Munich - A model project against colon cancer has started in Bavaria. With “Talk about it!”, The Bavarian health insurance companies and the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians () want to work with young people to protect them from the disease. The aim of the project is to identify an existing familial colorectal cancer risk in insured persons aged 25 to 49 as early as possible so that they do not get it.
Therefore, every inhabitant of the Free State in this age group has the opportunity to To be informed about possible predisposition to colon cancer in the family by taking detailed family history. If the family history indicates the existence of family risk, those affected in Bavaria can take advantage of free preventive colonoscopy or, alternatively, an immunochemical stool test.
"This model project is unique in Germany," emphasized Pedro Schmelz, KVB's deputy chairman. It closes supply gap in colorectal cancer screening for young people. "We are very proud of that, because so far our Bavarian doctors have not had the opportunity to identify young adults with familial colon cancer risk and offer them preventative measures," said Schmelz. According to him, 1,000 people in Bavaria have already taken advantage of the offer.
In order to attract further attention to the project, separate advertising campaign was also developed. Overall, the initiators want to recruit sufficient number of participants - doctors and patients - in Bavaria by March 2020 in order to be able to scientifically evaluate the project. "If this project is successful in Bavaria," said Schmelz, "the principle that has been worked out and the processes can then be incorporated into standard supply nationwide."
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The health insurance companies in Bavaria also support the initiative. You write to patients who have had colon cancer in the past 18 months. "We explain to you what risk your illness means for your own family," said Klaus Schwarzer, Director of AOK Bavaria.
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