Schillaci Dies of Colon Cancer, Signs of the Disease: What Doctors Say

In Italy, cases of colorectal cancer, the disease that struck Salvatore Schillaci who died today at the age of 59, “are increasing”: it is the second most widespread carcinoma in our country, with over 48 thousand diagnoses in 2022 and an estimated mortality of 21,700 deaths in 2021 (Aigo data), “and unfortunately the adherence to screening is not high, while prevention is the way to anticipate this disease and those who are well must do prevention. The tragic death of Totò Schillaci must make it clear how this tumor should not be underestimated and the importance of testing”. This is what Maria Di Paolo, national councilor of Aigo (Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Digestive Endoscopists), told Adnkronos Salute.

“When blood appears in the stool, associated with weight loss, the first alarm bell should go off – explains the specialist – so do the occult blood test in the stool and then proceed with the colonoscopy. What we see in the hospital, however, is that when blood is discovered in the stool, time passes before arriving at the screening – underlines Di Paolo who works at the Ao San Giovanni in Rome – If the blood is visible, a second level investigation such as a colonoscopy should be done”. If, on the other hand, you have a family history of colon cancer, with adenomas or polyps, “the colonoscopy should be brought forward to age 40 and if there is a first-degree relative with the disease discovered at a young age, prevention should be brought forward”, the gastroenterologist points out.

“The great strength of screening – he concludes – is being able to interrupt the transition from the lesion with cancer-causing potential to the development of the tumor. If this transition is anticipated, it is possible to intervene and remove the tumor with a very high survival rate. A lesion takes 7-10 years to develop a tumor, our goal as specialists is to prevent these patients from reaching the oncologist”.