Four medical laboratories in the district are participating in the National Screening Campaign “Together Against Colon Cancer”, organized by the “Lachezar Tsotsorkov” Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Research Institute – Smolyan. These are the “Nolex” laboratories in Smolyan, Dospat and Chepelare, and “Klinilab” in Zlatograd.
In the campaign, which lasts until the end of June, all women and men aged 50-74 can take a free test for occult (hidden) bleeding in the stool. The sample is taken at home and provided for testing on the same day. Those interested can find free containers for the fecal material in the selected laboratory or at their personal doctor, for Smolyan – and in the newly opened pharmacy on “Bulgaria” Blvd. The container has a registration form for the laboratory and an information brochure.
It is recommended to follow a “white diet” for three days before giving the sample. It requires to exclude from the menu all foods that are red in color or contain hemoglobin (meat, fish, beets, tomatoes, paprika, etc.) and to consume products such as white bread, rice, potatoes, milk and dairy products.
The test is used for early detection of changes in healthy people without complaints, before they have turned into a malignant entity. Finding occult blood in the stool is one of the symptoms of a problem, but it is not enough to make a diagnosis. At the doctor’s discretion, additional examinations such as a colonoscopy and a scan are prescribed.
Colon cancer is the second most common cause of death from a malignant disease in Bulgaria. Its earliest possible detection is key to successful treatment!
Additional information about the campaign and the prevention of the disease can be found on the website https://testvai.bg/ and the free national number 0800 202 80. Read more about the prevention of risk factors for cancer in the online brochure of RZI – Smolyan at the following link: https://www.rzi-smolyan.com/LICHEN%20RISK.pdf
RZI PRESS CENTER – SMOLYAN
