Cancer of the colon symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Colon cancer in Germany is the second most common cancer, With early cancer of the colon symptoms diagnosis and treatment, the survival rate is high.

Each year, nearly 70,000 new cases diagnosed in Germany from colorectal carcinoma. This is according to the statistics of cancer after lung cancer in both sexes and prostate cancer in men, the second most common malignancy. In international comparison, Germany is thus at the top. Experts make dietary and lifestyle habits responsible. So, an excessive intake of calories with too small a proportion of plant foods, physical inactivity and obesity promote the emergence of a malignant intestinal tumor. Smoking, the undisputed cause of lung cancer may also have some influence on the development of cancer of the colon symptoms. Similarly, excessive use of alcohol as a risk factor is considered.

cancer of the colon symptoms and Diagnosis.

As with almost all cancers, the first cancer of the colon symptoms appear only at a relatively late stage and are rather non-specific initially, for hardly anyone thinks flatulence and minor digestive problems directly to a malignant disease. The tumor must have been quite large before it narrows the bowel so that the continuity is disabled and can no longer pass through the feces without hindrance, thus resulting symptoms of constipation, but are also rather unspecific, because not many people have problems with a Regular, easy running toilet. Curiously, however, it can also lead to diarrhea, because the tumor can affect the colon in its operation so that the pre-digested chyme is prematurely withdrawn fluid and excreted. Constipation and diarrhea often occur, however, in alternation.

If the bowel is narrowed by the tumor growth over a longer distance, a very thin form caused the deposed chair, which is described in the textbook as a "pencil-like chair." The feces may contain blood or mucus. The mucus is increasingly produced by the tumor irritable bowel wall, the blood can leak out from both the intestinal wall as well as the tumor itself, but also be so small that it with the naked eye does not perceptible, but only by a special stool examination, such as the classic hemoccult test, can be identified. Also, pain usually occurs only at a relatively late stage.


The current standard diagnostic procedures for colorectal cancer are colonoscopy (colonoscopy), X-ray with and without contrast medium, CT, sonography, stool examination for blood and other markers and blood tests.

Treatment and therapy of cancer: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy
The first option is surgery, which is used in all stages of the question. Depending on the location of the tumor removal via an abdominal incision, but also an intervention of the rectum is possible. Sometimes it is necessary for defecation a colostomy (colostomy) to apply to the newly operated segment of the intestine is reduced. Depending on location, size and individual circumstances can be a temporary measure or a permanent solution is necessary.

Radiation therapy is mainly for larger tumors in the rectum. Often the Strahlentherpie is performed before surgery to achieve a reduction of the tumor. After an operation, possibly to rest any remaining cancer cells are destroyed.

Also, chemotherapy can be applied before surgery to shrink the tumor mass and thus the procedure is less invasive and thus more risky. Postoperative treatment with cytostatic drugs will be necessary if already metastases at diagnosis were discovered and the disease has progressed despite surgery.

Colonoscopy for early detection of  cancer of the colon symptoms .

With a colonoscopy, the 55th from a screening of the health insurance Age is offered free of charge, can cancer of the colon symptoms be detected early and treated. Unlike many other cancers, it is possible to discover that there may be cancer at such an early stage that it can be cured. An early detected cancer that has not spread to other organs currently has a chance of recovery 90-100 percent.

Other interesting information about cancer and cancer screening, cancer of the colon symptoms.