Colorectal cancer is for both men and women the second most common cancer.Men are affected on average with 69 women with 75 years - that is comparatively late. Colorectal cancer is also for both sexes is the second most common cause of cancer death.must die of cancer are now unable
More and more of those affected survive colorectal cancer: 5-year survival rate in recent years has risen to 60 percent. The rate would be even higher if more people would take the colorectal cancer screening to complete. Unfortunately, they use far less than 30 percent of the insured. This cancer in 95 percent of the cases can be cured as it passes through one check-up (or rather, early detection) is detected at a very early stage. To improve the early detection rate, organized by the Felix Burda Foundation (FBS) in conjunction with the German Cancer Aid, the German Cancer Society and the gastronomic league every year in March, a nationwide awareness campaign about cancer.
Test for colorectal cancer screening with blood in the stool and colonoscopy
The simplest and cheapest method of early detection is the test for hidden blood in the stool, the Hemoccult test (FOBT after the guaiac method). The safest method is colonoscopy (colonoscopy), you can use to detect almost all tumors. Colonoscopy is aged 55 Of life, a standard benefit of the statutory health insurance funds.
Cancer therapy: In the early stage is often an operation
The main treatment for colon cancer is surgery. Depending on where the tumor is located, a section of intestine is removed. In the early stages, an additional radiotherapy or chemotherapy is usually not necessary.
The intestine: anatomy and function
The human intestine is divided into three sections:
- the small intestine
- the colon
- the rectum
In the small intestine, food is broken down into simple components that can be absorbed by the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa. It has a length of about four meters. The small intestine starts after the pylorus to the short duodenum (duodenum), which the long, winding sections of the jejunum (jejunum) and ileum (ileum) to connect to. To increase the resorption of the nutrients the mucous membrane with many small villi is busy.
The large intestine (colon) has a length of 1.5 to 2 meters. Its role is mainly the absorption of water, that is, it thickens the intestinal contents. He outlined the small intestine like a frame and starts in the right lower abdomen with the cecum (cecum), on which side of the appendix (Appendix) depends. On the right side of the abdominal colon rises upward (ascending colon), runs below the liver after a bending cross to the left side of the abdomen (transverse colon) and went to another bend in the descending part (descending colon) on. Following this is the approximately 20 centimeters long S-shaped Sigma intestine (sigmoid colon), which the bowel (rectum) becomes. Here, the manure is collected. A system of muscles closes the intestine to the outside and prevents involuntary defecation. At a certain filling bowel movement is triggered, leading to a controlled defecation.
The inner surface of the intestine consists of a squamous cell layer, are embedded in the mucous glands. The slime formed by it makes the slippery mud.Longitudinal and transverse muscle layers in the gut provide for intestinal movements (peristalsis) through which the intestinal contents are transported.
Bowel cancer: How does a tumor?
In one tumor formation initially a lesion occurs in a group of cells, such as the squamous cell layer. These cells begin to divide uncontrollably and form a tumor (tumor).
Their behavior to divide the tumors into:
- benign (benign)
- malignant (malignant)
Benign tumors grow slowly and usually are usually well defined, for example, with a capsule. They do not form secondary tumors to grow and also not in other organs.
Malignant tumors are characterized by rapid, unfettered growth into adjacent tissue, the organ boundaries from over. They destroy the fabric and then grow into blood and lymph vessels. Thus, individual tumor cells via the blood vessels in lymph nodes or organs are taken away, where secondary tumors (metastases).
A cancer tumor is "malignant" (malignant) tumor.
can the real cause for the development of tumors is due to the change in the genetic material of cells, responsible for internal and external factors are. The external factors include tobacco smoke, certain chemicals, radiation, UV radiation from the sun or viral infections, and malnutrition. We now know that a low-fiber, fat and meat-rich diet increases the risk of bowel cancer. A certainpredisposition plays a role in cancer development.
In a disturbed immune system cells, the degenerate not diagnosed or off. The ageof the people plays a role. With increasing age, the ability to fix certain errors that have occurred in the genetic material of cells. Therefore, cancers are more common in older age.