Quirónsalud Málaga launches Colonofast, a program to perform colonoscopies in less than seven days

Quirónsalud Málaga Hospital has launched Colonofast, an innovative care program aimed at "accelerating the diagnosis process for potential colorectal cancer ... in symptomatic patients, ensuring a colonoscopy is performed within a maximum period of seven days from the request," highlights Dr. César Ramírez, head of General Surgery.

Delays in diagnosis, high care pressure, or waiting times for consultations cannot be tolerated in dealing with the most prevalent neoplasm. Therefore, the General and Digestive Surgery Service, led by Dr. César Ramírez, and the Digestive System Service, headed by Dr. Luis Casáis, have jointly promoted this program featuring a swift and direct diagnostic path for suspected cases. This initiative complements the hospital's existing free screening campaign for occult blood in stool, reflecting its strong commitment to prevention and health promotion.

A Healthcare Challenge

Colorectal cancer continues to be one of the major health concerns in Spain. According to the most recent epidemiological estimates from the report "Cancer Figures in Spain 2026" by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), this year is expected to once again exceed 300,000 new cancer diagnoses across the country, with colorectal cancer remaining the most common tumor, accounting for more than 44,000 new cases in men and women, representing a significant proportion of total diagnoses and placing it at the forefront in terms of incidence and public health impact.

In the province of Málaga, projections from the same report, along with regional data provided by the Andalusian Society of Medical Oncology (SAOM), indicate that about 11,000 people from Málaga will receive a cancer diagnosis in 2026, with colon and rectum tumors being the most frequent among them, with several hundred new diagnoses each year and representing one of the main oncological burdens faced by the province.

For colorectal cancer to be diagnosed, the usual approach is prescribing a colonoscopy, typically performed by Digestive System, Internal Medicine, Hematology, or to a lesser extent, General Surgery consultations. Therefore, "patients with suggestive symptoms must access this test as soon as possible to avoid delaying a potential diagnosis," insists Dr. Luis Casáis.

Fast and Accessible Pathway

Colonofast, driven in coordination by the General and Digestive Surgery Service and the Digestive System Service of Quirónsalud Málaga Hospital, "is aimed at patients presenting changes in bowel habits, persistent diarrhea or constipation; chronic anemia detected in analytical studies; bleeding from the anus (rectorrhagia or hematochezia); or those with first-degree family history of colorectal cancer with associated clinical doubts," points out Dr. Ramírez.

The program allows patients themselves to directly activate the diagnostic pathway, facilitating rapid access to diagnostic colonoscopy in the aforementioned cases.

Patients contact through telephone or WhatsApp (679 622 762) or email colonofast.mlg@quironsalud.es, providing their personal details and symptoms. Within less than 24 hours, they receive an appointment for consultation, preoperative study, preanesthesia, informed consent, and instructions for colon preparation for colonoscopy. The colonoscopy is performed between Monday and Friday of the week following the request.

Biopsy in 15 Days

If the colonoscopy is normal, no follow-up is required. Meanwhile, if low-suspicion polyps are resected, the patient receives a telephone consultation within a maximum of 15 days to discuss the biopsy results.

Additionally, the Digestive System Service holds a specific endoscopy session for patients included in Colonofast, ensuring the viability and continuity of the program.

If there is a suspicion of colorectal cancer, the patient and their family are informed on the spot, and a priority appointment is scheduled to continue the study and treatment immediately.

With this initiative, Quirónsalud Málaga Hospital "continues to strengthen its commitment to high-quality, accessible, and patient-centered medicine, offering the population in its geographical area the peace of mind of being able to access a key test immediately upon clinical suspicion of a neoplastic disease," concludes Dr. Ramírez.