How to protect yourself against colon cancer

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Every eight minutes a person in Germany receives the diagnosis colon cancer.

In the last year 73 000 German suffering, 27 200 died. This cancer can be prevented by proper precaution - when cancer precursors (polyps) detected and removed.


Test at the doctor's chair

• What is done?

The so-called Hämocult test, the doctor looks in a stool occult blood test (laboratory result indicates degradation products of blood).

• At what sense?

The test is recommended at age 50.

• How safe is it?

Not very safe! It resembles a coarse grid, only 5% of positive samples are detected. The problem: The test is also on animal blood. Who eats a juicy steak can also expect a positive test.

And, polyps and tumors but not always blood. Nevertheless, the test is better than no screening.

• Who pays?

From the 50th Age of the fund (every 2 years).

Stool test from the pharmacy

• What is done?

Several companies now offer self-tests for use at home. Also here is a stool sample is taken, can be examined for traces of blood in an identical tubes supplied.

• At what sense?

Also from the 50th Age, with familial risk (see box) even earlier.

• How safe is it?

Much safer than the Hämocult test. The tests are sensitive and react to human blood. Caution: Blood in the stool does not mean cancer! Often, only the cause of cancer precursors. When positive tests for each case to the doctor!

• Who pays?

The tests are not covered by the fund, cost around 15 € (eg FOBCHECK, NanoRepro).

Blood test at the doctor

• What is done?

The so-called Septin-test, the doctor takes blood. It is studied in the laboratory for DNA material from a possible cancer tissue.

• At what sense?

If the doctor made a first suspected.

• How safe is it?

Usually very safe, the test can also detect cancer at an early stage. The disadvantage is that precursors of cancer are not detected, but only cancer tumors that are already available.

• Who pays?

This test is not taken from the tills. Cost: about 150 €.

Colonoscopy, the doctor

• What is done? The doctor inserts a thin tube with a camera through the anus into the intestine, examined him as to polyps and tumors. The bowel must first be cleaned with a laxative.

A reflection takes 20 minutes to an hour. Who is very sensitive to pain, may get a mild anesthetic.

Advantage: The doctor can remove existing polyps equal, so that does not develop cancer!

• At what sense?

From the 55th Age, with suspected cases earlier.

• Who pays?

The cash register. After ten years, a second colonoscopy is accepted. Is found in the mirror a little, they will either annually or finding repeated every two years.

• How safe is the result?

So far, the safest method! But even a colonoscopy does not provide absolute protection, because the doctor can see polyps and tumors, such as the hide in a fold of the intestine.

Expert advice: cancer specialist Professor Friedrich Hagen Müller, head of the Asklepios clinic Hamburg-Altona

By screening tests were 100 000 cancer cases prevented and detected 50 000 cases of colon cancer at an early stage.

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