Colorectal cancer screening prevents deaths

Colorectal cancer screening can save lives

03/11/2014

According to one estimate, over 60,000 people in Germany will develop colorectal cancer this year. Thus, colon cancer remains the second most common cancer in this country. Every year about 26,000 people die as a result. Early detection can help save lives.

Colon cancer is the second most common cancer
According to an estimate by the Robert Koch Institute's Center for Cancer Registry Data, 63,900 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Germany this year. Colon cancer thus remains the second most common cancer in this country. About 26,000 people die each year from the consequences. And that, although this cancer would usually be curable if it is detected early. For example, polyps can be detected and removed early as precursors of cancer through regular preventive examinations. But among the German citizens, the acceptance of the current check-up is very low.

Fear of colonoscopy
Only 2.5% of all insureds use screening every year. Above all, this has to do with the fear of colonoscopy (colonoscopy). However, this method is the best way to detect intestinal polyps and remove them immediately. Many doctors emphasize that the fears are inappropriate because a colonoscopy is a painless procedure. Statutory health insurance companies aged between 50 and 54 years have been able to carry out a test for hidden blood in the stool (occult blood test) as part of cancer screening since 2002. And from the age of 55 there is a claim to a colonoscopy. In the case of an unobtrusive examination result, a colonoscopy is possible again after ten years.

Hardly any complaints in the early stages
If patients have complaints such as blood in the stool, inflammatory bowel disease or other risk factors, health insurance companies will also cover the costs for a more timely examination. In colon cancer, it comes in the early stages hardly any complaints and there are no typical signs that point to this disease. But thanks to early detection, colorectal cancer is already being diagnosed in three-quarters of early-stage patients. However, in the remaining quarter at the time of diagnosis, the disease has progressed and has spread cancerous cells to other organs such as the liver or lungs and metastasized there.

Healthy lifestyle contributes to colon cancer screening
In addition to colonoscopy, a healthy lifestyle contributes to colorectal cancer screening. For example, the virologist and Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen has investigated how eating red meat can cause infections and colon cancer. He came to the conclusion that who regularly eats red meat, has an increased by about 20 to 30 percent increased risk of developing colon cancer. It is striking that colon cancer rarely occurs in countries where European-Asian beef is rarely eaten. Other studies have also shown that the fat in the abdomen plays a role in the colon carcinogenesis. As has been the case for years, March is the colon cancer month. This month, health organizations, businesses, cities, clinics, and individuals are committed to colorectal cancer screening. (Sb)