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Successful screening programs Prevention of colorectal cancer reduces mortality rates
Colorectal cancer is one of the three most common cancers in Germany. Every year around 26,000 people die in this country. As a recent analysis shows, the death rate from this form of cancer is falling in countries with screening programs.
Early detection can save lives
According to health experts, colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of prostate cancer and lung cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in post-breast cancer women in Germany. To protect yourself, from a certain age you should take regular check-ups. This is especially important when it comes to colon cancer cases in the family. The early detection can save lives, because a tumor in the large or small intestines grows slowly and caused in most sufferers for a long time no problems.
A recent analysis shows that the colorectal cancer mortality in countries with screening programs drops significantly. Doctors especially advise people whose families have colorectal cancers to undergo screening. (Image: Wolfilser / fotolia.com) Falling colorectal cancer mortality in countries with screening programs
As reported by the Association of German Gastroenterologists (BNG) on the internet portal "Gastrointestinal Network Surveys", a recent analysis of the numbers published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on deaths shows that the cancer mortality rate in Europe was between 1989 and 2011 Men fell by 13 percent and women by 27 percent.
According to the information, there are considerable differences in the individual countries. It is said that the biggest declines have occurred in countries with screening programs.
Significant decline in Strebraten in Germany
"Alongside Austria, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Ireland, Germany is one of the nations where death rates have fallen by more than 25 percent in men and by more than 30 percent in women," explained Drs. Franz Josef Heil from the BNG.
According to the experts, the trend of falling mortality rates begins with the introduction of the Hemoccult test in the late 1980s. Increasingly, endoscopic procedures were used in prevention until finally, after the turn of the millennium, legally regulated screening programs ensured the routine use of colonoscopy in colorectal cancer prevention, especially in the countries mentioned.
Men rarely take precautionary screening
"There are still big differences between men and women," Dr. Salvation. "This is also because men take less of the screening and earlier than women develop colorectal cancer, often before the age of 56 years."
But when should you colonoscopy? "In the future, the focus will be more on raising awareness of the risk of family stress. Anyone with colorectal cancer cases in first-degree relatives should always talk to their family doctor or a gastrointestinal about how to look after them, "said Drs. Salvation.
Colon cancer usually begins spontaneously and develops very slowly and unnoticed over a period of up to ten years. Complaints often appear only at an advanced stage. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the better the prospects for a successful treatment. (Ad)