2023-12-29 12:37:25
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More and more younger people are developing colon cancer. A chief physician at Munich’s Isar Clinic explains risk factors and how you can protect yourself.
The fight once morest colon cancer often begins with a conversation within your own family. If first-degree relatives – parents or siblings – have already had colorectal cancer, the personal risk is more than four times higher. This was the result of a meta-analysis. In this meaningful data analysis, scientists included the results of 20 studies. “Hereditary predisposition has emerged as by far the most important risk factor in younger patients,” reports private lecturer Dr. Holger Seidl.
Colon cancer: Noticeable increase in the 20 to 30 year old age group
Private lecturer Dr. Holger Seidl is a colon cancer specialist and director of the gastroenterology clinic at the Isar Clinic in Munich. © Helena Heilig
The background: Doctors are concerned that more and more young people are being diagnosed with colon cancer. The increase is particularly noticeable in the 20 to 30 year old age group. This is also why Seidl advises Director of the Clinic for Gastroenterology at the Isar Clinic in Munich, all direct relatives of colon cancer patients undergo a screening colonoscopy. This colonoscopy should be done as early as possible – ideally ten years before the age at which the relatives became ill. But at the latest by the age of 40.
If there is a family history of colon cancer, an early screening colonoscopy makes sense
An example: If the mother was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 45, the children should be examined at the age of 35. According to the guidelines of the medical societies, the following rule currently applies to people without a genetic predisposition: All men should have a colonoscopy at the age of 50, and all women from the age of 55. Statistically speaking, men have a slightly higher risk; according to the current meta-analysis, it is 1.59 times higher than for women.
The risk of colon cancer increases due to alcohol, lipid metabolism disorders and obesity
In addition to the genetic component, other risk factors include regular alcohol consumption (71 percent increased), lipid metabolism disorders (hyperlipidemia; 62 percent) and obesity (54 percent). The risk of colon cancer due to obesity even increases for unborn children. “If a mother is very fat during pregnancy, the risk of her child developing colon cancer later increases,” explains Seidl.
The risk of complications during colonoscopies is in the per thousand range
An early colonoscopy can prevent many colorectal cancers. “During the examination, precursors are often discovered and eliminated before they can develop into cancer. These are the so-called polyps,” explains the specialist, who has already carried out more than 50,000 reflections. The risk of complications is extremely low and, according to the findings of various studies, is in the per thousand range – sometimes as low as 0.08 percent, sometimes as low as 0.002 percent in large analyses, says Seidl.
During a colonoscopy, suspicious polyps – precancerous lesions – are removed with a snare. © Science Photo Library / Christop
Better chances of treatment thanks, among other things, to molecular diagnostics
Even if the patient already has cancer at the time of a colonoscopy, in many cases there is reason to be hopeful. Because medicine has made enormous progress in treatment. “The surgical techniques and chemotherapy are getting better and better. Added to this are the possibilities of modern diagnostics. “With the help of so-called molecular diagnostics, specialists can precisely analyze the respective tumor and thus create the basis for targeted, individualized therapy,” reports Seidl.
Thanks to modern medicine, colon cancer patients often survive much longer than before
The sharper weapons once morest colon cancer are also reflected in the statistics. While in 1971 the average survival time for patients was seven months, today it is already ten years. “Many patients gain even more life or can even be cured. This shows how valuable and important it is to take advantage of the options available for preventive colonoscopies,” emphasizes the gastroenterologist. “The fear of pain is unfounded. You receive gentle twilight anesthesia and are awake once more following half an hour.”
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Test for hidden blood in stool as an alternative to colonoscopy
As an alternative to a screening colonoscopy, a test for hidden blood in the stool is available. It already detects blood loss of less than one millimeter per day. “If this so-called IFOBT test is negative, it at least increases the probability that the patient does not have colon cancer. However, the test does not provide a guarantee,” says Seidl.
Prevent colon cancer with lots of vegetables and little red meat
In order to prevent illness, the Munich doctor recommends a healthy diet with lots of it Vegetables, Fruit and as little red meat as possible. “As a rule of thumb, you can say: avoid ready-made meals and instead cook a lot yourself, if possible with fresh, local ingredients and no preservatives.”
Meta-analysis of colon cancer shows: those who eat a lot of apples reduce their risk
Healthy enjoyment: Apples help prevent colon cancer. © Westend61 / Roman Märzinger
By the way: The English saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” – apparently also applies to colon cancer. This is the conclusion reached by another meta-analysis that evaluated 24 individual studies. The result: Anyone who eats apples regularly reduces their risk of colon cancer by 25 percent. Even watermelons have an even better effect at 26 percent, and kiwis statistically reduce the risk of colon cancer by at least 13 percent. The scientists suspect that certain ingredients in these types of fruit, such as nobiletin or naringenin, have a protective (chemoprotective) effect.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editorial team cannot answer individual questions regarding medical conditions.
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