Colorectal cancer is one of the few tumor diseases, the screening is almost completely prevented. In Germany, the colonoscopy to the Pension plan is currently over the age of 55. The age of offered. That might be too late, warn experts from the German Krebsforschungszentrms (DKFZ) at the beginning of the colorectal cancer month in March.
A the beginning of the cancer screening with a colonoscopy at the age of 50 years would protect, according to the experts, even better, before bowel cancer – both men and women. "We have calculated that, for a first screening colonoscopy would already be at the age of 50 years and a repetition of the examination after ten years of colorectal cancer-related loss of life is significantly lower than the current beginning with 55 Jahren", Hermann Brenner from the DKFZ reported.
Colon cancer is not just one of the most common cancers, but also one of the most common deadly. Every year, more than 60,000 people contract colorectal cancer, and more than 25,000 patients die of the cancer disease. Since 2002, in Germany there is a screening programme for colorectal cancer: age 50 to 54 years have a statutory sick each year, the insured is entitled to a blood test. From the age of 55 years, the health insurance covers a screening colonoscopy, which can be repeated after 10 years.
For the year 2019 is planned, the age limit for the Pension-lower colonoscopy to – so far, however, only for men. "According to our calculations, women should, however, already after the age of 50. Age for colonoscopy screening are invited werden", Brenner says. In the recommendations of the American cancer society, the age limit for first colonoscopy screening was set already in the past year, even at 45.
NK