptoms include rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, anemia or pallor, weight loss, or a mass or lump in the abdomen.