March is colorectal cancer awareness month, and in Monaco the campaign takes on added significance this year as the Principality marks two decades since the launch of its organised screening programme.

Introduced in 2006, the initiative targets insured residents aged between 50 and 80, who are invited every two years to complete a free, home-based test designed to detect traces of blood in stools before symptoms appear. Health officials say early detection remains the most effective defence against the disease, with survival rates reaching nearly nine out of 10 cases when cancer is identified at an early stage.

Figures released as part of this year’s Mars Bleu campaign show that more than 26,000 tests have been carried out in Monaco over the past 20 years, with 852 positive results leading to further medical investigations, including colonoscopies where required.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men and the third in women, underlining the importance of sustained participation in screening programmes. The government maintains that prevention continues to form a central pillar of Monaco’s healthcare strategy, alongside organised campaigns for breast, cervical and bronchopulmonary cancers, as well as osteoporosis.

Residents aged 50 to 80 can obtain a screening kit free of charge from the Centre Monégasque de Dépistage at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, through the Office de la Médecine du Travail, or via their general practitioner.

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Photo credit: Louis Reed, Unsplash