Can bowel cancer be prevented?
Yes, in eight out of ten cases. That is more than for any other cancer. This is because more than 95 out of 100 tumors in the colon and rectum develop from polyps (adenomas). On average, around one in five polyps develops gradually and eventually degenerates years later. Around 80 out of 100 adenomas are discovered during colonoscopy and can be removed before they become malignant.
The situation is different if the bowel cancer is hereditary. Depending on the predisposition, hundreds of polyps may form in the bowel. In this rare case, more comprehensive measures make sense. For example, it may be necessary to surgically remove the colon before cancer develops.
Can the development from polyp to colon cancer be slowed down?
Yes, but this does not work reliably in every case. The probability of a benign adenoma gradually becoming a malignant tumor increases if the intestinal cells produce more inflammation-promoting messenger substances.
Being overweight, especially in the abdomen, increases the production of these inflammatory messengers and therefore has a cancer-promoting effect. Physical activity, on the other hand, slows down the production of these messenger substances and can thus counteract the development of cancer. People with a healthy body weight and sufficient exercise are significantly less likely to develop bowel cancer.
Acetylsalicylic acid (better known under the brand name “Aspirin” or “ASA”) and chemically similar active ingredients also slow down the inflammatory processes mentioned and thus reduce the risk of bowel cancer. However, the risk-benefit ratio is unfavorable at normal risk: if around 500 to 1000 people take this active ingredient for at least five years, on average one of these people will be spared colorectal cancer. However, around one in 100 to 800 people suffer a side effect – for example a stomach bleed or a brain haemorrhage. Therefore, these drugs are not recommended for general cancer prevention, but only under certain circumstances.
Can the formation of polyps be prevented?
At the very least, the likelihood of polyps can be reduced by giving up smoking, for example.
Tobacco smoke contains a number of toxic substances that reach the intestinal mucosa via the bloodstream or because they are swallowed. Not only do more adenomas occur in smokers, the mortality rate from bowel cancer is also higher.
Acetylsalicylic acid and chemically related substances as well as hormone treatment in women can also reduce the likelihood of polyps. However, neither is recommended for the general prevention of bowel cancer, as the potential harm caused by side effects outweighs the possible benefits. In special situations, however, one or the other can be useful.
What can I do?
- The best recipe against bowel cancer is: enough exercise, a reasonable body weight, a healthy diet with sufficient fiber, little alcohol and no smoking. This lifestyle statistically prevents about seven out of ten cases of colorectal cancer in men and four out of ten in women. (see also risk factors)
- The best early detection measure is useless if it is not applied regularly. Whichever one you choose: Carry them out at the recommended intervals.
- If you are unsure whether hereditary bowel cancer runs in your family, talk to your family about it and speak to your doctor about it. Depending on the situation, additional preventive measures may be advisable.
