Colon cancer screening
Colon cancer is a malignancy that originates from a mucous membrane tumour.
Mihkel Raud reminds his loved ones that participating in cancer screenings matters.
Participate in colon cancer screening if it is your year!
In 2026, all men and women born in
1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1967
are invited to a free colon cancer screening regardless of their insurance.
You can see your invitation in Health Portal under Appointments and Referrals.
Participate in colon cancer screening if it is your year!
In 2026, all men and women born in
1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1967
are invited to a free colon cancer screening regardless of their insurance.
You can see your invitation in Health Portal under Appointments and Referrals.
Most colon cancers develop as a result of a gradual cancerous process from initially benign growths, or polyps. Not all polyps develop into colon cancer. It is also possible for polyps to regress, but approximately one in twenty polyps continues to develop and may become cancerous.
The development of colon cancer usually requires the interaction of several cancer-causing factors over many years. The risk of developing the disease increases significantly from the age of 50. Colon cancer affects men and women equally.
Most colon cancers develop as a result of a gradual cancerous process from initially benign growths, or polyps. Not all polyps develop into colon cancer. It is also possible for polyps to regress, but approximately one in twenty polyps continues to develop and may become cancerous.
The development of colon cancer usually requires the interaction of several cancer-causing factors over many years. The risk of developing the disease increases significantly from the age of 50. Colon cancer affects men and women equally.
Why and how to participate in screening?
Screening helps detect the disease early and increases the chances of recovery.
Screening tests look for precancerous conditions, which means that screening can help prevent cancer.
During screening, dangerous polyps are removed. Therefore, it can be said that colon cancer screening is not only an examination, but also a treatment.
Screening helps detect the disease early and increases the chances of recovery.
Screening tests look for precancerous conditions, which means that screening can help prevent cancer.
During screening, dangerous polyps are removed. Therefore, it can be said that colon cancer screening is not only an examination, but also a treatment.
Free and easily accessible: In Estonia, colorectal cancer screening is free and easily accessible at family doctor centers throughout the country for the target group, including women and men without health insurance.
It is important to participate in screening even if you have no complaints or symptoms, because cancer does not manifest itself in its early stages. A disease detected early can be completely cured.
To participate in the screening, you must contact your family doctor's office and register for an appointment with a family nurse.
Invitation to screening
The Cancer Screening Registry will send a personal invitation to men and women in the target group.
Men and women whose year of birth is part of the screening target group and whose place of residence is the Republic of Estonia at the time of generating the screening invitation/referral are invited to a screening.
Screening invitations are sent electronically using the national mailbox service. E-invitations are sent to people in the screening target group whose national mailbox e-mail is directed to a personal e-mail address or listed in the population register. This can be checked on the Health Portal settings page.
Women belonging to the target group will find the invitation letter under "Appointments and Referrals" from the beginning of the screening year. The invitation letter for screening is valid until the end of the calendar year.
If there is no information about e-mail forwarding in the cancer screening registry, a paper invitation will be sent to the address listed in the population registry. If the information there is not accurate, the invitation may not reach the recipient. Therefore, it is important to check the accuracy of your contact information, which can be done on the Health Portal settings page.
You don't have to wait for an invitation to participate in the screening! If you belong to the target group for screening this year, you can contact your family doctor's office and say that you would like to participate in the screening.
To participate in the screening, you must contact your family doctor's office. When registering for the screening, your year of birth will be checked. Be sure to bring identification with you when you go for the screening.
Men and women who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their lifetime are not eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Similarly, people who have undergone a screening colonoscopy in the last 10 years are not invited for colorectal cancer screening. This information is obtained from the cancer registry and the health information system.
You don't have to wait for an invitation to participate in the screening! If you belong to the target group for screening this year, you can contact your family doctor's office and say that you would like to participate in the screening.
To participate in the screening, you must contact your family doctor's office. When registering for the screening, your year of birth will be checked. Be sure to bring identification with you when you go for the screening.
Men and women who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer during their lifetime are not eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Similarly, people who have undergone a screening colonoscopy in the last 10 years are not invited for colorectal cancer screening. This information is obtained from the cancer registry and the health information system.
How does the screening procedure work?
Hidden blood
A fecal occult blood test is used as a primary test for the early detection of precancerous conditions and colon cancer, as it can detect blood in the stool. Performing a fecal occult blood test does not harm your health.
Test comfortably at home
Your family doctor or nurse will give you a fecal occult blood test kit for collecting a stool sample. You can collect the sample at home and then send it to the laboratory by mail or parcel locker. The postage for sending the sample is prepaid and there are no additional costs.
Additional tests if necessary
If the occult blood test result is "positive," additional tests are necessary. A positive test result does not necessarily mean colon cancer.
If the test has failed, i.e., there is no test result, you must contact your family doctor's office again to repeat the test.
Survey results
You will receive the test results 10 working days after posting the sample from your family doctor's office or under "Appointments and referrals."
If the occult blood test is "negative," you will not be contacted separately. You will then be invited to undergo screening again in two years. However, if your health deteriorates in the meantime, you should definitely contact your family doctor.
If the occult blood test result is "positive," you will be referred for further tests.
You will receive the test results 10 working days after posting the sample from your family doctor's office or under "Appointments and referrals."
If the occult blood test is "negative," you will not be contacted separately. You will then be invited to undergo screening again in two years. However, if your health deteriorates in the meantime, you should definitely contact your family doctor.
If the occult blood test result is "positive," you will be referred for further tests.
You will receive the test results 10 working days after posting the sample from your family doctor's office or under "Appointments and referrals."
If the occult blood test is "negative," you will not be contacted separately. You will then be invited to undergo screening again in two years. However, if your health deteriorates in the meantime, you should definitely contact your family doctor.
If the occult blood test result is "positive," you will be referred for further tests.
You will receive the test results 10 working days after posting the sample from your family doctor's office or under "Appointments and referrals."
If the occult blood test is "negative," you will not be contacted separately. You will then be invited to undergo screening again in two years. However, if your health deteriorates in the meantime, you should definitely contact your family doctor.
If the occult blood test result is "positive," you will be referred for further tests.