title: [Risk factors and possibilities of prevention of bowel cancer].
abstract: The incidence of bowel cancer has doubled over the past 50 years. Although the treatment outcome has improved, 40% of those affected with the disease still die from it. Treatment in the terminal phase of the disease is expensive and requires plenty of resources without resulting in patient recovery. Bowel cancer could theoretically be reduced by changing the living habits. Focusing of endoscopy resources to screening of symptomless patients would be a more realistic means. Because bowel cancer develops through an endoscopically detectable and slow-growing precancerous adenoma, it is possible to reduce massive disease burden through screening.
authors.forename: Jukka-Pekka
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mecklin
authors.forename: Nea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malila
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kääriginen
authors.forename: Anne-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pajari
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Färkkilä
mesh_terms: D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors