[Early diagnosis saves human lives--on the status of colorectal tumors].
Colorectal cancers are on rang 3 of the malignant tumors in men and in women in incidence as well as in mortality. The only method to save more patients with these tumors is the early detection. It is to realize at its best by combination of digital rectal examination (DRE), testing for blood in feces and sigmoidoscopy. About DRE nothing is to discuss. The lack of a method without a high percentage of false negative and false positive results is the main problem of testing blood in feces. But the existing methods have to be used until more effective ones will be developed. Method no 3 is the sigmoidoscopy with the new generation of flexible instruments. Doctors have to prefer them because their use is easier, more informative and better tolerable for patients as the old rigid rectoscops. An additional method to evaluate the tumor expansion during surgical treatment is the endoscopic ultrasound examination. It enables the surgeon to look through the colorectal wall for evaluation of the tumor-spreading. There is no doubt, that the surgical treatment is the most effective. It can save around 90% of tumor patients if the tumor is detected in an early stage. The results of chemotherapy are not convincing at all. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) seems to be the most effective but not curing drug, possibly in combination with immunemodulators.


CONCLUSIONS
Colorectal cancer, early detection is the key. If the patient, the practicien and the surgeon will have this in mind, 50,000 pats with colorectal cancer more could be saved this year in the USA. Similar results should be possible in our country also.
Gericke
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D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
Frühdiagnose rettet Menschenleben--Zur Situation bei den kolorektalen Tumoren.