Norwegian scientists are trying to develop a new method to detect cancer of the colon symptoms early. The goal is to create a simple test that can be used in screening, to save lives.
Each year, about 3,500 Norwegians cancer of the colon. Cancer is the second most common among Norwegian women and men today. Moreover, Norway stand out with the highest rate of cancer in Europe and the highest level in the Nordic countries.
Discovered too late
However, many are not diagnosed until it is too late to cure the disease.
-cancer of the colon symptoms is often detected late because the symptoms are so diffuse. The disease is the end stage of a process over many years. Small polyps grow and can develop cell changes and become a malignant tumor. If the disease is detected early, the chances of survival very good. Those who have no tumor spread have 90 percent chance of being healthy, says researcher Guro Elisabeth Lind at Department of Cancer Prevention at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, the University of Oslo's research magazine Apollon.
If the cancer has spread to the liver or lungs before it is detected, the outlook is generally very poor. Today, bowel cancer is usually diagnosed after a colonoscopy examination, which is a complicated and time-consuming examination of the inside of the intestine. There is also a test that detects blood in the stool.
However, when the patient has already usually the feeling that something is wrong and has gone to the doctor. The aim has been to find a test that is easy to use, and that can detects cancer of the colon symptoms at an early stage.
Can save lives
Lind and scientist colleagues have light in the cells' genetic material to look for cancer of the colon symptoms. According to Apollo, they have come up with so-called biomarkers that identify specific gene mutations in colorectal tumors. These markers tell that something is about to happen. Researchers have identified six such biomarkers, which they hope to put together a panel so you can distinguish healthy subjects from those who have precancerous lesions.
-That we have well just that, has attracted international interest. The markers are unique and gives hope that it is possible to identify colorectal tumors at a very early stage, says Lind Research magazine.
There are still several years of work before such a test could be ready to use. If the scientists create such a test, it should be possible to detect abnormal cells by testing people's stool.
It is especially older people with an average age of 68 to 70 years who suffer from cancer. When the test is developed, it should offer the entire population over a certain age at the Annual Health Check. It can save many lives, says the researcher to Apollo.
Calls for Strategy
Today there are only screening for cervical cancer (Pap smear) and breast cancer (mammography) in Norway. It should be no screening for colorectal cancer in Norway. Many countries in Europe offer such investigations, for example, all over 50 years, to detect potential tumors in the gut early.
Cancer Society believes it is time that you either create a strategy for such screening to be introduced in Norway, because cancer of the colon symptoms affects many, or often discovered too late.
-Cancer Society recommends that formulated a strategy for colorectal screening (colorectal cancer, editor.) In Norway with a cost-benefit and risk assessment, said Cancer Society secretary general Anne Lise Ryel.
Last year, the Knowledge Centre for Health Services, a review of available methods for screening, commissioned by the Health Directorate. It showed that screening tests where if there is blood in the stool, may reduce mortality from colon and rectal cancer by 15 percent. However, internationally, it is not stated what kind of method that works best. According to the research magazine lacks health care today, a good technique to detect tumors early.
-Norwegian health authorities are continuously evaluating the need for introducing new screening programs, and is aware that many other European countries have introduced screening for bowel cancer, according to Health and Care Services in an e-mail about cancer of the colon symptoms.
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