Bowel cancer: The second most common cancer in Germany among women
Colorectal cancer is a common cancer. In Germany, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the third most common cancer among men. The diagnosis is usually made through a colonoscopy, during which tissue samples are taken and examined in the laboratory. Doctors distinguish between cancer in the large intestine (colon) or in the rectum, which is removed by surgery. Subsequent radiation or chemotherapy can increase the patient's complete chances of recovery.
Development and diagnosis of bowel cancer
Bowel cancer usually develops in stages, which is why the cancer does not cause any symptoms for some time and therefore tends to go undetected. Rather unspecific symptoms that point to bowel cancer can manifest themselves in changed stool habits, or blood in the stool, as well as in weight loss, abdominal pain, anaemia, slight fever and/or exhaustion. Bowel cancer develops when the intestinal mucosa thickens in one place and a polyp develops from it. If the polyp changes over time, it can develop into bowel cancer. In the case of a small polyp, this takes about 5 to 10 years. Doctors distinguish between the following four stages of cancer.
- Stage I: The tumour is located within the muscular layer of the intestine.
- Stage II: The tumour has already affected neighbouring tissue or has reached the outer layer of the intestinal wall.
- Stage III: The tumour has not yet invaded other organs, but has taken over the surrounding lymph nodes.
- Stage IV: The tumour has spread to other organs.
In order to be able to treat bowel cancer properly, it is essential to determine at which stage the cancer has already spread. Stages I, II and III describe the "early stage" of bowel cancer. Out of 100 patients diagnosed with bowel cancer in these stages, about 62 will live for at least another 5 years. The lower the stage at which colorectal cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of a complete cure. To diagnose bowel cancer, in addition to a colonoscopy and the removal of tissue samples, the rectum is usually examined by means of a palpation examination, or an ultrasound of the abdomen is performed. If rectal cancer is suspected, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an ultrasound of the rectum (a so-called endoscopy) and, if necessary, a rectoscopy will also be ordered.
How is bowel cancer treated?
Bowel cancer is usually removed surgically. If the tumour is several centimetres away from the sphincter muscle, the sphincter muscle is not affected. However, cancer in the rectum often requires an artificial bowel outlet (stoma). This can be either temporary or permanent. Depending on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be ordered in addition to surgery.