Bavaria: More prevention, fewer smokers: colon cancer has decreased

Munich (dpa / lby) - In the years 2005 to 2019, the cases of colon cancer in Bavaria decreased continuously.

Bavaria: More prevention, fewer smokers: colon cancer has decreased

Munich (dpa / lby) - In the years 2005 to 2019, the cases of colon cancer in Bavaria decreased continuously. Among people over 50, the number of adenocarcinomas, which is the most common form of colon cancer, fell from almost 133 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on average between 2005 and 2007 to almost 106 cases on average between 2017 and 2019. That is a minus of 26.6 percent, according to an evaluation by the Bavarian Cancer Register at the State Office for Health and Food Safety.

"This significant decline is certainly due to several factors, including the introduction of preventive examinations through colonoscopy in 2002, but also the decline in tobacco consumption, which is often not perceived as a risk factor for colon cancer," explained Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) loudly on Sunday Announcement that was available to the German Press Agency in advance. However, since there could also be genetic causes, relatives of colorectal cancer patients should consider going to an early detection examination before their 50th birthday as a precaution.

Preventive colonoscopy was introduced in 2002 for men and women aged 55 and over. Since 2018, it has been paid by health insurance for men over the age of 50. With the mirroring, precursors of colon cancer can also be detected and the risk of a fatal outcome can be significantly reduced.