Reduce your risk of disease with the Rule of Five

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. But it can be prevented. By using these five measures, you can reduce your risk of developing disease.

Colon cancer is the third most common oncological disease among men and the second most common oncological disease among women in Germany. The likelihood of getting it depends on genetics and other factors. Most of them can be affected.

“Among other things, diet and lifestyle habits are to blame,” says Michael Hofmeister of the German Center for Cancer Research (DKFZ), who and other scientists conducted a study of 4,000 colon cancer patients and 3,000 healthy, controlled people.

Colon cancer: prevention with The ‘rule of five’

In the study published in the specialized journal Gastroenterology, Hofmeister showed that everyone can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer by combining as many healthy lifestyles as possible. The “rule of five” can be derived from this“ Derived from the following factors:

1. No smoking
2. Reduced alcohol consumption
3. Healthy nutrition
4. Plenty of exercise
5. Normal body weight

Colon cancer screeningLifestyle has the biggest impact

In the past few years, more than 50 different genes have been discovered that slightly increase the risk of colon cancer. However, the rule of five applies regardless of the risk of familial colon cancer. This means: A person who has close relatives such as parents or siblings who have already had colon cancer, despite the slightly increased risk, can reduce the likelihood of developing the disease with the help of a healthy lifestyle, just like anyone without a family history.

“The recommendation to ensure a healthy lifestyle applies to everyone, regardless of the genetic risk of colon cancer,” says Hofmeister. The more healthy lifestyle factors the study participants collected, the less likely they were to develop colon cancer.

All factors of the “rule of five” have the same effect

Just following the Rule of Five individual factors has had a positive effect on preventing colon cancer. All five factors appear to be the same.

Prudence Carr, first author of the study, describes this as follows: “I played a secondary role whether it was not smoking, a healthy diet or physical activity that was paid attention to. With all the variables, study participants reduced their risk of colon cancer.”

Colon cancer: In its early stages, the “silent” disease is curable

Colon Cancer It is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. If the tumor is diagnosed early, the chances of a cure are very high.

However, colon cancer is also considered a “silent” disease. In most cases, especially in the early stages, there are no warning signs. Unlike other types of cancer, colon cancer arises from the primary stages, which are polyps.

From colon polyps to colon cancer: 90% of all colon polyps arise from polyps in the intestinal mucosa. Over the years, the genetic changes make it malignant and it develops into cancer, which in its advanced stages forms metastases. (Source: Felix Burda Foundation)

This is benign long before it becomes so Crepes Deteriorate. It is estimated that this process takes about ten years – a lot of time to prevent cancer.

Stool examination and colonoscopy: Methods of early detection

Therefore, early detection is an important measure against colon cancer. With the help of preventive checks, precursors can be detected and removed early – even before tumor Developed.

As part of the legal screening for bowel cancer, you can screen your stool annually starting at the age of 50: With what’s called a stool immunoassay, even the smallest amounts of blood that are invisible to the naked eye are detected.

Men aged 50 or over and women 55 years of age or older are recommended to have a colonoscopy. This test is more reliable than the stool test. The intestine is viewed from the inside using an endoscope. The examination is also called a colonoscopy. If the result is normal, then it is sufficient to perform the examination again after ten years at the earliest.

Affected persons for whom there may be special risks Colon Cancer They should discuss with their doctors whether they should begin regular screening exams earlier than until the age of 50.