Gütersloh (gl) – Colon cancer, along with breast, prostate and lung cancer, is one of the four most common malignant tumor diseases in Germany. “Die Glocke” and the Gütersloh Clinic invite you to take part in a telephone campaign on Wednesday, March 10th, from 6pm to 7pm, where readers are invited to ask questions.
Professor Dr. Gero Massenkeil, Chief Physician of the Clinic for Internal Medicine and Deputy Head of the Colon Cancer Center at the Gütersloh Clinic, and Dr. Wolfram Coesfeld, resident specialist in gastroenterology and chairman of the Gütersloh Medical Association.
Colon cancer does not develop overnight in the human body. In most cases, colon cancer develops over the years from primarily benign buds of the mucous membrane (polyps). For years these buds went undetected and caused no problems until they developed into a malignant tumor. Warning signs are blood in the stool, unclear weight loss, irregular stool and abdominal pain.
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“With the preventive colonoscopy, we can identify the early forms of cancer very well and remove them directly,” says Professor Dr. Gero Massenkeil, Chief Physician of the Clinic for Internal Medicine and Deputy Head of the Colon Cancer Center at the Gütersloh Clinic. Although half of the new patients are older than 70 years, younger patients are also often affected. That is why preventive examinations should be carried out for men aged 50 and over and women aged 55 and over.
“Colon cancer screening is a real preventive measure,” said Massenkeil. “Colonoscopy detects colon cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, but also preforms that are located as polyps in the intestine and can still develop into cancer,” adds Dr. Matthias Kapischke, chief physician for general, visceral, thoracic and minimally invasive surgery and head of the colon cancer center. Cancer treatments have continued to evolve over the past decade and the chances of recovery have improved. The operation, which is largely carried out by laparoscopy, remains an essential component of the therapy.
“Interventions deep in the rectum can be carried out much more frequently while preserving the sphincter, which significantly improves the quality of life of the patient,” explains Kapischke. Radiation therapies are often designed as short-term radiation. Chemotherapy after operations can now be shortened and side effects avoided. “With an early diagnosis, you have a good chance of a permanent cure,” adds Massenkeil. In the case of advanced tumor disease, the treatments can maintain quality of life and inhibit tumor growth, including metastases in the liver and lungs.
The various medical specialists as well as pastors and psycho-oncologists at the Colon Cancer Center in Gütersloh work together in interdisciplinary tumor conferences and make decisions about the necessary treatments according to current guidelines to ensure optimal patient care. Despite all the progress made in treatment: The goal must be to permanently reduce the number of colon cancer. The first progress can already be seen in the statistics after the introduction of the provision. Nevertheless, the offers for colorectal cancer screening are still not being widely accepted.
In addition to preventive care, the risk factors for developing colorectal cancer must be pointed out: These are primarily obesity and nicotine consumption. Alcohol and so-called red meat should only be consumed in moderation. Regular physical activity of 30 to 60 minutes a day and a high-fiber diet reduce the risk of colon cancer.
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