Colon cancer month March
The Colon Cancer Month March is annually always the prelude to national and international organizations, especially the fight against cancer to address. In 2002, the Colon Cancer Month was launched jointly by three aid organizations that had already taken on this type of cancer at the time: the Felix Burda Foundation (Munich), the German Cancer Aid (Bonn) and the “Life Views” foundation. In 2006 the German Cancer Society was added, under whose patronage the colon cancer campaign provided public information about the disease in all federal states until 2009 .
history
The proclamation of a Colon Cancer Month is largely attributed to the family fate of the publishing couple Hubert Burda and Christa Maar , whose son Felix died of colon cancer on February 25, 2001 at the age of 33. Since then, with the support of the media group , his mother has also dedicated herself to the prevention and early detection of colon cancer internationally. As like-minded specialist organizations, the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Aid regularly provide up-to-date information and awareness-raising work (e.g. The Blue Guides ) through joint publications .
Current number of diseases
According to the most recent publication in 2018, the number of new cases of colon cancer per year in Germany is around 58,900. According to statistics from cancer experts, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men. The leading cancer organizations unanimously appealed to citizens to take part in preventive measures and use early detection programs.
Detect colon cancer in good time
For the early detection of colon cancer, the statutory health insurance companies offer women and men over the age of 50 an annual test for hidden blood in the stool. Since April 1, 2017, the immunological test (iFOBT) has replaced the previous guaiac test. According to the Cancer Aid, the iFOBT uses antibodies to detect blood in the stool and is therefore less prone to failure. In addition, the immunological stool test is more sensitive and recognizes colon cancer and its preliminary stages more reliably than the old test method. From the age of 55, legally insured persons in Germany are entitled to a colonoscopy, the so-called colonoscopy. A repeat colonoscopy can be performed again after 10 years if the results are normal. Those who do not want to have a colonoscopy can do a stool test every two years from the age of 55. Experience applies: "The earlier colon cancer is detected, the greater the chances of a cure."
Political support
In 2003, the Federal Joint Committee, as the highest organ of joint self-administration in the health system in Germany, introduced colonoscopy as a statutory early cancer detection service. According to information from specialist organizations, there was a steadily increasing need for information among the population. The "Colon Cancer Month March" is therefore used by cancer organizations, health policy and the Federal Ministry of Health as an opportunity to disseminate new research results, advice and warnings. Federal and state ministers support the information campaigns and charity campaigns in the fight against the increasing disease by accepting patronage. According to media reports, there is also increasing involvement of this kind among members of the German Bundestag and the state parliaments.
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.krebshilfe.de/informieren/presse/pressemitteilungen/darmkrebs-frueh-erkannt-besser-heilbar/ accessed on March 2, 2018