Colon cancer
Colon cancer is a common cancer. About five percent of all Flemish people are confronted with it. In Belgium, about 8,500 people per year are diagnosed with colon cancer, of which about 5,600 in Flanders. About 1,750 people die from it every year in Flanders.
The cancer usually occurs above the age of fifty. It affects slightly more men than women. In men it is the third most common tumor (after prostate and lung cancer), in women the second (after breast cancer).
Colon cancer almost always arises from a polyp . This is a bulge due to a thickening of the mucous membrane in the intestinal wall. There are different types of polyps. Most are benign and do not cause any complaints. However, some tend to undergo a number of changes during their growth, which can cause them to develop into a malignant tumor or colon cancer. The development of a polyp into cancer is very slow and takes an average of seven to ten years .
What are the causes?
There is no clear cause for the development of colon cancer. Various factors may contribute to this, often several at the same time, but not all of them are yet known.
Colon cancer is noticeably more common in some families than in others. Colon cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) increases the risk of developing colon cancer themselves. About twenty percent of colon cancers occur in people with a family history. The younger the affected family member, the greater your deductible. If you ever had colon cancer, your risk of developing it again is also increased.
Only a small proportion, five percent of people with colorectal cancer, also have a genetic abnormality . These forms of colon cancer are hereditary. Almost everyone with this abnormality will develop colon cancer later in life.
Other risk factors
- Increasing age: ninety percent of people with colon cancer are over fifty years old;
- Chronic intestinal infections such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis;
- An unhealthy lifestyle:
- unbalanced diet with too few vegetables, fruit and fiber, too many fats and red or processed meat;
- smoking;
- excessive use of alcohol;
- overweight;
- insufficient exercise.
What are the symptoms?
Colon cancer does not always cause symptoms and the symptoms are usually vague .
Nevertheless, the following complaints may indicate colon cancer if they have been present for a longer period of time :
- blood or mucus in stools;
- abdominal pain or cramps;
- a change in stool (irregular bowel movements, constipation, diarrhea);
- a false urge to defecate.
Sudden and unexplained weight loss, prolonged loss of appetite or persistent fatigue can also be an alarm signal .
These complaints do not necessarily indicate colon cancer. Many other conditions can be the cause.
When to go to the doctor?
See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms. Your doctor will, based on a thorough questioning and in consultation with you, determine whether further testing is appropriate.
You can also contact your doctor:
- with questions about whether or not to participate in the population screening;
- to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the follow-up test if the population screening gave an abnormal test result;
- for a possible referral to a gastrointestinal specialist.
How does the treatment proceed?
The treatment of colon cancer varies from person to person. A team of different specialists discusses the best approach.
The most common treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Which combination gives the best chances of recovery or healing depends on:
- the location, size and nature of the tumor,
- any metastases,
- the age and general health of the patient.
What can you do yourself?
Healthy lifestyle
You can't prevent the disease, but a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk .
- Ensure a balanced diet with sufficient fiber. Be moderate in animal fats and avoid red or processed meat.
- Exercise enough.
- Fight obesity.
- Quit smoking .
- Moderate your alcohol consumption.
Early detection
Colon cancer almost always arises from a polyp. The development of a polyp into cancer is very slow and takes an average of seven to ten years. By detecting and removing degenerated polyps at an early stage, fewer suspicious polyps can develop into colon cancer. The surgery and treatments will also be less invasive and the mortality rate will decrease. If the cancer is detected early, there is more than a ninety percent chance of being cured.
It is important to detect and treat the cancer before symptoms appear . These often only occur when the tumor is already quite large. The more advanced he is, the worse the expectations.
Why and for whom does a population survey take place?
A population survey is taking place in Flanders to detect colon cancer. Men and women aged 51 to 74 are invited to participate every two years .
If you belong to the target group, you will receive an invitation at home. It also includes a kit to take a stool sample . You can send this sample to the laboratory together with a response form. There it will be examined whether your stool contains blood , which may indicate the presence of polyps or colon cancer. This examination is necessary because the traces of blood cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Do you have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) with colon cancer or do you have an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis? Please contact your doctor first. Custom studies may be better for you.
Elise Rummens
Elise is onze huisdokter. Haar stokpaardje op het vlak van gezondheid is beweging. Daarom zie je haar op dinsdagavond springen, vliegen, duiken, vallen en weer opstaan. Dan heeft ze haar wekelijkse parkourtraining.
Preventie-arts CM