Colon cancer screening can save lives

Experts: Early detection can prevent colon cancer

03/11/2015

In Germany, colon cancer is one of the three most common cancers. Every year around 26,000 Germans die of it. Since this cancer, if it is detected early, is curable, the precautionary options should be perceived. Especially from people over 50 years.

Family bias in many cases
Although most people are aware of the danger, not everyone is prepared to take any precaution: in many, the issue of colon cancer triggers a diffuse anxiety and is therefore happily repressed. But that is wrong. According to the news agency dpa reports, colorectal cancer is the second most common malignant tumor in men and women, according to the Felix Burda Foundation in Munich. According to Professor Richard Raedsch from the Berufsverband Deutscher Internisten, about 18 percent of those affected have a family history. Therefore, it is advisable to take part in the colorectal cancer screening, especially at a young age, if a relative in his own family has colorectal cancer.

Some diseases increase the risk of cancer
In addition, people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are at increased risk. And patients with type 2 diabetes are three times more likely to get sick. Also, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and malnutrition, such as a very high fat and meat diet, are considered as factors that increase the risk of colon cancer. A recent study has shown that vegetarians are less likely to get colorectal cancer. In addition, age is a major risk factor.

Take care of the precaution
Therefore, one should best take care of the provision from the age of 50 years. The statutory health insurance companies cover the costs of an occult blood test as well as the palpation of the rectum once a year. The test is designed to track hidden blood in the stool. „If the test is negative, that does not mean that everything is alright“, explains Raedsch. „Neither does blood in the stool automatically mean cancer.“ From the age of 55, the health insurances pay a colonoscopy as a precaution. Even with younger people, the costs are taken over in some cases of suspicion. Therefore, patients who have warning signs, such as a so-called pencil chair, should talk to their doctor about the possibility of a check-up.

Search for intestinal polyps

„The patient should conscientiously carry out the preparation so that the intestine is as clean as possible“, explains Prof. Wolff Schmiegel, President of the German Cancer Society. Since the doctor can only see the intestinal surface so well, the patient cleans the colon prior to colonoscopy with laxative agents. As a rule, the patient is put into a twilight sleep before the colonoscopy. The physician uses an endoscope to scan the colon and rectum, for example for polyps. If these mushroom-shaped, initially benign growths of the mucous membrane in the intestine become larger, the danger increases that a malformation develops, cancer cells proliferate and become a malignant tumor. It can take up to ten years for a bowel polyp to degenerate to colorectal cancer.

Very good chances of recovery
This long time means a great opportunity, because those who take precautions can still spot a polyp as a harmless growth. „Each polyp is removed during colonoscopy and sent in for histological examination“, said Professor Christian Trautwein of the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS). If cancer cells are found in the polyp, but the degenerate cells have not yet penetrated deeper into the intestinal wall, the chances of recovery are very good. This is often true even if the intestinal wall is already attacked more. The tumor, a part of the intestine and lymph nodes are then removed by a surgeon. Sometimes, depending on the stage of the disease, chemotherapy is needed.

One day near the toilet
However, in many cases it would not even come so far, if more would do a colonoscopy. „I suspect that many believe colonoscopy is unpleasant“, says Schmiegel. „But the patient does not notice, and also the removal the days before has been improved.“ Therefore, the question is whether it is worth a day near a toilet, if this could prevent from getting colon cancer? The painless colonoscopy itself only takes 15 to 30 minutes. (Ad)